A Work of Art Studio

Cultivate Art

2012-02-10T17:46:00.000-08:00

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine."

— Gordon B. Hinckley

Check out the digitilization of my sketchbook!

The Sketchbook Project has taken pictures of my art journal and they are ready to be viewed.

Here are a few that I took at the studio before I sent it off...

You can check it out at this address:

http://www.arthousecoop.com/users/aWorkOfArtStudio/artwork

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

2012-01-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

A Job Well Done

2012-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

"It always seems impossible until it's done."
— Nelson Mandela

I have been working on this mosaic project for about a year (two, from the time the client contacted me by email). She googled "tree frog mosaic" and found this picture:

Not a very good picture of it, this was taken from the website http://www.mosaic-tile-

guide.com/gallery/v/Molly+Perusse/?

Time to get more current pictures of that original Kitchen backsplash...

Client Kim basically left the design part up to me, saying that she liked everything she had seen of mine; such wonderful trust;)

So, I love the Flora and Fauna and that is what I decided to go with for her design.

These are the original drawings I made and emailed to her to get her approval; she had sent me templates of the areas to be covered in her kitchen, leaving space for light switch plates and spaghetti pot faucet.

I added a bit of color to part of it to give her a (very loose) idea of some color.

I used stained glass for this mosaic and so the color design changed as I found colored glass to fit certain areas.

This is Kim's kitchen, the picture she sent me to give me an idea of the space. Since there are such vertical lines, I decided to add some horizontal "flow" to the design by having a tree branch move across the space.

Here is the stove section partially done. I worked on and finished all the critters first and then started the branches and flowers. The Michigan "Tulip trees" or magnolias were in bloom last Spring when I was working on the design; that was my floral inspiration. I took several pictures of the trees around my town to copy the flowers and then made my own color design for the mosiac.

Laying different size pieces to check the background.

Here is a shot of the branch "flow" to create a horizontal feel in the mosaic.

Here are the finished panels laid out at my shop.

Taped into a box for the trip to upstate New York.

Here is the corner sink panel glued into place.

I covered the pieces with clear contact paper for transport and it made it easier to push into place and spread the pressure over the glued back. I have used a cardboard strip before.

I removed the contact paper in bits and pushed to make sure it was evenly glued to the wall.

Once I had it all glued there was a question about the light switch plate. I offered the possibility of covering one with matching mosaic pattern, they took me up on that. I worked on it that night and grouted it the next day. What a difference this plate made to the overall piece.

I also sneaked my initials into this piece, since I can't seem to remember to do this on a regular basis:(

The mosaiced switch plate added some dimension to the piece. This is after grouting.

So happy to have added mirror to the mix, it complements her stainless steel appliances beautifully.

The overall finished mosaic and the happy owner!

What a super great experience to travel cross country to install this piece.

Onto the next...

The Sketchbook Project and my Musings about it

2011-12-30T17:27:00.000-08:00

This is my sketchbook for "The Sketchbook Project", under the title of

"Encyclopedia of" and I chose Encyclopedia of Divinity, which to me is a very open ended topic dealing with spirituality, and I like to think, whimsy. The greatest tragedy, I think, would for the universe not to have a sense of humour about life and all its goings on.

Since I have seemingly been obsessing over angels the last few years I figured I would keep that theme going a while longer. I long for the night when one of my "flying dreams" isn't just flapping as hard as I can while getting nowhere and suddenly turns into one of soaring easily in the sky without having to dodge around power lines and trees.

Divinity: to refer to powers or forces that are universal, or transcend human capacities.

To refer to qualities of individuals who are considered to have some special access or relationship to the divine.

I love collage and so decided to throw some pages together with some beloved quotes and thoughts about divinity/spirituality/some things of some importance to me.

What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and plucked a strange and beautiful flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand? Ah, what then? ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

There is nothing more beautiful or peaceful than your sleeping children.

Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty; Believe me, that Angel's hand is there. ~Fra Giovanni

Follow your Bliss. ~Joseph Campbell

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. ~Henry David Thoreau

Once in an age God sends to some of us a friend who loves in us, not a false-imagining, an unreal character, but looking through the rubbish of our imperfections, loves in us the divine ideal of our nature,--loves, not the man that we are, but the angel that we may be. ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

Here with a picture of my 2010 ArtPrize Angel "Luminary"~the Light Bringer.

You are a volume in the Divine book. A mirror to the power that created the universe.

Whatever you want, ask it of yourself.

Whatever you're looking for can only be found inside of you. ~Rumi

"Truce"

The only problem with adding thick and heavy collaged pages into a lightweight sketchbook is that it gets quite thick and, unfortunately, more than half way through, a few of the pages came loose from the binding. I ended up wiring the whole book together and adding a thick string to keep it all together.

My work table is organized chaos.

Choice is a divine teacher, for when we choose

we learn that nothing is ever put in our path without a reason. ~Iyanla Vanzant

Joy is the serious business of heaven. ~CS Lewis

I love this quote and wrote it on an overlaying piece of vellum to get the collage and quote together.

"I believe there is something of the divine mystery in everything that exists.

We can see it sparkle in a sunflower or a poppy.

We sense more of the unfathomable mystery in a butterfly that flutters from a twig--

or a goldfish swimming in a bowl.

But we are closest to God in our own soul.

Only there can we become one with the greatest mystery of life.

In truth, at very rare moments

We can experience that we ourselves are that Divine Mystery.

~Jostein Gaarder

You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is. ~Will Rogers

Creation is prayer.

To create is to pray. ~Dan Wakefield

Almost done, I have two more pages to add, will show those when they are done, and this has to be postmarked by January 31st. Then, it will be off on tour with the Sketchbook Project 2012. I will also upload the link to view this online when it is posted on the Arthouse Coop's website.

This has been great fun and seriously time consuming; on to the next project.

Elves Abound in Lakeview!

2011-12-03T14:16:00.001-08:00

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy,

candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

~Buddy the Elf

And, of course, Gumdrops!

Welcome to Christmas in Lakeview!

What a fun time we had today in the shop. 63 elves and their grownups visited A Work of Art Studio to make a gumdrop tree and get their picture taken with the "ArtPrize Angel". Thanks to everyone who came out. Some fabulous local artisans were also in attendance to share their talents and beautiful wares.

Check out these special elves who came a calling today:

Here's wishing everyone a very safe and happy holiday

season and I hope to see some of you for art classes or

salon services in the future. Peace be with you!

Another Successful Soap Class!

2011-11-19T14:36:00.001-08:00

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.
Yiddish Proverb quotes

Mixing the lye.

Adding the coloring and scent.

Using an electric mixer to speed up the process.

