Studiology

The Reception

I wanted to thank everyone that came to my reception, I was truly humbled. The masks were a big hit and they were literally finished the morning of the big day. Such wonderful friends I have and so many positive comments, this was a show that will always be remembered fondly!

As October continues the show will remain, and I have some special plans for the holiday season, so consider a visit to Art A La Carte Gallery.

Here are some photographs of the masks, they are not just fully functional but were made with custom wall mounts so they could be hung like a piece of art. 

 

 

She Sells Sea Snails

The show is up, a huge sigh of relief, another year down. There will be a reception on Saturday, October the 12th with wine tastings and finger food.  I hope to see some of you at Art A La Carte, 310 Mill Street, Occoquan, Va. from 2 to 5. Here are some photographs of the show which is shared with Kathleen Kendall and you can meet both of us on reception day.

 

Sea Odyssey, the Show

I am once again sharing the spotlight with Kathleen Kendall at Art A La Carte Gallery this fall with a two person show. Titled "Sea Odyssey", there will be plenty of mermaids and various sea creatures in 2D and 3D. The show goes up on Friday, the 27th of September, the day before the big Arts and Crafts Festival in Occoquan. Our reception is Saturday, October 12th, from 2 to 5:00. We have literally been working on this project for a year.

My fourth year at the gallery as I was officially juried in on May 6th of 2014. The owner of the gallery announced a move to Florida over a year ago, which triggered panic on my part because there are few things worse than having to find a new gallery to sell your art from. We are a cooperative gallery with 24 members and the short story is - I'm the new manager. Scary and exciting at the same time, it's part of my plan to move into more art, splitting my life between horticulture and creative time in the art studio. And if you have never visited the gallery, please consider a visit, I am sure you will love it as I do (plus we are open 7 days a week from 11-5).

So here are some previews of completed artwork that will be on display at the end of this month. This piece is another wand, supported by strong magnets.

 

 

 

 

 

Assembled

The work for a fall show began in late winter and is well on its way with a few finished pieces that fit the theme of a 'Sea Odyssey'. This piece was so involved (40 tentacles) and so daunting when it came to painting that I actually became afraid of it. There did come a day when I felt it was coming together and could be conquered and a month later I added finishing touches that made it feel finished. This show will be in October at Art A La Carte with a hanging date of Friday, September 27th and a reception on Saturday, October 12th. As time moves along I will introduce a few more for this show. 

Her name is "Sea Siren'.

There are also some wands coming together, the latest holds a cut labradorite stone.  The stone has several uses, most notably as protection from evil and strengthening of natural forces from within. How perfect for a wand. This one will be delivered this week and I am very happy with the final results. 

It also comes out of its case and is two sided, so it can be hung front or back. See it and other art at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan.

But Why?

Three new pieces of art are finished and delivered, not part of a themed show, just some gathered items that become something. During the intermediate times, when there is spare time to create something that just rises from nothingness, I question why I go where I go. My mother can be thanked for some of it, without her field trips to museums or her determination to be somewhere when something big was happening, well those have clearly shaped me. Travel also contributed, the trip to France and the Sistine Chapel, the museums of Mexico City, going to Washington DC to see the Mona Lisa (1963), I was 8.  Oh and I told her I wanted to be an artist, I doodled for her, and she made sure I saw art. It seems like I have just realized this, the little seed she nurtured and all brought about with some powerful stimulus. 

She was a powerful strong person that ever so quietly guided me. Thank-you mom, how sad that I just figured it out. 

Here are the new pieces, shaped by and from many things. 

For a sense of scale, the middle part, the raised part, is the top of a glasses case. Once you take off the material, it's all metal. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of those strong woman that gently guide your children to do what you know they want. 

Production

I have finished some assemblage pieces, created with what I had on hand, but inspired by New Orleans and daydreams. The first is a shrine dedicated to the Sisters of Bon Secours. Created with a metal piece that depicts a sister of this branch of the Catholic church, the French word (bon secours) means "good help". Their habit is unique, a fringe circles the face and they established their first hospital in Baltimore in 1919, traveling from France (1909) to establish a health care ministry in the United States. I built the piece with the stucco of New Orleans in mind, particularly as you see it in raised crypts in cemeteries. Behind the sister is a pattern of colors that represents stained glass, as you often see it in crypts or churches. 

