Join me for my newest class on Craft Edu. We will be creating these beautiful and delicate flowers and leaves. I've used these flowers many times in my mixed media pieces as well as in many jewelry designs. They are so fun and versatile.
My first class is now up and running at Craft Edu. I decided to start with a very basic introduction to caning class. This class is a good foundation for simple canes. The title of the class is "Kinder Canes". The definition of a Kinder Cane is any cane that you can teach to a child with success and satisfaction. Check it out! http://bit.ly/jkB0Kf
This is a very simple Mandala that I made using the canes that I am teaching in the "Kinder Cane" class. Here is the link to the preview of the class.
Here are three new wall pieces... smaller than others but just as rewarding to work on. Title: Eye On The Prize
Opinions and ideas change throughout our lives. Beliefs and loyalties can even take unrecognizable shapes. Keeping our eye on the prize of our authentic self we can be grounded in personal truth.
Title: Que Sera,Sera
Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be will be. Or will it? We can depend on the direction of the wind, a saying on a fortune cookie or the prediction of our astrological sign to determine our future or we can make the hard choices to secure our own deserved destiny.
Title: Bohemian Nouveau
I am drawn to the wandering nontraditional nature of the Bohemian, which is evident in the shapes and layers of color and the intermingling of techniques. I am captivated by the beautiful flowing scrolls, floral motifs and distinct design elements of the Art Nouveau era. Together they seem to merge into a style and feeling that reflect my own life experience.
Happy St. Patty's Day! I feel lucky to see green grass today !
Title: He said, she said
This piece was such a delight to create. You know... some things just come together without a struggle... or it feels like it just flows like a puzzle putting itself together... almost faster than you can keep up. What a rush!
It's a new year and we are already half way through Feb. Yea! I am feeling the twinge of an early spring. Well, one can only hope... right? To get a jump on spring I've created some sunny sunflowers in juicy delicious colors. Just thinking of a sunny day and wearing pink or lavender makes me smile and lifts my spirits. Like the Beatles say....sun, sun, sun, here it comes. Think positive!!
I read in a book called "Art and Fear" that there is a difference between stopping and quitting. I have been trying to decide which of these has been the result of my absence these last couple of months. With so much responsibility to my aging parents, husband, children, grandchildren, and other immediate family and friends, sometimes trying to keep my soul fed and my dreams alive, I struggle with... is it worth it, is it a waste of time, is it selfish, is it possible? I wonder if I have anything left to give... or if my stiff and aching hands are still capable of creating the shape of my thoughts. Stepping once again into my secret hideaway, I take a deep breath, and suddenly I feel a smile and a sense of excitement welcome me here again. I am not yet finished, this has only been a pause and a time of reflection.
Sometimes when I'm finished with a large piece, I'm not quite finished exploring the technique or playing with the subject itself. This is how these mini theaters came to be. After I finished "Curtain Call"(shown below) which deals with the idea of a Bohemian Theater, I just had to create a couple of "mini's" just for fun. Title: The Captured Heart
Title: Mystery Mustached Man
Combining rustic textures, with vintage style and design creates something unexpected. This necklace has been an idea in my head for some time and a work in progress for a long time. