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.

I mentioned earlier that I wanted to do a series. Well, here is what I have so far. They are "desktop" mosaics- each have an "anchor" or primary focal point - I now have all of these pieces for sale at the Alexandria Museum of Art. I really enjoy making these- -I simplified the steps to make them- I used a piece of wedi board with a thin layer of colored thinset and insert it into a frame. Then I mask the frame and make the mosaic- no grouting and no painting! I'm going to make a few more to take to the San Souci gallery in Lafayette. I'm also about to begin 3 commissions- my friend that I made the table for (see Cyprium) found more rocks and wants me to do some pieces for her family members. Should be fun!

I finished the above piece yesterday (which will be a table top)- I named it "Cyprium" - which is the original word for copper the Romans used. It means "metal from Cyprus". Since the rock and mineral samples I used came from one of the Cyprus copper mines, I thought the name fit. Overall I'm pleased with the piece- of course, there are some things I would think about doing differently- I lost one of the colors after I grouted, so I would not use that color again and I think I would add a bit more movement--but maybe not. I'll have to look at it a while. I hope my friends that I made it for are pleased. they may come see it today (I still have to seal it) - but with everyone trying to recover from Hurricane Gustav they may not make it.

I began my mosaic table and am almost half of the way through - here is the first part. The other half is going to be lighter with gold highlights. I'm enjoying working with the mexican smalti - it is so easy to cut. I'm making the individual pieces of smalti a little larger that I would like- but I decided to do so since it is a table and I think it would make a more level surface.

I've put aside my marble piece below to begin a commission-actually I have not done much in the studio in a couple of months. I've primarily been spending my spare time assisting with an Artist Development Workshop that was held a couple of weeks ago and also working on the committee for the Louisiana Craft Guild's new website. It's going to be killer!
My new commission is a small table made with Mexican smalti and rock samples. I'll take a few "work in progress" photos in a few days. I also need to get busy producing some things to sell- I've agreed to do a booth (actually share a booth) at the World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) Marketplace in New Orleans again this year. They have moved the date to the end of October- still not much time!

I've been primarily working on one piece since January, 2008--I worked on it for a few weeks-decided I hated it and put it aside. Then-- I went to the SAMA Summit in April and got inspiration! I decided that I might be able to "save" the piece with the background. I was not happy the primarily designs in the piece-- which I actually started in a class with Emma Biggs in a 2007 SAMA workshop. The design just was not what I envisioned. Another thing happened that made me return to this piece--free marble!! I went to a local marble, granite and tile place- and the guy there pointed to a giant scrape pile and said- take all you want! Of course, I have to settle for the colors they have- but they have some gorgeous scrapes and some scrapes of very expensive marble. A mosaic artist's dream! So- even if I end up hating --I know I will have learned something from this piece. It is my first piece that is primarily marble, so I'm learning how to cut marble and how to use my hammer and hardie. Above is a "sneak preview" - the piece is about 24" x 30"- the section above is about 8" x 5".

Alexandria Museum of Art Workshop


Here are several of the works created by my adult students in the mosaic workshop I taught at the Alexandria Museum of Art in April, 2008. We had a small but creative group! None of the students had ever done mosaics before- I was very impressed with their accomplishments. The workshop was done under the Museum's "Art Smart" Program.

Here is a new small piece. I've been thinking a lot about doing some small works that I can sell in the museum shop or the LA Crafts Guild galleries, that would be affordable. (translate- that would SELL!) I may actually give this one to the museum for their fundraiser. This is a bit different process for me--I start with the frame, and then make a mosaic that fits. I've generally gone with a small or no frame - I really had fun doing this piece- probably because I could actually finish it in a day or two and see a final product- plus no pesky painting the frame or grouting!

Lots of news to report since my last entry. I now have several mosaic pieces for sale at the store Barnwell Center in Shreveport. Here is their web site for information on how to find them-although they do not have my pieces listed yet:

http://www.barnwellcenter.com/the%20store%20at%20the%20Barnwell%20Center.htm

I've signed up to go to the SAMA Conference (Society of America Mosaic Artist) in Miami the first week in April- looking forward to taking a workshop, "Listen to the Rocks with Bill Buckingham and Sophie Drouin". I have one other spot for a workshop left- but can not decide what to take - maybe I'll just save my money and buy more stuff at the vendor market!

I joined the Contempary Arts Guild, a local guild in Alexandria. We have a show opening Sunday at Capitol One Bank and I will have a couple of pieces in the show.



Also, I'm doing another workshop- at the Alexandria Museum of Art. They have a series called "Art Smart". which is a basic introduction to a particular medium. The workshop will be held April 26th & 27th. It is free to members and I think will cost $10 for non-member--this is a DEAL! The material will cost more than that.