Pouring it into the mold! Great job, ladies! Such a fun class. And thanks to Julie Sullivan for teaching another class.

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. -Yiddish Proverb

2011-11-18T16:36:00.001-08:00

"A human being weighing 70 kilograms contains among other things:
-45 litres of water
-Enough chalk to whiten a chicken pen
-Enough phosphorus for 2,200 matches
-Enough fat to make approximately 70 bars of soap
-Enough iron to make a two inch nail
-Enough carbon for 9,000 pencil points
-A spoonful of magnesium ."

— Erlend Loe (Naive. Super)

I don't know if "human fat" would be good for lathering? But we discovered that coconut oil is great to make soap bubbly.
Here is a great article about Soap Making by a great artist and "A Work of Art"

teacher, James Tanis. We all had a super fun time making soap a few weeks ago. James is threatening to have soap making parties at his house with milk from his goats!

By James Tanis

Break out the lard and your favorite Little House on the Prairie book, because the Work of Art Studio and Salon had an old fashioned soap making class! Julie Sullivan brought all of the supplies for this class. Participants chose either all oils for their soap, or a combination of oil and lard, which is pig fat. I chose the lard because I’m a diehard Little House fan.

The only part that made me a little nervous was adding the lye to the water. It was amazing to watch the chemical reaction when the lye was added—it reached over 200 degrees! We all wore protective gear and masks just in case.

Then we added the lye mixture to our oils and lard and stirred and stirred and stirred…I thought our arms would fall off! Eventually, the mixture began to trace, which means it became thicker and I could see the “wave” where my wooden spoon had been.

We all chose various dyes and scents. I chose lavender color and scent, as the pictures show. After mixing these together, it was time to pour the soap into a PVC pipe that I had greased with petroleum jelly. I put paper over each end of the PVC pipe to seal in the liquid, and set it on a shelf for two days.

After 48 hours, I returned to the studio to cut the soap. First, I had to push the soap out of the PVC pipe. Next, I placed it on the wooden soap cutter. Then I sliced one-inch pieces of soap. Now the bars must cure for six weeks, which will be just in time for gift giving for Christmas. Thank you, Julie for this wonderful class!

If you are interested in learning the art of soap making, there is another class being offered this Saturday, November 19. Also, there is a stained glass tree ornament class commencing Tuesday, November 22 at 6 pm. Call Molly Perusse at Work of Art Studio and Salon to sign up at 352-8222.

Here is Julie Sullivan measuring out the lye.

This is soap that has been poured into pvc pipe with butcher paper and duct tape.

Pat is stirring with style!

Kathy and Pat are mixing their lye into water until it reaches the correct temperature, sitting in the front of the shop on Main Street.

What the pvc pipe soap looks like after it's cut. This is lemon with calendula (marigold) petals.

Sisters, Julie and Kathy pouring the lye/water mixture into the oil mixture once they are the same temperature.

Perseverance!

2011-11-14T12:34:00.001-08:00

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."

— Charles H. Spurgeon

Just 244 hours to finish my kitchen backsplash mosaic commission.

I felt like a snail at times, or rather like a slug.

But, baby steps and a bit every day is the key. Imagine if we were given everything we wanted all at once; we wouldn't know what to do or where to start first. Now to just get it to upstate New York and see it installed.

Now onto the next several projects that have been on hold. Happy projecting;) Molly

Not For the Faint of Heart!

2011-11-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Amazing thought for today and every day.

Get out there and speak your mind for the betterment of others.

"Don't exist.
Live.
Get out, explore.
Thrive.
Challenge authority. Challenge yourself.
Evolve.
Change forever.
Become who you say you always will. Keep moving. Don't stop. Start the revolution. Become a freedom fighter. Become a superhero. Just because everyone doesn't know your name doesn't mean you dont matter.
Are you happy? Have you ever been happy? What have you done today to matter? Did you exist or did you live? How did you thrive?
Become a chameleon-fit in anywhere. Be a rockstar-stand out everywhere. Do nothing, do everything. Forget everything, remember everyone. Care, don't just pretend to. Listen to everyone. Love everyone and nothing at the same time. Its impossible to be everything,but you can't stop trying to do it all.
All I know is that I have no idea where I am right now. I feel like I am in training for something, making progress with every step I take. I fear standing still. It is my greatest weakness.
I talk big, but often don't follow through. That's my biggest problem. I don't even know what to think right now. It's about time I start to take a jump. F**k starting to take. Just jump-over everything. Leap.
It's time to be aggressive. You've started to speak your mind, now keep going with it, but not with the intention of sparking controversy or picking a germane fight. Get your gloves on, it's time for rebirth. There IS no room for the nice guys in the history books.
THIS IS THE START OF A REVOLUTION. THE REVOLUTION IS YOUR LIFE. THE GOAL IS IMMORTALITY. LET'S LIVE, BABY. LET'S FEEL ALIVE AT ALL TIMES. TAKE NO PRISONERS. HOLD NO SOUL UNACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR OWN. IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN, IT'S YOUR FAULT.
Make this moment your reckoning. Your head has been held under water for too long and now it is time to rise up and take your first true breath.
Do everything with exact calculation, nothing without meaning. Do not make careful your words, but make no excuses for what you say. F**k em' all. Set a goal for everyday and never be tired."
— Brian Krans (A Constant Suicide)

Let your goal today to check out this website and get talking! Peace be with you.

http://www.occupymi.org/

The Potential To Create

2011-10-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

"There are two basic motivating forces:

fear and love.

When

we are afraid, we pull back from life.

When we are in love,

open to all that life has to offer

with passion, excitement, and

acceptance.

We need to learn to love ourselves first,

in all our

glory and our imperfections.

If we cannot love ourselves, we

cannot fully open to our ability to love others

or our potential to create.

Evolution and all hopes for a better world

rest in the

fearlessness and open-hearted vision

of people who embrace

life."

— John Lennon

I was allowed to let my creative juices flow today when I learned how to

cut linoleum and make a print from my pattern. It is my new

favorite potential art form.

John Bergmeier, a very talented lino cutting print artist,

came all the way from Pontiac, MI to teach this awesome class in my shop.

Here is John's artist statement from his website: www.johnbergmeier.com,

ARTIST STATEMENT

Piece by piece, the experience of each real or imagined person is depicted by certain icons left behind in time, such as images from old children's books, passages from Sunday School, photographs of family, farm tools or other implements, and more. While referencing familiar or traditional themes, these images, as applied in each piece, become intriguingly profound and layered in meaning. These narrative works reflect my fascination with choice and how coincidences converge in our lives to comprise the personal path each of us ultimately walks during our lifetime.

