Here are a couple of photos of my "organic" looking form that I made in Sherri W. Hunter's workshop a few months ago.
Sherri is a wonderful teacher- and a great problem solver! Last year she won first place in the Best Architectural category at the Mosaic Arts International (MAI) Juried exhibit for her wonderful "Swimming Tiger" benches (we'll forgive her that they are Auburn tigers rather than LSU Tigers!). Check them out at:
http://www.sherriwarnerhunter.com/Tiger%20Benches.htm

Next month I am scheduled to take a 5 day Abstract Mosaic workshop with my friend, Lynne Chinn in Dallas at the Creative Arts Center.

Lynne was generous enough to ask if I would bring my form over so that we can "sit and ponder" my next step with the form-which will be to make it into an abstract mosaic. (Although I will say I 'm kind of getting to like it just as it is). Lynne won Best in Show last year at the MAI Juried exhibit with her incredible "Undulate"--check it out at: http://www.lcmosaics.com/portfolio/index.html


So I'm hoping that maybe--just maybe, with recent training by two of the best modern day mosaic artist, I might be able to make a piece that I feel will be good enough to enter into juried exhibits. Of course, it will probably take me a year or more to finish it! I'll keep you posted.

Here is the second in a series of 3 mosaics --the first one was Anthology I (see below). This one is (obviously) Anthology II. I think I am more pleased with the way II turned out than I. Even though this one is smaller and does not have as many elements. The material is just so rich, for me, that makes the piece. I love the iron (or maybe it's copper or a combo of both) ore that has the patina. Now on to the 3rd one-which I have started--it will be the same size and shape as this on. I hesitate to call it a Triptych--even though that was what it was meant to be, because I did not have the first piece when I started this one so it does not "exactly" match up--but they were made to be placed next to each other with a continuing flow and line.

I also have a video of Mr. Barr, who received the first Anthology (the next 2 are for his sons), explaining the material in the piece and where the material came from. He was very pleased with the mosaic. I'm hoping I can figure out how to post part of the video.

Anthology I --finally finished!

I still need to clean it up a bit-then it is on to the other 2 matching pieces that will make it a triptych. I really like this piece-- the materials are so wonderful. There area couple of things that I might have done differently (like the white marble) but not much.

This piece has so many different types of minerals in it- I'm not sure what they all are! I do know marble, iron ore, pyrite, chrysocolla, malicate. I don't know what the green colored stone is- or the black with crystals running through it. Any ideas? Anyone?

Below is a close up-- i love the areas with the mineral "dust".

Great news! I received a grant from Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation (http://www.culturaleconomy.org/index.php ) that will pay for all of my costs to go to "Concrete Camp" with Sherri Warner Hunter in Bell Buckle Tenn. http://www.sherriwarnerhunter.com/Workshops%20in%20Bell%20Buckle.htm

WhooHoo!

In other news-- the Louisiana Crafts Guild site has gone through "phase 2" and we now have an on line store and I have updated my web page on the site. Click on the link on the right to check it out!

Here is my latest -- all I have left to complete is the upper left background. This is going to be a triptych - it is a commission made for a friend-- the same one I made the table for- this will be for her father and brothers. I have great material to work with! I'm still trying to identify all of the rock samples she gave me. I do know that all came from a copper mine. I'm using marble in the background and the dark blue is smalti she brought to me from Murano. I also still need to think of a name.

Here area a couple of "side views" to show you the depth. The thing I love (and hate) about photographing my work is that when I look at the photo all of the flaws jump out at me! I'm also trying a new technique in this piece. I've been reading a book about Jeanne Reynal's work. She used the left over dust from cutting stone and glass in her mosaics. What I had left over was quite beautiful- so I incorporated areas in the mosaic where I tapped it into the thinset base.

Well obviously I have not posted in a while. I am working on one of my most favorite pieces that I have ever done. A commission using wonderful natural material-- it will be a triptych. I'll post a photo as soon as I finish the first one.