Also finished is a wall piece that depicts a young boy with a circle, or portal over his head where crazy creatures are pouring out. Titled "The Daydream Portal", this one was a lot of fun to imagine and then create.

Lastly some more Pez dispensers, from Alice in Wonderland we have the "White Rabbit" number 6, and "Alice" number five. Here is a little preview of the rabbit before the paint:

And then painted:

All available at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan.

 

 

Master Michael deMeng

Home from the hubbub that was New Orleans, we went and assembled, assembled together for parades, art, and food. Not in any particular order. Well, art did consume our days, nights were another story. Our leader, Michael deMeng and Katherine Engen, (the organizer) did a superb job, this was a favorite trip to NOLA. Our job was to create a Noir themed piece of art, maybe even a case to put it in. Black and white was suggested, but certainly not our only option. This is the art piece made by Michael to inspire us. 

All of my characters were built from wire, coated with tinfoil and then clay to form the body. The heads were created separately. They rested in this egg carton as I made them.

The final piece contains these 4 characters in the case of an old radio. 

There was a huge range of styles from the other artists, it was an interesting week watching each idea become a realization. This is a sampling but certainly not all.

The critique on our last day is always full of humor.

And then we parade. This year the Krewe du Vieux was lead by an NFL referee getting whipped, which became the major theme for the night. Some of us had predicted this year's parade parody. 

And a few parting shots from a fun 10 days.

 

 

Good Times

Just delivered 2 new assemblage pieces. The elephant was a drawer pull, the wooden box is edged with gold leaf. Titled "The Pachyderm Palace". 

The second piece is titled "The Spring Thaw".  Another fancy wooden box with small branches made from wires and clay on the inside. A bit of a different twist with the painting but I'm happy.

Leaving for New Orleans shortly so won't be posting anything new for awhile, but I will be on Instagram where there will be some shenanigans (I'm sure). 

 

Jack in the Pulpit

Maybe more appropriately titled "Jack on the Pulpit", another in my plans for horticultural common name humor. Botanically speaking there are faults. The oracles are missing or the curl on the spathe edges which are also known as ears. The stripes are also not correct, they stripe their way within the hood, not up and down like a watermelon. I still like how he turned out and we'll call it artistic license. I'll try to correct some of these on the next one. The hardest part, and I mean nearly impossible is getting the clay to curl in the air and stay. His size is 7 x 4". 

It has been awhile since I altered Altoid tins, so 2 more are finished and going to the gallery. 

One more fantasy Pez joins the growing group of "old men". I love their long arms and big shoes. 

They all remind me of butlers.

Who may or maynot become vampires at night. 

January in the Studio

Aside from the plummeting temperatures and short days, January can be a fine month. I work like a fiend in the studio and try to catch up with new assemblage pieces that intrigue me or speak to the season. My latest epiphany was taking the common name of plants and creating something that pokes fun at the absurdity of it all. With Valentine's day on the horizon, my first was bleeding hearts or Dicentra spectabilis. The hearts in this case are human.

I have a couple of Jack-in-the-pulpits coming together with a long list of possibilities. Skunk cabbage might be the most difficult of all; think about it, a skunk and a cabbage?

The hearts began with a wand titled "Cupid's Aim". I needed a small to midlin sized heart and that began a process of tiny hearts, an inch or so in size, made from clay. 

As with previous wands, this one is attached to its holder via magnets so it can be held and pointed as needed. 

The next set of projects are in anticipation of my annual trip to New Orleans with a set theme. The theme this year is noir, which is defined as:

 crime fiction featuring hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings

Our color palette will be limited to black and white, a real challenge. The loosely defined historical time frame is prohibition years (1920-1933), suits, hats, tommy guns, etc...

In my soft exploration I have started with characters that I create with a wire frame or an armature and move to tin foil covering with clay to finish.  Only 1 is finished and he's a crooner. Like I said soft.

There is resistance to black and white.