This is one of John's beautiful prints. He brought several to show as examples. This one has several

overlays of different cuts to give it an awesome layered effect. He quite often glues other mixed media to his prints in order to make a more textural statement. John was such a patient and informative

teacher that I credit him with my ease of taking to the craft.

Here is an example of the many "cuts" John uses to create his amazing prints. He quite often

uses plexi-glass to mount the lino cuts to for ease of placement when printing.

Here is John illustrating how to make the cuts on a piece of linoleum.

After using a brayer to spread some black water soluble ink on a piece of plexi-glass, he is rolling the ink on to his lino block and then checking to make sure it is evenly covered.

Here are the lucky students cutting away on their lino blocks.

And here is my lino block after inking it up; this was so much fun that I was giddy!

This is Tillie, one of John's very talented daughters, who is currently getting her Art degree with a minor in lino cutting and block printing. You can see some of her wonderful prints behind her hanging in my shop.Read more about her work here:

http://aworkofartstudio.blogspot.com/2011/02/life-without-art.html

She is also a very talented musician, listen to her perform here: http://www.reverbnation.com/tilliebergmeier

And the great Ben Lambright, who taught writing classes at the shop earlier this year.

Read his beautiful writings here:

http://benwriteswords.wordpress.com/tag/benjamin-t-lambright/

This is what Ben's inked block looked like. Very apropos for the upcoming "Dio De Los Muertos", otherwise known as Halloween. This was Ben's first lino cutting experience also. I get to hang with such a talented bunch of peeps!

And this is my lino block and the print that came from it.

I can't tell you how gratifying it was to carve on this block; way better than peeling old wallpaper off the wall.

Thanks again to John Bergmeier (and his lovely family) for coming to the shop today; what a great pleasure to spend the afternoon with such a talented bunch.

Speak the Language of the Flowers

2011-09-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

"Once I spoke the language of the flowers,

Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,

Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,

And shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed.

Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets,

And joined the crying of each falling dying flake of snow,

Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . . How did it go? How did it go?"

— Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I've been working on mosaic flowers this weekend; trying to speak their language.

I'd like to think I am succeeding, once they are all completed I will work out

the background color (which is tickling my imagination as I glance at these pix).

I will finish all the flowers before I even contemplate too much on the background.

You'll just have to wait and see, just like me;)

I am toying with the idea of arranging to install this myself, this would really put me more at ease, even though the trip will be to upstate New York. I will work more on this idea (and on my husband who will drive me) when I am closer to finishing. Stay tuned for more updates...

In the meantime, don't forget to stop and admire the flowers, even if they are mosaic, and have a safe and happy Labor Day. I will be laboring over a mosaic with happiness. Peace.

Fingers Interlock Like a Beautiful Zipper of Prayer

2011-08-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

"people used to tell me that i had beautiful hands
told me so often, in fact, that one day i started to believe them until i asked my photographer father, “hey daddy could i be a hand model”

to which he said no way,

i dont remember the reason he gave me and i wouldve been upset,

but there were far too many stuffed animals to hold
too many homework assignment to write,
too many boys to wave at
too many years to grow,

we used to have a game, my dad and i about holding hands cus we held hands everywhere, and every time either he or i would whisper a great
big number to the other, pretending that we were keeping track of how many times we had held hands that we were sure, this one had to be 8 million 2 thousand 7 hundred and fifty three.

hands learn more than minds do,
hands learn how to hold other hands,
how to grip pencils and mold poetry,
how to tickle pianos and dribble a basketball,
and grip the handles of a bicycle
how to hold old people, and touch babies ,
i love hands like i love people,

they're the maps and compasses in which we navigate our way through life, some people read palms to tell your future,

but i read hands to tell your past,
each scar marks the story worth telling,
each calloused palm,
each cracked knuckle is a missed punch
or years in a factory,

now ive seen middle eastern hands clenched in middle eastern fists pounding against each other like war drums, each country sees their fists as warriors and others as enemies.

even if fists alone are only hands. but this is not about politics, no hands arent about politics, this is a poem about love, and fingers. fingers interlock like a beautiful zipper of prayer.

one time i grabbed my dads hands so that our fingers interlocked perfectly but he changed positions, saying no that hand hold is for your mom.

kids high five, but grown ups, we learn how to shake hands, you need a firm hand shake,but dont hold on too tight, but dont let go too soon, but dont hold down for too long,

but hands are not about politics, when did it become so complicated. i always thought its simple.

the other day my dad looked at my hands, as if seeing them for the first time, and with laughter behind his eye lids, with all the seriousness a man of his humor could muster, he said you know you got nice hands, you could’ve been a hand model, and before the laughter can escape me, i shake my head at him, and squeeze his hand, 8 million 2 thousand 7hundred and fifty four."
— Sarah Kay

Just thought this was so beautiful and wanted to share it, with a few pictures of my father holding hands. He was so very good at it.

Expand Your Brain Cells with an Art Class!

2011-08-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

So very excited for the Fall line-up of Art classes at Aworkofartstudio.com! (Click on "Studio schedule").
But for those of you who are too giddy to wait, here is the beginning of the line-up, there will be more to come!
Beginning Stained Glass-with James Tanis

Saturday, August 27, 11 am - 2 pm. $30.- all materials included.

Learn all the basics of beginning stained glass creation and leave with

a wonderful heart sun catcher! One 3 hour class. RSVP required.

Polymer Clay Steampunk Jewelry- with Maureen Roslanic

Make a pendant/pin and earrings out of polymer clay base with added

mixed junk parts (watch parts, buttons, old jewelry, etc). Class $20.-

including materials. 2 Saturdays: Sept 24 at 11 am to make base from

polymer clay, Oct 1 to glue parts to finish pieces after they are baked.

Beginning Photography (Camera Basics)- with Jack Johnson

Saturday, September 17, 11 am - 1 pm. $15.-. Bring Camera, instruction

booklet and questions.

Introduction to Linocut Printmaking- with John Bergmeier

www.johnbergmeier.com

Saturday, October 15- 2 - 4 pm. (Price to come...)

Linocut printing is a relief printing process where a design is carved into a block of linoleum using a sharp v-shaped tool. The relief printing process is similar to using an inkpad and stamp in that the image and ink to be transferred to the paper is taken from the surface of the printing block.

This beginning class starts with an introduction to the linocut techniques. Demonstration of techniques will follow with time allowed for all to cut printing blocks and to print them.

Bring a Design and/or drawing that you will make into a print. Supplies will be available for purchase at the shop on the day of the class.

John Bergmeier received his BA from Hastings College, Nebraska and his MFA from Wichita State University, Kansas with a focus on printmaking. He has recently been making prints as a participant of the Wayne State Printmaking Workshop in Detroit. His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions internationally and he has been the recipient of numerous awards in national juried print exhibitions.

