Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Choosing Imagery

Last week I discussed the applications and techniques involved in working in glass. Using decals or screen printing in order to create the art. But what is it that we artists are interested in showing you? What drives us to put the images we do onto our art work?

So much of this is answered by who we are and where we come from and where we live. It also matters where we are in our development in this process.
When I was young, in my twenties, I lived in Chicago and made leather belts and bags I was more interested in learning color and composition. I buried my head in Matisse art books and basically took my imagery from that. I worked in garment leathers, in very bright colors and I stitched them onto leather bags and belts.
 I even made a series of "map" tv bags which had a lot to do with getting a stack of free travel atlases from my boyfriends job.

When I left Chicago and moved to California, I was determined to work with glass and make my own colors and set them in silver. When that journey began I was heavily influenced by the bright and sun filled color palette of the west coast. I transferred this into my glass stones and used my art education from UW Wisconsin where I fell in love with minimal art. Images were not even a factor for over twenty years of my art making efforts.

Since I began working in the wall pieces in late 2011,  I started with a basic concept of "the face." That was what I started with so I did not have to think about much but just working with the materials in a different way.
Now, as I am developing my concepts, what exactly should I be using images for?
To sell? Well, maybe... but it needs to resonant with me and have some meaning if I am going to spend my time making the darn thing. Right now I am happy making my own imaginary people but I would like to incorporate photographs with the work.  As I embark on this journey I can truly say, that my friends who make beautiful work on their paths, shows me that my choices are wonderful and varied!


Another friend who does intricate images with is cloisonne'  enamel jewelry artist from Cleveland Ohio, Michael Romanik. He is inspired by nature and says "Recent inspiration comes from nature: the vibrant plumage of a songbird, the delicate markings of a butterfly wing, the gentle curve of a small branch."
You read about and see more of Michael's work here (his website) and here (his facebook page).

Making images in larger scales crafts can come in so many forms. What got me thinking about this was examining the images I was posting last week and the work of Joseph Cavalieri was something that made me think, will I put patterns with photos? What a great handle he has on this concept. 
This is an image of him putting together his drawings with the patterns he paints on the glass.
Another favorite artist friend is Jenny Mendes. Her ceramics are filled with magical drawings of characters and animals. 
Patterns, drawings and photo's.... it all comes together when we know what we want. Thank you for spending time with me today.

Mothers Day Sale starts Friday on my brand spanking new MOD GLASS GIRL Store!!!




Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Looking at Glass Enamel

My journey into becoming a visual artist with glass is presenting a world of opportunities.

 I am currently exploring ways of using my fusing and cutting skills with flat glass and mixing that up with my painting (not so skilled, ha ha) on watercolor on paper. My ideas of mixing the paper and glass have been in the beginning stages since I first thought of it in November of 2011. There was a brief period of 15 months before that when I was staying in a cabin on the Fox River in Wisconsin where I was mixing photography, painting and mixed media. I felt I needed a break from jewelry production and wanted to explore. These efforts looked something like this.


I had just gotten my new iphone 4 and started photographing the river and was coming up with some really great nature photos. I started seeing white sticks laying in piles next to the river and when I inspected them they had little teeth marks on them. The beavers were busy munching! I used these sticks and since I was close to Lake Michigan I started collection driftwood and rocks fromt he beach and was using them as well. These efforts I labeled as "netski artworks" and tried to sell them at farmers markets but they were a bit arty for that crowd. You can see more of them here.

So when I got back to Georgia in the summer of 2011 I kept up with my glass jewelry and kept thinking about the wall work. Then I was inspired by a friends fused glass work to put the glass on a surface and have it framed. That's what opened me up to mixing the glass with the painting. I started building these "faces" and sort of stuck with that for some time while I was getting used to the change. In the meantime I kept up the jewelry making and I still do. Hard to let go of a well established career and pieces I also love to make. Here is one of my early efforts.


Now I am moving into other designs that don't have faces on them and have even gotten into using words in my pieces. They are a lot of fun to make! Still, I have a desire to grow this idea and have been attracted to many other glass artists I have seen using glass and painting.

Most of these people are using glass ENAMELS which are crushed glass applied to the surface piece of glass. One of my very favorites I found on Facebook is an artist from Edinburgh Scotland named Rachel Elliot. I love her simplicity of designs and the fact that she used very cool shapes to enamel her patterns on. (which is another blog entry, water jet cut glass... but lets not go there now!)  Rachel is silk screening here patterns with glass enamel onto her shapes and firing them on. I really love the effect. Here is an example of her work and you can find her here.



Then through the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts page I discovered an artist who is just now opening a show at their gallery, Joseph Cavalieri, is showing his glass etchings and screen printed enamels. This just really started to get my head spinning about printing on glass. Which is what I had been thinking about anyway since I took silkscreen printing in college (UW Madison) with Professor Dean Meeker.  Here's Joe's work.


Of course, this is not a new thing, images on glass. It's age old all the way back into mediaeval times and the cathedral windows. Ever since I became aware of contemporary art glass I have been a huge fan of Judith Schaechter who is a stained glass artist extroadinaire! I must say though, her imagery is rather dark... which makes it so much more interesting! Check out her website!




 So all these possibilities have my interest in creating images on the glass and on the paper. Or maybe just on glass? I'm not sure yet. It's a journey for sure.  There is glass, there is crushed glass (enamels) and there are different ways of mixing them up. There are also glass decals which are used widely... a commercial process that can instantly transform a piece of glass. Such as this pendant here, found on this website that has glass decals available.





