We won

It has been an interesting few months.

• The 'Handle with Care' mosaic won first prize.
• I am now 50.
• I am the proud owner of a 'Bob the builder' badge which states quite clearly I am 5.
• I have handed in my notice at work.
• I have two weeks left of regular paid employment.
• I have granted myself a year to get my mosaic business established.
• I am now saying that yes, I am an artist (despite all the reservations, that jump up when I least expect them and whisper,'You! Are you REALLY telling people you are an 'Artist'?) .
• I could not do any of this without the support of the 'Alchemist'.
• My friends and family are there for me too.
• The studio is a mess.
• The garden is a mess.
• The dog loves me because we are walking, walking, walking.
• To walk is to think.
• I am getting a reputation for accepting anyone's broken china.
• All this and 'Bob' tells me I am 5.

Completion

'Handle with care'

Broken pieces put together

Grout has been added and a Jarrah wood frame surrounds the work. This mosaic is going into an exhibition to be held by our local Community Support Scheme.


'The Done Manifesto' by Pre Pettis and Kio Stark

1. There are three states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.
3. There is no editing stage.
4. Pretending you know what you’re doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you’re doing even if you don’t and do it.
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.
6.The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.
7. Once you’re done you can throw it away.
8. Laugh at perfection. It’s boring and keeps you from being done.
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done.
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of done.
13. Done is the engine of more.


Message to D from me.

We did good stop
We got dirt on our hands stop
We laughed stop
We found friendship stop
We got 'Done' stop
Message ends.........

Nearly...

At 8.30am on Thursday, we grout it.

The deadline for the exhibit is 5pm on Friday.

Dazzle

A piece to be noticed, touched and explored.

Texture and colour.
Glass, tile, china and found objects.
Nearly finished and then
the grout.

Two friends working together,

getting to know each other's techniques.
Sharing thoughts, coffee and laughter.

Collaboration

Something is in the air.

A new work is taking shape.

A friend and I are working on a piece together.

50 years

'Golden Wattle'

A Golden wedding anniversary gift.

(click on highlighted text for image of plant)

SUN

Having torn a ligament in my ankle walking with Dog, I was confined to the house for nearly three weeks. I had the odd outing to a coffee shop when I became stir crazy. I still have two visits per week to the physiotherapist. I became bored with books (bite my tongue!) and dvds left me yawning. So, I hobbled out to the studio and made this bird bowl.

With the sun as a focal point, I fossicked through my collection of broken tiles, china and mirror. I used blue grout (see previous post) and just a hint of gold paint on the rim of the bowl. When it was dry and sealed, I placed the bowl on an upturned flower pot and filled it with water. It sits under the lemon tree and pigeons, magpies and parrots have stopped by to bathe and drink. Yesterday, several bees lined up along the bowl's edge to sip water, before flying back to their hive high up in a gum tree.

GROUT

There is something so satisfying about getting your hands dirty. Heaving a sigh of relief because what you planned, for design, colour and texture is to your liking.

I decided to use blue grout for this project and I do like it. A deep blue, like the blue you see in pre-raphaelite paintings. I hope the birds like it.

Just call me Woad Woman.

Exhibition

All three 'Eikon" pieces were accepted for the exhibition and we attended the event last night. Two of my pieces can be seen above flanking a stunning Icon of the Madonna and child.

It felt quite odd seeing my work hung and so well lit. But I was pleased with the effect. I wonder how others feel when they see something they have created hung in a public place? It being the only time this has happened to me, I cannot get over a feeling of faint embarrassment.

The whole exhibit was beautiful. We were surrounded by Raku pottery figures, paintings highlighted with gold leaf, stained glass pieces, mosaics, sculpture and etchings.

Now it is time to get back into the studio and create something for my garden....

REGROWTH

'REGROWTH'

'You are the Icon.

Accept all offerings, no matter how small.

The ordinary can be beautiful.'

A little green 'tree woman' gazes down over the mirror in this last piece in the 'Eikon' series. The work represents renewal. I was inspired by the bright green foliage that grew on trees after fire swept through bushlands in our area last year.

The 'offerings' to the viewer (see previous posts regarding 'the viewer as Icon'), are an old bone china tea saucer (too cracked to be used again, but the yellow and green design, perfect for mosaics), some tiny pea gravel stones and a stunningly bright green piece of rock (from this guy at www.outbackmining.com).