Beginning Mosaic Class with Molly Moblo Perusse

Starting again Tuesday, September 6. (4-8 weeks, depending on intricacy of your chosen

design), 6-9 pm. Come and learn the art of direct application on a 12”x12”

wood surface, how to cut, glue and grout a basic mosaic. $60.- including

materials. Or come with your own surface to mosaic. $20.- per square foot, including materials. Pre-registration required.

All classes require an RSVP to 989-352-8222!

Also coming soon:

Oil Painting with Dick Goedge in the "Bob Ross" method (starting in September on Tuesdays), cost is $25.- per 2 week session where you leave with a finished painting.

Braided Wool Rug Class or Broomstick Rug Class with Julie Sullivan: www.Rewovendesigns.etsy.com

And many more. Call today @ 989-352-8222

Also wondering if there is much interest in an after-school program for kids?

Would love some feedback about that option. Email me @aworkofartstudio@me.com.

Strange Flora & Fauna

2011-08-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been out of the blog country for a while, busy working on this commission and generally working full time at the salon, etc. And looking up quotes too;)

"There is at the back of every artist’s mind something like a pattern and a type of architecture. The original quality in any man of imagination is imagery. It is a thing like the landscape of his dreams; the sort of world he would like to make or in which he would like to wander, the strange flora and fauna, his own secret planet, the sort of thing he likes to think about. This general atmosphere, and pattern or a structure of growth, governs all his creations, however varied."

— G.K. Chesterton

Or.... you could just appreciate the little critters and want to copy them somehow.

I do love me some flora and fauna.

Here is the start of the fauna in my commission mosaic:

This is the panel behind the client's stove. Must have male and female cardinal. I have a chickadee in this panel and the second little buddy is in the center panel; I have never seen just one chickadee, dee, dee, always two together.

This is the start of the far left panel behind the client's sink. A luna moth and a hummingbird for starters.

This weekend I will be choosing the flora colors and background glass for the rest. These individual pieces are taking quite some time because they are each so, uh, individual. I have decided the rest will go more quickly since it is all pretty much related in pattern and color.

Thanks for sharing this journey with me. And have a nice day. Don't forget to smell the flora and appreciate the fauna.

Who You Are Comes in Bits & Pieces

2011-07-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

"Leonardo's Mona Lisa is just a thousand thousand smears of

paint. Michelangelo's David is just a million hits with a

hammer. We're all of us a million bits put together the right

way."

— Chuck Palahniuk (Diary)

I finished the Cardinal for my commission kitchen backsplash today!

Bit by bit, little by little, and a "whole" appears just the right way.

Amazingly, bit by bit the motivation for your life comes back to you, which is not

easy when you are grieving the loss of a parent. I have my pattern taped

to one of my Dad's oil paintings to help me think of him as I go on.

"There is never a sudden revelation, a complete and tidy explanation for why it happened, or why it ends, or why or who you are. You want one and I want one, but there isn't one. It comes in bits and pieces, and you stitch them together wherever they fit, and when you are done you hold yourself up, and still there are holes and you are a rag doll, invented, imperfect. And yet you are all that you have, so you must be enough. There is no other way."
— Marya Hornbacher

Every Day Give Yourself a Little Chance...

2011-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

"I learned...that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it

kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and

quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every

day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little

solitude and idleness."

— Brenda Ueland

More flowing and less idleness would be nice, though I am running a full service hair salon as well as working my mosaic magic (a legend in my own mind;)

The point of this quote is that every day you add just a little bit more, to your

picture, to your happiness, to your end to grief, and at the end of the project

you have a beautiful masterpiece to admire. Did I say this was a blog about every day nonsense?

In other words: life. Have a peaceful next little journey.

Starting...

2011-06-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

"Starting isn’t like that. Starting something is not an event; it’s a series of events. You decide to walk to Cleveland. So you take a first step in the right direction. That’s starting. You spend the rest of the day walking toward Cleveland, one step at a time, picking your feet up and putting them down. At the end of the day, twenty miles later, you stop at a hotel. And what happens the next morning? Either you quit the project or you start again, walking to Cleveland. In fact, every step is a new beginning. Sure, you’re closer than you were yesterday or last week, but you’re still..."
— Seth Godin

I'm starting a new mosaic project, a kitchen backsplash for a client in New York. A new project normally takes a great deal of focus and concentration. It has been a very intense last month, to say the least, with the sudden illness and death of my father. I have put starting this off for obvious reasons, but now it is time to get down to it. My head just wasn't in the game when I decided to start with the cardinal. I was playing around with cutting black glass for his eye when I thought about looking through my bead collection; I also have a pretty large junk jewelry bucket. Once I found this old earring, I think my inspiration kicked in. I think he has quite a personality burgeoning. Will keep up the picture log as more gets added. Maybe a new project is good to turn your focus away from grief? We shall see...

Be Yourself

2011-05-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

"To be nobody but

yourself in a world

which is doing its best day and night to make you like

everybody else means to fight the hardest battle

which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."

— E.E. Cummings

Be Yourself and Re-create your world by using your hands!

Here are some recent mosaic class attendee masterpieces!

Patty's Bat for Sam's Room

Linda's Cornucopia.

Linda's Triptych~Blue Wave

Here is a recent Watercolor Class with Sue McCarty

Sue McCarty overlooking Deb's Watercolor

Kathy's Working hard!

Participants learned new ways to make backgrounds!

Linda told her daughter about the class, "I am taking the class with Molly and she is just as dumb as me!" (When it comes to watercolor, anyway;) Linda and her daughter and husband had met me the first night of ArtPrize 2010 at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre; what a shock to meet her at one of my classes!

Linda wasn't as "dumb" as she thought. Here is her second watercolor!

Here is my newest mosaic project (a framed mirror that my husband built for me) which will actually be on hold for a while, I have a commission mosaic backsplash that I am working on for a client in New York. I will add pictures when I have them of that project!

I also just signed up for a cool project for artist's: The Sketchbook Project.

Check it out @http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/features

or their blog here @http://arthousecoop.tumblr.com/

Lots of classes (Kids and Big Kids!) coming up at the shop. Check them out @http://www.aworkofartstudio.com/http___web.me.com_aworkofartstudio/Studio_Schedule.html

Belly Up!

2011-03-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks I had the pleasure of taking part in a Creative Writing Class @http://aworkofartstudio.blogspot.com/2011/03/write-on.html

and was asked to write a 'short story'. I don't know that I achieved that end

but my instructor, Benjamin Lambright (Writing Guru Extraordinaire)

thought it had possibilities as a poem. I will be tweaking it in the next couple

weeks but here is my first draft for your gastronomic enjoyment.

