Hmmm - there's a theme to this week.....

Opened my email this morning to find some sketches that my son did this week. A year or so ago, not a day would go by without sketching something and then - not so much. Aside from his university studies, writing is his passion but I hoped he wouldn't lose his desire to sketch too, so I was pleasantly surprised to see these in my email. Hope he doesn't mind that I posted them here but having just acquired that beautiful wooden hand model and seeing his sketch of his own hand (by his own hand) I just had to share....

Good Times....

Last weekend was such an inspiring weekend. Thursday was a productive day in that I managed to finish more than a few pieces of jewelry in anticipation of Friday's vernissage (held last Friday of each month). So that always feels good. Starting projects I've been meaning to get to is always nice but actually finishing them is better. The vernissage on Friday was successful having sold several pieces and meeting nice people. On Saturday my daughter and I planned to go shopping for items for her first apartment in the city....however next door our neighbors were having a garage sale and we successfully acquired a TV for her place which made me think we should try a few more garage sales before we head into town. That really worked in my favor because the book shelves that I went to look at (thinking of my son's place) turned out to be a set of four wall units ($20 each!!) that were perfect for my "other studio" (the one I wouldn't want to show people because it's in the basement and in need of a major facelift). Also found a perfect (recently re-upholstered) sofa bed for $20! which was a perfect match color wise for my son's room downtown. To make it even better there were boxes of Liquitex paints all in nearly new condition at prices I couldn't refuse along with a wooden artist's model of an articulated hand. I had been wanting one for ages. A few hours later and about six trips back and forth I was in art heaven......One more stop at the local Library that runs a Saturday morning second hand shop where we found an almost new microwave for Emilie's place......and no I didn't forget about our shopping trip. My daughter and I managed to find the items she needed to set up in her new apartment. Sunday I re-arranged my work area to bring in the new cabinets and re-acquaint myself with items that had been stored away....and Monday we moved her into her apartment in the heart of the city....took a little break at the Atwater market which has a dizzying array of beautifully arranged fruits and vegetables, flowers and great food. My daughter's happy with her place and
it's been altogether a great weekend....

What I'm Learning from "The Pulse" Survey

This is going to be a learning experience....Joining a group such as this is like an portraying an internal self portrait. Already I've learned something about myself from the question about collections. Personally, anything in groups of three is on its way to being considered a collection, which means that I have quite a few collections on the go. But what would I consider indispensable, can't live without/walk away from, N E E D.....and I'm surprised that somewhere along the way I've stopped putting so much emphasis on "things". I look at the photo of the items that I "collect" and they're very sentimental and of the past and yet what excites me in subject matter is becoming more abstract, even non-representational. I think I'm even learning to "live in the moment". There are "things" that I do covet, but nothing that you can pick up and hold. Like time......I need time to paint, to carry out ideas without having to shelve them waiting for a more convenient time... to acquire knowledge and refine skills. This is very freeing (is that a word?) Then after that I'd like to acquire a sense of balance, because without that the mind becomes encumbered with lists of things to do.
So there it is, the new "things" I want to acquire - time, knowledge, balance......my new collection.

IN AMAZING COMPANY...

An insight into the creative process is unfolding at "The Altered Page". A blog generously hosted by Seth Apter
to share the thoughts and ideas of over 90 artists. I am thrilled to be involved and in the company of so many inspiring people.
This edition at The Altered Page is called The Pulse and we're already on Day 4 and I am only now posting this info but it's not too late to play a bit of catchup; this will go on for a few weeks. Grab that cup of coffee, make yourself comfortable and be prepared to be inspired!

My Greenwood Project

Greenwood is the name of a heritage home in my town. Bequeathed to the town by Phoebe Hyde, it has been maintained and opened to the public to share the history in which Greenwood and it's past residents (particularly Phoebe) played. Inspired by the story and photographs on display, I decided to make a mixed media fabric board chronicling Greenwood's history.
Using a linen background and vintage lace and printing the images and story on fabric I assembled the pieces onto three panels in a free-standing screen. The materials were chosen to blend with the surroundings in which it would be displayed.
A satisfying project and an opportunity to experiment with fabric journalling.....my next fabric projects will also include images of Hudson that I've taken recently.

This is How It Starts....

Having recently discovered working with hot glass (in a small way), I take particular pleasure in knowing that Hudson, where I have lived for over thirty years was the site of a glass industry located on the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains. At it's height over a century ago, it was still possible (at least in the early years when I first moved here) to find colored glass while walking along the beach or just below the wharf.

I'm happy to have a place to work on my torch in my home even if it is in the basement. This is at it's messiest but it's a happy, colorful mess.