All three pieces of work have now been wrapped and are ready to be taken to the gallery tomorrow, where they will go before a selection panel. So, 'Secret Hill Mosaics' will have to wait..........and see.

'RENAISSANCE'

Herhimnbryn as an Icon!

'Renaissance'

You are the Icon.
Accept all offerings, no matter how small.
The ordinary can be beautiful.

Details- Glass tiles, gold leaf mirror tiles, iridescent stained glass tiles, polymer clay, stained glass, button, chain, shells, South African clay bead, Pea gravel, gold paint and terracotta grout.

The story behind this Icon and the 'offering' for the viewer can be read in the previous post.

ICON 2

' Renaissance'

You are the Icon.
Accept all offerings, no matter how small.
The ordinary can be beautiful.

I made this face with polymer clay. By the time it had dried and I added some gold paint, it turned into an angel with a very worn and shabby halo. I like 'worn and shabby', so it found a home on the second Icon.

The simple and ordinary 'offering' for this Icon is Pea gravel from the garden path outside my studio. A tiny thing the pea gravel stone, but it is naturally spherical and the ochre colour of Australia. Imagine if you will, me on bended knees collecting the stones (a true supplicant) and then later applying them to the Icon with tweezers.......................................

A full image of 'Renaissance' will have to wait until the sun comes out and washes the walls of my studio with a brighter light.

ICON

'Resolution'

You are the Icon.

Accept all offerings, no matter how small.

The ordinary can be beautiful.

The first of three 'Eikon' (Icon) pieces. I wanted the viewer to become the Icon, hence the mirror. All three will have found objects incorporated into them, 'offerings' for each person who sees themselves in the mirror.

Details: white ceramic tile, gold leaf glass tiles, mirror, shells, stained glass, bone, clay, gem, fishing line, wooden base, gold paint, terracotta grout.

(Click on images to enlarge. The terracotta piece at the top of the Icon is a small face. Top image = natural light. 2nd = artificial light.)

ONWARD.....

The 'block' seems to have dissipated.

Being a member of the local Art Centre, I can enter upto five items for the Christmas exhibition. To date I have not exhibited my work, but taking a deep breath have decided to submit three pieces.............heaven help me! The theme this year is 'Eikon' (but does not have to be religious in nature). If I get just one piece through the selection proceedure I shall be pleased.

I must decide how to price my work, (as anything selected will be up for sale) that will be a whole new experience too.

So, with heart in mouth, I am to be found in my studio for the next few weeks.

UPDATE.....people are asking what is 'Eikon'. It is from the Greek and can be written as Icon. Read about Eikons here.

New Links

For the first time I have added a Links list to my blog. This will be constantly changing I am sure, so please click on a few and visit them.

Inspiration on the mosaic front continues to illude me. However I thank you all for your suggestions and comforting words.

My studio verandah is a place to sit and catch my breath after gardening at the moment. Our local shire gives away free native plants every year and I am in the process of planting 30 of them. This involves some planning as most of them will (hopefully) grow into large bushes and deciding where to plant them now will have some impact on the future look of our half acre.

As I type a certain hound has sidled up to me and sat down on my right foot, this is his subtle way of reminding me that he requires a walk.............à bientôt for now!

BLOCK

A creative block has descended. My latest project has been sitting on the table for weeks now. I walk into the studio, tidy a little, sit down, move a few pieces of tile or glass, gaze out of the window, get up and leave.

I then tend to sit on the verandah, where I am invariably joined by Dog. We watch magpies strutting their stuff, rain dripping from leaves and shafts of sunlight weaving through the trees.

I am surrounded by inspiration, yet nothing is happening.

BRICK (2)

Inspired by the blue of an Australian sky. Also, needed to work on some 'curve' cutting.

Details- ceramic wall tiles, glass gems, blue and white crockery and terracotta grout.

STRATA (series)

Inspired by the stratification of rock. The first of what I hope will be several pieces.

The top image shows the piece before grout is added. This gives the mosaic added strength. Mosaic does not always have to be grouted and can often look better without it.

The second image is a close up of the stained glass, bone china and pea gravel (from the path leading to the studio). Grout has now been added and I hope adds to the 'Strata' effect.

Image three shows vitreous green tiles and the brown with gold streaks embedded in them.

The final image is the finished work. All it needs now is to be hung on a wall that catches the morning sun, so that the work sparkles.