Ode To A Sagging & Musical Mid Section

It precedes me wherever I go, my protuberant and melodious mid section.

Such a sad state of affairs and quite nonsensical to dwell on in the big scheme of things.

It seems to be one of the many female concessions to producing offspring and growing older.

Imagine releasing the air from a very large balloon and being left with the flaccid remains.

My children pat my belly like it is their personal fetish and enjoy a good laugh when we settle down after dinner and my gut starts its own rendition of the "Flight of the Bumblebee".

I always prided myself with the gift of resiliency and good digestion.

Then welcome baby one, baby two and what all have to deal with eventually, gravity, and the mid section chorus.

No amount of exercise or stretching will reshape skin that has been stretched ten times its original size back to Barbie doll tautness. And no amount of food enzymes will keep the intestinal racket from occurring. Eat a bowl of 'Kashi' cereal and let the composition begin.

Just the other day, I invited an attractive twenty-something male client to be shampooed after his haircut was finished. As he swiveled in the chair he instinctively reached to brush his clippered hair from my protruding belly where it had landed.

Awkward.

Good thing a healthy dose of apathy and resignation come with the beginnings of middle age as well as the tendency to say whatever comes to mind. But that is another story altogether.

I am learning to love my outer innertube.

I feel a song coming on.

I was trolling the net for pictures of a sagging midsection and came across this amazing artist, Federico Uribe. Give yourself a visual feast and check out his incredible works of art @http://www.federicouribe.com/.

Write On!

2011-03-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

"but paper and ink have conjuring abilities of their own.

arrangements of lines and shapes, of letters and words on a

series of pages make a world we can dwell and travel in."

— Lynda Barry (What It Is)

Creative Writing Class started at the Studio

Saturday, March 12 with

a group of 6 excited participants!

Benjamin Lambright was a worthy

instructor, giving several great exercises

to get the imagination jump started.

"The scariest moment is always just before you start."
— Stephen King (On Writing)

I will soon have a short story or poem to share when we get rolling with a few classes.
We still have room next Saturday for some more participants. So, get your writing pens out and start
conjuring some story ideas to share with the rest of us...

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."
— Neil Gaiman

Life Without Art?

2011-02-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

Life without ART, by Darlene Lewis

Can you ask a baby not to cry?
can you ask a bird not to fly?
can you ask a flower not to bloom?
life without art is death after doom
life without movement still and content
worthless meaningless time is spent
idle just slumber just plain and bland
no strokes no pens or pencil in hand
no music no prose no blisters on toes
no broken hearted dancers no shows
only true artists understand and know
how life would be so grey and dark
life without love is life without art
rehearsals and go sees and cattle calls
no models no musicians at all
no mp3s or mov's nor any html
no lyrics lost no cds to sell
no beats no bangs no blues no rock
no jazz no reggatone no not
museum walls crying for frames
artifacts unknown fossil names
markers paint oil and lead
art cannot live if it is dead
Art is a baby waiting to be
nurtured and loved eternally
Art is a Rose in full bloom
Life without art is Death after Doom

New Lino Block Print Artist @

A Work of Art Studio

Welcome to Tillie Bergmeier

Growing up in Pontiac, MI, in an artistic family, Tillie Bergmeier draws inspiration from life in the city, as well as her Christian faith. The subject matter of her prints is often a combination of friends and family members and city scenes. She now studies printmaking at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, where she is experimenting with photo transfer and collage methods.

Tillie has been most inspired by her father, John Bergmeier, who has a Masters in Print Making.

Check his work out @

http://www.johnbergmeier.com/

Imperfections are Lovable

2011-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

"The writer must be true to truth." And that's a killer, because the only way you can describe a human being truly is by describing his imperfections. The perfect human being is uninteresting... It is the imperfections in life that are lovable.~ Thomas Mann

Unfortunately, we most of us don't like pictures taken or shown of our "imperfections", but we can all relate with them. Some of my favorite pictures of my family and friends are those taken in full laughter. The older I get the more I love to be reminded of those jovial moments.

I have been doing much reading since ArtPrize ended in October. My brain and schedule needed the rest from such a demanding creative schedule. I have been working on finishing up a few unfinished projects and waiting for some ideas from a client in New York for a mosaic kitchen backsplash. As soon as I start that project I will share the process with y'all.

By the way, this is one of my favorite pictures of my little Sweetie when she first tried bananas.

Here is also the finished mosaic table I had started in my last blog entry.

It is the "imperfect" nature of mosaic that makes it my favorite pastime.

Hooting a Few Hoots!

2010-11-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

The man who doesn't relax

and hoot a few hoots voluntarily,

now and then,

is in great danger

of hooting hoots and standing on his head

for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse,

a little later on.

~Elbert Hubbard

Here is my new Streetside Chalkboard advertising art classes.

Otherwise known as my "monster's inc." door.

Here is a mosaic iris I am working on for a small outdoor table. I have applied it to mesh and then will glue it to cement board.

Here are my two grapevine trees for the front of the shop.

And here they are in their pots with lights.

Vanessa is penciling out a frame for the indoor chalkboard. Soon she will paint it and it will host a salon menu.

These are just a few things I (&Vanessa) have been working on

since ArtPrize has been done. The Luminary Angel Sculpture is still holding her own at the front of the shop;)

The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.

~Author Unknown

A New Beginning

2010-10-10T18:46:00.001-07:00

What we call the beginning is often the end.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from.

~T.S. Eliot

Here we are at the GR Civic Theatre to remove our angels. My son, Jack is here to help.

She looks different without the incredible stage lighting; a busy stage with other artists removing their Artprize entries and stage techs getting ready for their next show 'Our Town', which opens next Sunday.

Here the boys have removed the wings to start; they are a blur of activity!

Dominic steadies her while Eddie loads her on the hand truck.

Eddie loading her into the U Haul we rented for the occasion.

Here are the wings ready to go into the truck.

Jack took a picture of me directing the men with their load

(Ha. Eddie has the whole thing under control!)

Driving by last year's second place Artprize winner mosaic at the Children's Museum.

Here is Luminary in the front of my shop in Lakeview, MI where she will stay until her 'rightful owner' comes to claim her! (I do believe in positive wishful thinking.)

I had so many wonderful supportive Lakeview friends and family supporting me through this whole fun event, and now they will be able to visit her anytime at the shop.

She will be the first thing you see as you walk through my front doors; a large welcoming presence.

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers

connect us with our fellow men.

~Herman Melville

Many great things came from this event; here I am mentioned in one of my favorite blogs:
http://mosaicartnow.blogspot.com/2010/09/mosaics-of-artprize-incomplete-guide.html

Now back to a "regular" schedule for a while. Peace.

Luminary Flies To Her New Coop @GR Civic Theatre!