 It's an exciting time for me. Nevertheless, my jewelry calls! I am currently building a new online store I am calling Mod Glass Girl. Check it out! ModGlassGirl.com! It's new!                     lots more to do...                                                      OH, TWO CLASSES COMING UP......................SIGN UP HERE BEFORE THEY FILL UP!




Monday, April 8, 2013

Getting ready for a SHOW


My studio is a mess. Getting ready for an art fair is not a pretty thing to watch. What usually happens is an artist gets ALL their new ideas a week before the event and we try to do the impossible. We try to do it all. For me, just making a list of the things I need to remember is something I forget to do.  What tends to happens is one or two new pieces get actually finished and about 5 other new ideas are started for the next shows after this. 


After I figure out the design on paper I begin to cut out the glass and make decisions about color and placement. Usually while I'm doing this I am also feeding the dog, feeding myself and taking breaks to walk myself and the dog. I am happily going through the mechanics of putting my characters together while wondering if anyone will really care or even like this piece enough to purchase it. I am new to this type of work and not entirely confident of the directions it will go into.  I do have a few ounces of faith that it will appeal to the "right" person and I'll never see it again. Another thing for the list, call my friend with the really good camera to photograph this work so I can use it for a jury shot.  I am also thinking, boy, this is a whole lot different than doing metal work for my jewelry before a show. The whole process is terribly exciting for me because I am not locked into the same way of doing things as I have been in the past 22 years. I am still making my beautiful jewelry but right now I am having a hot romance with these pictures. 




In the meantime, I'm scoring, snapping and sawing away. Thinking, I hope I don't mess this up and break it in the wrong spot. I have a very limited amount of colored sheets left since I started this way of working. With the jewelry, because it was so small, I could go for years without buying glass. But now, I am running out and I better make more money so I can replenish the supply. In these times, it's sketchy. So I use what I have and am careful with what I got. There are very good reasons I price my work the way I do and part of that has to do with how expensive this hand made glass from Bullseye Glass from Portland, Oregon is. It ain't cheap! 


I had these cool people I built in glass for a different art piece I made. They were from a show in New Orleans I did at Thomas Mann's Gallery I/O. After they sent the "martini project" back to me I packed the little guys away. They were so fragile. Not really jewelry proof. Then I got the idea to add them to a painting. Because I drilled holes in the already I thought it would be cool to hang them.

 So this project is coming together, almost finished anyhow. In the meantime, I am working on extra display options using tables with the few walls I have. Set up is a bitch but the booth will look good. I'm pretty good at that. Still, it will take up an evening to get the skirts and legs and shelving tightened up. Oh, I have to finish a few smaller ones too.... I like the new "Eye Love You" pieces I made.... I'm getting better at them! I'm also working on a big piece called "The Land of Positive Thinking" that has lots of "signs" in it. I'm looking forward to that.


Yes, my lovely art fair attendees, it does look like I'm having fun. For the most part I do enjoy making this work. The hard parts are not knowing if I'll make enough to cover all the costs of living and to keep going. This lifestyle certainly keeps me on my toes and I think, it part, it has something to do with my desires to create new and original mixed media art that will make people smile.


This coming weekend, April 13th and 14th, 2013, I will be participating in "Spring Festival on Ponce" in Atlanta Georgia. I am in Booth #P15. Please come or tell your friends in Atlanta!

I have another show featuring my paintings AND jewelry on Mother's Day weekend, May 11th and 12th, 23nd Annual Colors Festival of Arts in the Historic Town Square – Roswell, Georgia

 To see the latest postings on my newest work and all my latest ideas I ponder, visit me on Facebook at Studio Mod Glass.

My website is StudioModGlass.com! Check out the WORKSHOPS I am offerings later this month. I have many shows in May and June so I won't be teaching again until July.

I am honored to be asked to share my musings of life as a self employed craft artist here in Athens Georgia with the ATHENS PATCH. An online daily diary of what is happening around here. Thanks go out to the editor Rebecca McCarthy for asking me.

Time to make a list!









Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Creating "Spirit in the Sky"

The process for creating the glass and watercolor painting

SPIRIT IN THE SKY

IT STARTS WITH THE DRAWING...

THE COLORS ARE FILLED IN....


 THE GLASS IS CUT TO MATCH THE DRAWING


THE FIGURES ARE CAREFULLY LAID OUT ON THE KILN SHELF


 THE FIGURES GO INTO THE KILN TO BE FIRED TO 1400 DEGREES F.


THE PAPER AND BOARD ARE PREPARED FOR PAINTING



THE PAINTING IS DONE WITH WATERCOLORS.

 THE FIGURES ARE LAID OUT ON THE PAINTING WITH THE MAT BOARD AND GLUED DOWN.


JUST SEEING HOW THE BLACK FRAME LOOKS BEFORE THE FINAL FRAMING



THE FACES AND DETAILS ARE PAINTED ONTO THE GLASS WITH AN ENAMEL BLACK PAINT

THE FINAL PIECE. 12" WIDE BY 22" LENGTH

THIS PIECE IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE 
prints of all glass & paper works coming soon! 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

New Art Fair Booth *** Paintings AND Jewelry

My booth at Athfest 2012

Athfest 2012, glass painting and jewelry

Top of jewelry case.

Showing the Mondrian Collection

Showing HEARTS

Corner of jewelry case, showing Space Ball posts

Jewelry under glass

Two Tones

Showing Romeo and Juliet glass paintings

Back wall of glass paintings (all my big paintings are at the White Tiger show)