Details- Old wall tile, vitreous glass in green and brown (with gold streaks), iridescent stained glass, bone china, glass gems, pea gravel, mirror, glazed china plate and terracotta grout.

(click on images to enlarge)

SIX WORDS

Sitting at my work table in the studio, I pause to rest my eyes and look out of the window. I remember that a couple of weeks ago, Robyn at 'Art Propelled' tagged me with the Six Word memoir.

Sitting, watching rain drip from trees and hearing Dog clatter up onto the verandah.......................

Marmite- Through out my school years, I ate Marmite on hot buttered toast, for breakfast or tea or just because I craved the saltiness. The bread was a delicious wholemeal and made every week by my Mum. If I remember rightly, she would make eight loaves each time she baked. I can still taste the first hot crust.
Fortunately, I can get the UK brand of Marmite here in Australia. The Australian version (Vegemite), does not appeal.

Bluebells- Sunday walks with the family were usually in local woodland. My favourites were along meandering trackways through acres of bluebells. One of my favourite aromas is that of an english bluebell wood. Penhaligons captures it and puts it in a bottle..... sigh.

Hobbits- Sitting by the fire. Lights off, except for one which shines onto the pages of a book my Pa is reading to me and my two brothers. He started at chapter one of The Hobbit and read every evening to us. No more than a chapter a night, no matter how much we pleaded. When he finished The Hobbit, he started on The Lord of the Rings.

Giving- Nearly twenty years employment as a Social Worker for a local council. It started out well. It ended with a caseload of 250 clients and me deciding to stop.

Acceptance- Time to give to myself. Time to say 'No' without explanation.

Detail- Moving to Australia with The Bear and changing our lifestyle (less is more). Taking time to notice the details.

Dog scratches at the studio door and I'm back at the worktable. I open the door and he ambles in, crawls under the table and after turning in a few circles, he settles down to sleep. As the door swings shut, I put on my glasses and go back to work.

(click on highlighted text for links)

OH, THE GLAMOUR.

Working in the studio requires 'haute couture'. A thick linen apron, old cotton shirt and tatty trousers. A mask when scoring backing board or mixing grout. Safety glasses when cutting the mosaic tiles/glass.

The skin on my hands is dry from handling adhesives and fine grout powder. My nails became chipped, so are now short. I think I need new glasses, as my eyes are tired after hours of close work. But, I still find myself walking up the steps to the studio, opening the blue door and sitting in my red chair. One hand turns on the cd player while the other reaches for the tile nippers.

I think I may be slighty, just slightly obsessed.

BRICK

( Details- Old (slightly irregular) red clay brick. Wall tiles, blue and white china, gold painted china, blue glass marble, mirror, polymer clay, terracotta grout)

What do you do when you haven't picked up your tile nippers for months? You need a small project, to see the finished result quickly. You cast around for something, anything, that will fire up your imagination.

Surrounding some of my garden beds are old red bricks (salvaged by a family member for me, because he knows I like such items). Grabbing one and brushing off a couple of startled ants, I washed it and let it dry in the sun. Dog followed me throughout this activity, because it meant he could drop a ball at my feet and know I would respond.

The brick and Dog came into my shed with me and while he curled up in his bed, I spent a couple of hours scoring and cutting, fossicking (what a great word) through my collection and sealing the brick. I made a small 'face' tile and left it to dry. Time for supper.

Early next morning, while it was cool, windows open and the scent of the gum trees surrounding me, I stuck down tiles, mirror, china and then sealed and varnished the 'face' tile. Time to go out and do some paid work. That evening I stuck down the final tile. The grouting had to wait for a couple of days. I am always a little wary about grouting. Will I choose the right colour, will it improve the overall effect, will I screw it up completely?

I chose terracotta grout (seems to be my favourite at the moment) and after a clean and polish, the 'new' brick was back in it's place in the garden bed.

(click image to enlarge)

TABLE

'Leaf'

(Details- floor tiles, stained glass, glass gems, clay Cornish maze icon, terracotta grout and exterior grade paint on a salvaged metal bistro table)

Months to make and used for the first time last weekend, when it was loaded with bottles of deep red wine and glass tumblers.

I am pleased with the result but have learnt not to rely on my 'eye' for finishing edges. The result is a little wavy in places!

(click on images to enlarge)