2010-09-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting For A Normal Day....

2010-09-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails in to the earth, or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut, or raise my hand to the sky and want,

more than all the world, your return." ~Mary Jean Iron

Well, she is complete, up until her delivery when she will be dismantled from her wings and

driven in a large box truck to the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre on Monday, September 20.

It has been a very productive year since last ArtPrize.

I have only gotten these two projects

finished in that year.

They both took about 6 months each;

the mosaic a few days a week, the sculpture just about every day of that time.

Between cutting, hammering and sewing copper feathers, cutting glass,

shaping various parts of her structure, stitching her gemstone headband and hair,

I worked 4 -6 days a week to make sure she was finished in time.

And, today I finished!

It feels like an amazing thing to be able to leave the shop at 5 pm

and come home to cook dinner and help with homework and basically not

be worrying about what is left to accomplish...

I say my husband will be happy to have me back to help him out at home;

he has been quite the Super House Man and is about ready to ride in the

passenger seat for a while. No more ArtPrize widower, at least for now;)

More next week when we have the girls in place. There are about 4 other artist sharing the

Civic Theatre Stage and we are all setting up the same day! Should be interesting.

Until then, Peace....

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

2010-09-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

The latest article in Greenville Daily News Women's Magazine! Thanks @Lori Hansen for almost getting it right. @ArtPrize starts in 11 Days. Are you Pre-registered?

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

Spread Your Wings

2010-09-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

"I'm no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit."

~Mae West

Luminary is about ready to spread her wings. She is being installed at the Grand Rapids Civic Theater on September 20. ArtPrize starts Wednesday, Sept. 22. See you there!

Entertaining Angels?

2010-09-05T20:53:00.000-07:00

Maybe we are entertaining angels unaware...

Luminary's wings are done and attached!

My installers...

17 Days until the start of ArtPrize!

Check her out @The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre on the Stage.

During ArtPrize, there will be three platforms attendees can use to vote for you

Text message
artprize.org
ArtPrize iPhone application

For each platform, your unique five digit codes are the fastest way to cast a vote.

Your unique vote codes are:

Vote up code:
35531

Long Beautiful Hair?

2010-08-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

Women... Who made 'em? God must have been a... genius.

Their hair. They say that the hair is everything, you know?

Have you ever buried your nose in a mountain of curls, and just wanted to go to sleep forever?

~Bo Goldman

Luminary has her hair all in a bunch!

Just a few more details and she will be complete. Phheewwww.

22 Days until ArtPrize!

Reflection

2010-08-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

There are two ways of spreading light;

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ~Edith Wharton

Luminary with sliver leaf applied.

Only 23 days until @ArtPrize!

Desiderata: Latin- Desired Things

2010-08-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

The first two people who taught me what "Love" is.
Two of my most desired...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be

in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the

ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are

vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always

there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own

career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the the world is full of trickery. But

let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in

the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take

kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress

yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the

universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And

whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever

your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all it's sham drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

The Perfect Woman

2010-08-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

Perfect Woman

She was a phantom of delight

When first she gleam'd upon my sight;

A lovely apparition, sent

To be a moment's ornament;

Her eyes as star of twilight fair;

Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;

But all things else about her drawn

From May-time and the cheerful dawn;

A dancing shape, an image gay,

To haunt, to startle, and waylay.

I saw her upon nearer view,

A Spirit, yet a Woman too!

Her household motions light and free,

And steps of virgin liberty;

A countenance in which did meet

Sweet records, promises as sweet;

A creature not too bright or good

For human nature's daily food;

For transient sorrows, simple wiles,

Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene

The very pulse of the machine;

A being breathing thoughtful breath,

A traveller between life and death;

The reason firm, the temperate will,

Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;

A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd

To warm, to comfort, and command;

And yet a Spirit still, and bright

With something of angelic light.

"Perfect Woman" by William Wordsworth. Public domain

30 days Until the start of @ArtPrize!

Keep On With The Force, Don't Stop

2010-08-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Begin at the beginning and go on

till you come to the end;

then stop.

~Lewis Carrol

Not quite there, yet; just thought I'd share the progress...

I have added a bit of mosaic shards, the color

is starting to really bring her to life.

I attempted to use cement and steel wool to sculpt hair; yuk,

it was way too heavy and oppressive, and because it re-wet the

plaster gauze it was easy to tear it all off. Working

on new hair with wire screen.

Keep on with the force, don't stop.

Don't stop til you get enuf.

~Michael Jackson

Here is a glimpse of my beautiful Luminary with her gemstone headband and tip of her wings.

Check out my ArtPrize Profile @

http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/1038

Fly Away....

2010-07-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

"Oh, Lord, have mercy, she said.

If I could just borrow a pair of angel wings,

I'd fly away.

Yes I would.

I'd just fly away.

Fly away."

Charis Moblo

Loving the mixture of Verdi gris & Copper Feathers!

Copper feathers attached to a rebar/hardware cloth base.

"Luminary's" Wings. Almost done with one side.
That is a lot of wiring; about 40 hours already; and one side to go.
As of today (7/24/10) I am almost done with side 2. Did run out of copper
feathers, don't ya know; ordered more to finish.

The "Light" offering of Luminary- the Light Bringer.
And the start of her mosaic shawl. Only 60 days until
@ArtPrize installation @GRCivicTheatre!

"Curses, Plastered again!"

2010-07-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

"An impossibility does not disturb us until its accomplishment show what fools we were."

~Henry S. Haskins

I am fully and wonderfully plastered from head to toe, as is my @ArtPrize Sculpture.
Only took me 4-5 days to accomplish; a great base to start with.

She has a bustle; only fitting for a "Light Bringing" Angel?

Hands are just about ready to hold the world; the "Orb" got plastered today, drying away.
Her shawl got wrapped around her arm; gotta have enough cloth to dry someone's tears.

Here are one side of the bottom wings laid out ready to be "sewn" on with copper wire.

Here are "Molly's Angels", Lisa & Michael, attaching a few copper feathers; Thanks!

Four Days of wiring and plastering have left me with a great start to "Luminary".
Waiting on some colored stained glass to make final decisions on coloration.
A lot of work yet to do, but I am thankful to have had all weekend to work on Her. Thanks, family!
And thanks to all interested in her growth, and to all the incoming encouragement.
Peace....

The Angel Parts Coming Together!

2010-07-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

"Light gives of itself freely, filling an available space.

It does not seek anything in return;

it asks not whether you are friend or foe.

It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished."

~Michael Strassfield

Crunch time is here. I have secured a venue for @ArtPrize;

The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Stage!

"Luminary" will have quite a presence up there.

The patinated copper feathers laid out to dry from their vinegar and salt solution.

