New Year's Eve and I'm looking forward to projects for the New Year. In February hope to see all of my Mosaic friends in Austin at the SAMA conference. I've got to come up with a final concept for my 3D structure. I've got some ideas but nothing solid-thinking on the lines of a comment on the state of our planet- I've been collecting all sorts of "debris" and think I may incorporate it into this piece. Then I have 2 other unfinished projects to complete. I know attending the conference will give me inspiration! Happy New Year!

As an exercise in taking my art seriously, I applied to the Mosaic Arts International competitive exhibition with my work “Relationships”. It was just an exercise- to get used to applying for competitions- I never dreamed in a million years that I would actually be accepted. Well, faint and fall over- I was!!! This competition is in conjunction with the annual Society of American Mosaic Artists Summit which is held each year in a different part of the country. (It will be held in Austin, TX in 2/11)

It’s well attended by Mosaic artists from all over the world. The biggest names in mosaics attend and- luckily for us, teach workshops. I’ve been to several – the workshops are invaluable. My first thought when I read the email telling me I’d been accepted (after the shock passed!) was a deep feeling of gratitude for all of those artists that give so much of themselves through teaching. It’s really all I’ve been able to think about- those that encouraged me and taught me. From my first teacher, Sonia King- who I was lucky enough to “find” in Dallas and who still inspires me through her cutting edge art and her advocation of taking mosaics to a higher plane; Emma Biggs and her wonderful workshops on design (in which the inspiration for this piece was born); Sherri Warner Hunter-who is fearless in exploring new techniques and avenues for her art and her advice to “think big”; my friend, Lynne Chinn who gave me honest and valuable critiques; Carolina Zanelli who taught at the Spilimbergo mosaic School in Italy- the best class I’ve taken on mosaic techniques; Sophie Drouin & Bill Buckingham’s “Listening to the Rocks” workshop.

The mosaic world lost a great champion when Bill lost his battle with prostate cancer last week. He did so much to promote mosaics- the Mosaic Atlas, Mosaic Yearbook, and the fine magazine Mosaic Art Now. He did much to encourage me with this work and most of the material I purchased from him. He was a friend and I’ll really miss him. Strange as it might sound- I felt his “presence” when I read my acceptance e-mail.

I’m going to use my blog to also thank all of my friends that encouraged me and helped me along the way-Richard who edited my artist statement; Linda who made my art look beautiful with her wonderful photography; Lisa, who tried to teach me how to draw!; Doug, who sat on the floor with me when I first began this project and played with marble tiles to try to get the ideas flowing. Also, my niece Robin (the real artist) who encouraged me and told me “Any one can learn to draw”. Finally, my Mother (from whom we got the “artistic gene”) who encouraged me to appreciate art-even thought she would not let me use her “expensive oil brushes” (but did let Barbara Wells!) I never found my “medium” while she was alive- I guess a part of me wanted to show her I could do it- I wish she were here to share this moment.

It's always interesting (and sometimes a bit scary)to hear someone else's interpretation of your work. I've been mulling over names and and how to "explain" my newest mosaic (above). The way I see it- and have been thinking about it was that it is about forms and shapes and maybe time. Construction , deconstruction; is it the forming of something new or the end of something old. I've been trying to think of "heady" names for it-"Abandonment of the Aether" (what does that even mean?). My friend, Linda (who also photographed my work) looked at it and immediately began talking about relationships- and life and interaction between people and some relationships forming while others are breaking up. Wow. Now I am going to simply name it "Relationships".

Hello Blog. It's been a while. I put aside my mosaics while remodeling and painting my home, vacationing on the beach with my dogs (and other family), and a number of other distractions. But I'm back in the studio now spending several hours a day nipping & cementing. Flashback to 2008- my first marble piece I became frustrated with- I have now begun anew -I've worked through several problems, and it truly has been a learning experience for me. My goal is to finish it in time to enter it into the Mosaic International Competition sponsored by SAMA - the deadline is in Sept. I have no illusions that I will actually be accepted (I probably have about the same odds as winning the lottery- BUT- you don't enter, you can't win). I find that just knowing it will be entered in a competition makes me do better work (sad isn't it, I have to trick myself!) And I just think the whole entering process adds a sense of taking it seriously -- I'm going to have it professionally photographed also. I hope to have it completed by the end of this week and may post photos then- I still have a couple of places that I may need to rip out and redo. Ripping out has been one of my learning experiences. At first ripping out parts of my mosaic was disheartening & I really resisted - but now I find it a bit freeing! When I do not correct a mistake I find myself fretting over it every time I look at the mosaic or a photo. Learning to redo areas was not an "ah-ha" moment- but a "duh!" moment.

Lately I've found that I've been spending a lot of time reading other people's blogs rather than writing mine own. Here two of my favorite blogs right now:

http://www.mosaic-blog.com/ - Emma Biggs' new(ish) blog. an interesting and thought provoking look into her world and amazing mind.

http://mosaicartnow.blogspot.com/ - Nancie does a wonderful job of scouring the cyber-world for interesting mosaic related sites, news, reviews, ect.

Not to mention keeping up with Sonia King's Facebook page- lately all of her "friends" have been drooling over her new studio.

I don't think I ever "reported" on my workshop in Dallas with Lynne Chinn - it was educational and fun! Thanks to the H1N1 virus we had a small class- which gave us lots of teacher one-on-one time not to mention the opportunity to get to know the other class members. Lynne is extremely knowledgable and giving.

Happy New Year- may it be productive and creative!

Oh- I need to mention--I have been getting a lot of weird comments that are obviously some sort of spam- so, I don't post anoymous comments- please leave your name!

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.