I've started my marble mosaic with ammonites. I like marble but I have to learn how to make better cuts with it. I'm also not happy with my design now that I am half way through it! I have summoned help though- so we'll see what happens! It certainly will be a learning experience. It is also the largest thing I've done to date.

Oh yes, and I must mention the new mosaic magazine- "Mosaic Art Now". It is the brainchild of Bill Buckingham. I got my first issue this week and it is very well done. Right now it is yearly, but I hope he has enough interest to do it at least quarterly. There is some amazing talent in that magazine. Here is the web site: http://www.mosaicartnow.com/ - check it out!!

Latest news-- I sold my Fleur du Coeur piece! yipee- Christmas money! I made some change to the piece. I'm about to start my piece that began in the design in for at SAMA in 3/06, a workshop with Emma Biggs. I'm looking forward to beginning this piece. In other news, I accepted a postition as a member on the Louisiana Craft's Guild board. I think this guild is going places - there lots of exciting ideas to buid the guild --I'm loooking forward to it!

Here is my latest piece. I'm still working on a title.

I love Elaine Goodwin's work & style. Not that this is in any way as complex or sophisticated as her pieces, but I tried to use some of the elements and materials that she uses in this piece. I guess you could say it is "inspired by". I've done several "inspired by" pieces... guess I am still looking for my own voice. The material in this work is marble, smalti, & gold. It's a very simple piece, but I really like it.

I'm about to start on a piece that I started in a design class at SAMA last year. I'm still trying to finalize the design and materials I am going to use. But sometimes you just have to get started and see what happens!

I taught my first mosaic workshop the 1st weekend in October. It was to a group of kids in South Louisiana. They each did an 8" x 8" mosaic using vitreous glass tiles and learned to use wheeled nippers. Here is the mosaic that they did for the Steve Irwin Memorial mural that will be installed at the Australian Zoo. It's of Mike the Tiger, a tribute to Mike V as well as Steve Irwin. I thought it turned out well. Other good news-- I sold "Eclipse"! (see my blog in March,2007)

Above is a photo of my booth at the Louisiana Crafts Marketplace. It was held on Magazine Street in New Orleans in conjunction with the 1st World Cultural Economic Forum that was sponsored by the Lt. Governor's office. This was my first actual booth- it was a lot of work, but fun. There were 52 Louisiana artisans there and most had amazing work! I was proud to be associated with the guild. The Lt. Gov. , his staff and dignitaries from the 14 countries represented also attended the Market Place. Next year they are planning to expand the idea.

I actually sold 4 pieces- so I was happy. ( and then 2 more right after the show) One was my most expensive picture frame :)

Now on to my next project- preparing to teach a workshop in south Louisiana for a group of gifted kids. This will be my first workshop - so I have a lot of prep work to do. It is being sponsored by a grant, so at least I've already gotten my supply list done.

For some reason, I can not seem to get my links to work- so when I changed my on-line photos to Flickr - the link( or the right of this page) would not take - so here is my new photo link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehbraz/

Now back to the grind! I have been building inventory for a large event in New Orleans sponsored by the LA Crafts Guild and the LA Lt. Governor's office. We will have a Louisiana Craft Market in conjunction with an International Cultural summit. here is a "work in progress"- it still needs to be grouted and painting. It is made mainly from broken parts of one of Doug's fused glass pieces using dichroic glass. More to come....

Since my last blog entry I have retired and been on my retirement cruise with friends- we went to Alaska- it was beautiful and fabulous! I have fallen in love with Orcas. they are probably as smart as humans- and are very social animal. They live in large groups called "pods" and they are a matriarchal society. We also had an amazing experience "mushing" sled dogs on a glacier. They LOVE their job. put this trip on your list of "must dos".

The first weekend in May, 2007 I was a featured demonstrating artist at the MayFest in Leesville, LA. It was a lot of fun- I don't have any photos of my demonstrating- but her is a photo of my friends and me with Irma Thomas- the Queen of Soul- from New Orleans- she just won a Grammy for her latest album. She played Friday night- and was great! Better seeing her in small Leesville where you can be right next to the stage - than fight thousands to see her at JazzFest. What a down to earth great person she is-- and looks pretty fabulous for a grandma!

I also met some other great artist. I've written a proposal to teach a workshop for gifted kids in South Louisiana-- it will also include one day of learning flameworking and making glass beads-- that will give me an opportunity to learn that then I can either make flat beads for my mosaics or regular beads to use on my fish mobiles. I'll keep you posted on that. Well- only 2 more weeks until I retire-- it is a very surreal feeling- I don't think I will really believe it until after it happens!