Attaching the angelic cement face to the head structure.
She waits so patiently for me to finish...

"Angels, pixies, faerie dust

Treading love and living lust."

~Jaesse Tyler

She is my friend ; we shall be spending much time together in the next few months.

@ArtPrize opening day is September 22, 2010. If any one shall need me,

I will be in the studio;)

Angel Progression

2010-06-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

"How did it get so late so soon?

It's night before it's afternoon.

December is here before it's June.

My goodness how the time has flewn.

How did it get so late so soon?"

~Dr. Seuss

Finally... some updated pictures on the progress of

"Luminary", Angel of Light. I have been a bit busy

working on all the bits & pieces of the sculpture.

These are the hands which are made of wire screen

and have been sewn with a needle and wire (and stuffed

with plastic shopping bags to stiffen).

Here she is with her wings on (copper feathers will be

attached to the wings soon). I have started to apply

plaster cast to her chest and a bit of thin-set mortar

to check hardness factor.

The whole body has been created with chicken wire and

wire screen, like the hands, sewn with a needle and wire.

Some copper feathers in a mixture of white vinegar and salt.

The "patina" happens quickly, however, we shall see if it

dries there. It may have been too wet a solution to get the

patina to stay permanently. Will leave for another week or so

to see results. This picture is after about a week in the solution.

I have the head started as well. The cast of my daughter's face

came out well in thin-set mortar. I am working on attaching

it to a wire head form, which at the moment is stuffed also

with plastic shopping bags to keep its shape. As it turns out,

the cement face is about 8-10 pounds, so I will need to brace

the head with a bar of some sort. I will post pix of the head when

I get some.

In the mean time... Happy when working; a bit stressed when

I am not. There is a time factor here. @ArtPrize.org 's opening

day is September 22 and I'm still waiting on a venue.

Faith is in the works. Peace

2010-05-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

"What is a face, really? Its own photo? Its make-up? Or is it a face as painted by such or such painter? That which is in front? Inside? Behind? And the rest? Doesn't everyone look at himself in his own particular way? Deformations simply do not exist.

~ Pablo Picasso

My first attempt at making a face for my angel; I couldn't think of a better model in the whole world to represent my "muse", my daughter. Sculpture pix coming soon...

Onward Ambitious ArtPrize Entry...

2010-04-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

"We are each of us born into the arms of mortality, the Lord recognizing our need to be held."~ Robert Brault

...And the need to fly! This being as close as I can get at the moment, making some angel wings.

More like closer to the 'idea' of flying. Here is the box of 8" long copper feathers after being cut from an 18' long x 3' sheet of 10 Mil copper sheeting.

These are the first feathers after much pressing and hammering (and rubbing on of Tei Fu Massage Cream to soothe my aching hands and wrists...) I am so loving how these are turning out but I may re-think a new hobby of copper tooling? Extreme soreness is only a problem when you don't tend to go into things half heartedly. (Did I mention that I can be quite tenacious?)

I actually experienced a shot of endorphins after seeing how these turned out, even more when I wired the first few on the actual wings to get a look and measure out each one (see below).

So rocking this process and each step of it will be guaranteed to bring more ecstasy. (Yes, if you haven't figured it out already, I am a bit weird, but that is one of the reasons my husband married me and one of the most important life bits to teach your kids: Everyone is weird, some just more than others!)

So... glad I have a while to process the attaching of the feathers to the wings; It will be a while before I get all these tooled. I ordered a pressure sensitive tape from the copper company and will be playing with that and a bit of wiring I believe. The whole impetus behind my idea of the copper was to keep the wings fairly light; they are already about 40 pounds having been made with rebar, and to add mosaic glass and grout would have made them too heavy to lift and place into the mosaic angel sculpture's back (at least, that is what we thought and didn't want to find out the hard way).

So exciting to start a new project and so sad that I have a real day job. It will save me from extreme carpal tunnel syndrome all at once (except I get my share of that from doing hair).

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to fly;)

Copper Colored Imagination

2010-04-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air- explode softly- and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth- boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either- not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~ Robert Fulghum

Copper Feather Cutting...with tin snips and must not forget the LEATHER GLOVES! Copper is very sharp, but oh, so shiny.

Next in the process: A bit o' tooling and patination. I will keep a picture log of the process.

Still ruminating how to attach to the wing structure; I have a few options and will play with the center at the back of the angel. I also ordered the first of the mosaic tiles for the angel yesterday. Such a fun and exciting process. Thanks for sharing it with me;)

Artists Begin Registration to Compete for World's Largest Art Prize

2010-04-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

The amazing #1 Art Work of ArtPrize 2009. Ran Ortner's "Open Water". Read an amazing interview with Ran here: http://blog.artprize.org/2010/04/21/what-happened-to-the-winner-of-artprize-2009/?utm_source=TwitterPost&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=RanOrtner

Artists Begin Registration to Compete for World's Largest Art Prize

Here is my entry from 2009, "Mosaic Poppies".

It is still hanging in Collins Fine Art Gallery in Grand Rapids, MI.

2010-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

The wings for my angel sculpture, before being primed.

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Central Michigan, warm enough to spray paint these wings with primer. It says on the Galvanic scale that copper and galvanized steel may corrode if attached and under moist conditions, so I used a "Rustoleum" primer to give them a coating. I will also use pressure sensitive tape where necessary to attach the copper feathers.

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing on another."
~Luciano de Crescenzo

Template for copper feathers finished! The copper has shipped and should be here this week. Will keep you updated on the steps to come!

What Makes You Tick?

2010-04-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

"I loathe the expression "What makes him tick." It is the American mind, looking for simple and singular solution, that uses the foolish expression. A person not only ticks, he also chimes and strikes the hour, falls and breaks and has to be put together again, and sometimes stops like an electric clock in a thunderstorm."

~James Thurber

This is one of the very many clocks in my Uncle's house; you could say he collects them, or that they collected him? One of the many, many things I love about him and most likely runs in the family;)

Speaking of 'breaking and putting together again'...

Check out this awesome 'Steampunk' Artist who works with old watch parts to make wicked fun jewelry!

EDMDesigns from Brooklyn, NY

"For Whom The Bell Tolls"?

Steampunk Cuff - HARDCORE GOTHIC Wrist Cuff - Black LEATHER Textile A

"Tick Tock, Baby!"

Steampunk Bracelet - Brass INDUSTRIAL GRUNGE Vintage Watch Movement A
Check out all Her Designs @
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=24240&rmore=1&op=new
This artist really knows how to make the best use of her 'time'.
Peace, out.

Live Life or Take a Picture of It? Hmmmm....

2010-04-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

"Life is always walking up to us and saying, "Come on in, the living's fine," and what do we do? Back off and take its picture."