The glass starts out in rod form (as you see on my table next to the torch. Heated in the torch, it melts and I guide it on to a steel mandrel coated with a bead release formula that will let me slide the bead off later when completely cooled. After the base bead, several other colors can be added (a little like painting with molten glass) and texture can be left or completely melted in and then shaped into perfect little spheres, barrel shapes, squished between graphite paddles or even molded into presses. Lately I've been experimenting with sculpting the glass using small scale steel tools (steel because they can stand up to the heat taking care not to let them get so hot that they stick to the molten glass). Sculpting beads would be for the goddess type beads as an example which require shaping with the aforementioned tools as opposed to a symmetrical bead. Upon completion and while still so hot they've just lost the red glow, they are put into a fibre blanket to cool slowly to avoid thermal shock.
Then I gather together finished beads from the fibre blanket and slide them onto some mandrels to be put into the kiln to be annealed (takes the stress out of the glass that's accumulated during the time it's in the fire) although personally I find that part stressing myself......Finally they must have the bead release residue cleaned out of the holes before I can use them in jewellery.



.....and then the satisfying part....designing the finished product....

Of Fish and Goddesses and Midsummer Night's Dreams....

As promised much earlier on, I am posting the pics of some of the beads I've produced. My raised dots are my usual favorite but now that I can work with more metals I am experimenting with how to use them. Metal effects are obtained by reducing the oxygen and using a richer fuel to bring them out with a wonderful raku look to the glass (somewhat tricky). I love the "not so little" bum on my turquoise "goddess". There is also an unintended gilded birthmark on her frontside! The fish started out as a hollow bead until I kept going with it and it grew fins.... Having used a 5/32" mandrel I can wear it on an interchangeable bail that I made especially for the Pandora/Troll beads that are so popular now. The next ones out of the kiln are all florals which I can hardly wait to assemble into a sort of "Midsummer Night's Dream" theme.

It's About Time!

What a pitiful blogger I am....averaging two or three a month! Is time really moving that fast?...or am I too slow? I check my favorites e v e r y day and yet I don't update my own.....I must work on that...
I continue to practice glass techniques on my new torch set up.....and I am slowing down now to expand on my favorites so that I can produce some sets to design around. This goddess bead (based on the Venus of Willendorf of Austria 25,000 - 20,000 BC)
is my favorite one. The glass is a copper green/red which looks like oxidized bronze. Here she is in all her voluptuous glory....
My success with this bead is due to the wonderful tutorial by Teresa Laliberté.

These are the days....

These are the days I'm going to miss in the dead of winter. I love being able to move outside and work on my projects.
Here I'm doing some hammering, best done outside in any case, and my barrel is just the right height for me. The projects I'm working on are for some jewellery pieces that require some embossing. The funny juxtaposition of my fish "out of water"
next to my newly discovered bird's nest didn't escape me and I found myself creating "fish beads" on my torch and sterling silver wire nests with tiny blue pearls as eggs....a creative segue from my task of embossing.....
I'll post the glass fish when they come out of the kiln.....
By the way, note that in Kate's blog, (Art Vein Vessel) she also has posted her collection of nests....!

Catch up Week....

This was my week to get caught up on smaller projects. I started out ecstatic about the first few beads I made with my new torch, and then turned out more than a few "not so great" looking ones.....but determined not to walk away discouraged, kept at it until I had a few I was pleased with. Haven't taken those pics yet but I'll do that this weekend. I've been following Kate's blog
on her photography of all things green last week followed by orange this week and it reminded me of an entry I made last year of an interesting website about color, or more precisely paint pigments. Being a novice at blogging at the time I didn't think to put it in as a link, so I went back in time to do just that and I've listed it in "More interesting places to visit".

New Torch!!

I'd be embarrassed to tell you how long I've had my new torch (probably over two years) before I actually set it up this week.
I was sort of happy plodding along with my single fuel torch (a Hot Head) and have to say slightly intimidated by having
to introduce a 20 lb. oxygen tank to my workshop. Last summer I made the plunge to purchase an oxygen concentrator which takes the place of the dreaded 20 lb. tank. I feel much better now and EXCITED to see what I can do with this new set up.
I was told the learning curve was somewhat steep - but - not so much. I've tried out a few techniques and although it needs
some tweaking - I'M HAPPY! And actually I've heard similar stories from other glass workers who are having trouble deciding how much to become involved in this aspect of glass work. So my story is not that unusual. I'll post pictures later this week.
Must go play now......
OK - so now I've taken photos of the first few beads. The first group were my first few on this new torch set up. I had that sense of false confidence when I saw them. It was downhill after that. I was also new to using the reduction frits which have beautiful metallics when done correctly but are tricky until you know your torch settings well enough. It requires a reducing flame (fuel rich and lower in oxygen). The leaves were something I was never able to do without having them shatter because of the type of torch I was using before (the Hot Head). It simply wasn't hot enough. These photos don't do them justice as the clarity and color are even nicer. They are addictive so they should only improve with practice...