~Russell Baker

This is my wonderful family in the remains of the Rock of Cashel, in what was once the Cathedral. Cashel is located in South Central Ireland, just East of Tipperary. Cashel was a relatively large church or cathedral soon after 1101, and was still used by the Church of Ireland until 1749, when the old site was abandoned. It was taken into State Care as National Monuments and conservation work in 1875. In 1975 major restoration began taking place.

It is truly a beautiful and majestic place to visit. One can understand man's reasoning for tall "cathedral ceilings" standing in this structure; makes you want to look up;)

So, I'm off to live today (at my shop), and I just might also take some pictures. Peace.

Today: Partly Sunny With a Chance of Awesome!

2010-04-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

"Plant your garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers." ~Veronica A. Shoffstall

Take a walk through artist, Charis Moblo's "garden" and find inspiration at every turn. Charis has created art for many years which has been displayed in galleries in Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Cleveland, Ohio's Little Italy neighborhood, an art lover's dream walk.

As long as I've known her (about 30 years), she has inspired me with her whole being, because she exudes such a beauty from her soul, and it shows in her artwork, no matter how small the piece.

A few of her cards...

Her sentiments seem to grab you & make you feel a connection...

Her decorating skills have always blown me away, she creates the most amazingly warm abode space I've ever had the pleasure of visiting...Here is her dining room, with samples of her little purses.

Here is one of the many inspiring signs she creates to remind us of our own joy...

For a long time she created these and many other incredible "Story Book People", each with a different story to share.

And now is creating a different kind of "Story Person", fun, quirky and lovely ones at that!

A couple of her awesome shoulder bags...

Another view of her dining space with daily inspirations on the chalkboard...

Visit with Charis and her art and you will be a changed person!

Please Visit Charis' FaceBook Fan Page and find out how to support a "Starving Artist"@

http://gl-es.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50293718079

Scenes From a Back Yard...

2010-04-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

"By all means use sometimes to be alone.

Salute thyself;

See what thy soul doth wear."

~ George Herbert

Just re-visiting some beautiful, sunny, backyard moments from a few years ago. I love my yard and spending quiet time there taking pictures of those that choose to come a callin'. Anxious to see who comes this year, but will enjoy all the stages. Embrace the "April Showers", remember that it brings May flowers!

Word Perfect?

2010-04-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

"...It was that sweet moment between wake and sleep when the dream has only a foot in the door that the day and its duties have left ajar. I wanted always to remember that sweetness, that moment, and knew I could not rise to write the details down-...because the slumber was tightening around me. And I was searching for a word, one word that I could keep and remember till the morning: one word only: a key, a password by which I could return to this moment just long enough to make a poem, a purse made of words to keep the treasure of it in." ~Thomas Lynch

Bodies in Motion and at Rest: On Metaphor and Mortality

I love this sentiment: "a purse made of words to keep the treasure of it in." Awesome. And since I couldn't find a "purse" to show, here is an excellent artist who makes handmade journals- even better to keep your words in. She is Miz Katie, a mixed media artist who paints people, cities, and the characters in her head. She has originals, reproductions, handmade books and professional prints. I found her beautiful artwork on ArtFire. Please check her out:

@http://www.artfire.com/modules.php name=Shop&seller_id=11838&op=new&body=1
http://www.mizkatie.com
http://mizkatie.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/mizkatie
http://www.twitter.com/mizkatie

And check out some Thomas Lynch words today.

Blessed Be! The Grouting Is Complete!!

2010-04-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

"When you possess light within, you see it externally. ~ Anais Nin

Three shades of grout: White-Halo, Tan-Wings/Face/Hair, Black-Sky. I added some "Shimmer Powder" into the black and white grout, so I'll see if it worked after it is dry.

"People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within."

~ Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Now to work on the frame....A bit of sanding, antiquing, painting the backside and hanging hardware (I'll leave that to my capable significant other, because he loves to do everything in his power to please me!) Did you remember that this is April 1? Ok, well, almost everything in his power. All he really needs to do is smile at me.....

"A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home."~ Author Unknown

Have a wonderful weekend

and don't forget to Show off

your Streak Free Facial Window!

What's Happenin' In The Studio!

2010-03-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."

~Henry Ward Beecher

Starting Tuesday, April 6: Oil Painting Class,

Choice of 3-5 pm or 7-9 pm.

Learn Great Techniques for Landscapes, Flowers

Come and Paint Your Soul Today!

A Work of Art Studio

Cultivate Art

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

A Job Well Done

The Sketchbook Project and my Musings about it

Elves Abound in Lakeview!

Another Successful Soap Class!

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. -Yiddish Proverb

Perseverance!

Not For the Faint of Heart!

The Potential To Create

ARTIST STATEMENT

Speak the Language of the Flowers

Fingers Interlock Like a Beautiful Zipper of Prayer

Expand Your Brain Cells with an Art Class!

Strange Flora & Fauna

Who You Are Comes in Bits & Pieces

Every Day Give Yourself a Little Chance...

Starting...

Be Yourself

Belly Up!

Write On!

Life Without Art?

Imperfections are Lovable

Hooting a Few Hoots!

A New Beginning

Luminary Flies To Her New Coop @GR Civic Theatre!

Waiting For A Normal Day....

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

Spread Your Wings

Entertaining Angels?

Long Beautiful Hair?

Reflection

Desiderata: Latin- Desired Things

The Perfect Woman

Keep On With The Force, Don't Stop

Fly Away....

"Curses, Plastered again!"

The Angel Parts Coming Together!

Angel Progression

Onward Ambitious ArtPrize Entry...

Copper Colored Imagination

Artists Begin Registration to Compete for World's Largest Art Prize

What Makes You Tick?

Steampunk Cuff - HARDCORE GOTHIC Wrist Cuff - Black LEATHER Textile A

Steampunk Bracelet - Brass INDUSTRIAL GRUNGE Vintage Watch Movement ACheck out all Her Designs @http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=24240&rmore=1&op=newThis artist really knows how to make the best use of her 'time'. Peace, out.

Steampunk Bracelet - Brass INDUSTRIAL GRUNGE Vintage Watch Movement A

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=24240&rmore=1&op=new

Live Life or Take a Picture of It? Hmmmm....

Today: Partly Sunny With a Chance of Awesome!

Scenes From a Back Yard...

Word Perfect?

Blessed Be! The Grouting Is Complete!!

What's Happenin' In The Studio!

Steampunk Bracelet - Brass INDUSTRIAL GRUNGE Vintage Watch Movement A
Check out all Her Designs @
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=24240&rmore=1&op=new
This artist really knows how to make the best use of her 'time'.
Peace, out.