On my Easel This Morning

I always seem to have to paint flowers just before their bloom time. My hydrangea bushes have only started to hint at the flowers they'll produce this summer but these paintings have to be finished now. This one is nearing completion but is only one half of the diptych that I've planned. So far - so good on this half......
and here it is completed....the painting in reality does flow from left to right and matches up unlike in my photo where a slight
slant due to the canvas leaning a little differently makes it look otherwise. And just added a close up of the right panel with the chickadee....

Friday Evening Vernissage

I recently started showing my jewelry at a wonderful little gallery here in Hudson called Mouche! The last Friday of every month they hold a vernissage. That's my idea of a great way to spend a Friday evening, in the company of other artists and those who
come out to see what's new, have a glass of wine, a few nibblies and inspired conversations. I've just added Kate Strickland's Blog address to my list. Kate has paper castings in the gallery and also has her own studio here in Hudson where she offers workshops in mixed media such as journalling and assemblage.

Rome Revisited

Well since my last post (which is already more than a month ago!) I had a great vacation. Went to Rome, took a train through
the Tuscan countryside (I have to say I'm impressed with travelling through Italy. Both the hotel bookings and train travel
were easy to organize) stayed in Cortona (where Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed) and continued on to Florence. Now I know why people who have been there told me I just had to visit there. Inspiration e v e r y w h e r e. I'll post pics here but I also have them in my Flickr account.
I no sooner got back and had to prepare for a vernissage four days later at a great little gallery here in Hudson, called Mouche! I am one of several artists represented there....and for those who knew I am a painter I should mention that it is only my jewelry that is in this gallery. It's kind of fun to have this separate identity as a jewelry artist.

...a new Mural

A new mural on a 6' high by 6' wide wall that continues on three sides for a total of 14'. I enjoyed painting this scene so much I've
thought about painting an adirondack chair on canvas in a garden setting much like this one. It's such a transformation, painting a scene where only a blank wall existed before. The wall opposite this one has a door under a trellis inbetween two stone walls and a white garden bench on a flagstone patio. Delphiniums, Irises, hollyhocks and daisies grow in the garden and petunias
tumble out of pots. A garden as lush as I want it to be.....

Hello to Tia

Hello to Tia (a 5 month old miniature Teckel) who I met at a café in Hudson this morning while her "people" were shopping.
Here is a pic of my own miniature Teckel having a bath and wondering what she did wrong to deserve this........

Coming to Life...

Marionettes are such an interesting mix of sculpture, fibre, jewelry techniques and the magic of movement to name just a few.
I made three of these marionettes for a call for entries for the Somerset publication "Art Dolls" and it was published in the
premiere edition of this magazine a few years ago. It was a sort of "one of" project but again, I'm drawn to my creative
impulses and am thinking of doing more with improved techniques learned since then. Especially since I tried this little
video and I see them come to life.....

I'm particularly pleased with the modeling of the hands as they are so expressive although with the camera in one hand unsteadied and my right hand manipulating the marionette, this is not so evident here.

Creative Impulses...

I can't help but let other influences sneak into my repertoire. Long ago, B.C. (before children) I was heavily into quilting and textiles. Along came children and I wasn't about to give up what I loved to do but did try and focus. Painting was that focus and still is but along the way I discovered I had to make room for jewelry design. These two pursuits are here to stay and are the very "fibre" (pun intended) of my being. And now, for better or worse, past pursuits are re-surfacing and I am giving them room to grow. Fibre art is an amalgamation of my painting with textiles and that is how I justify it! Texture was becoming more and more
important in my paintings and that would often mean the addition of layers of canvas in collage fashion. It was only natural to add fabric to those layers whether on paper or canvas and before I knew it they had morphed....! So now I let my creative impulses guide me. Here's a little "Fibre Art Quilt" I recently completed using hand painted fabrics and digital prints along with
fused embellishments. The best part is that I have wonderful references in the photos of still life groupings that I intended for painting that translate well into these art quilts so it was really meant to be!

SPRING!!....Blossoms

I've worked on several variations on these blossoms from photos taken last year from these wonderful little trees just outside my favorite local café. Working on them kept me in "flowers" over a very long winter.....and as I put my brushes down to take a break after completing this one today, I stepped outside into 30 degree temperatures!


I thought I'd experiment and see if I could upload my own little videos taken on my Sony Cybershot digital camera....and it works!
This video was taken last summer and features my two little doxies (Maggie and Penny) hanging out at their favorite pond (right outside our back door). Absolutely enthralled with the gold fish that seem to be attracted to Maggie's ears floating on the surface, the fish flock to her which keeps her entertained. I worried about her falling in and drowning only to find out she can
quite comfortably stand on her hind legs so I made some underwater steps to facilitate her walking out on her own.

Hudson Scenes

This used to be one of my favorite little shops on the Main Road in Hudson. Now occupied by offices, it lives on in my
memory with this little painting.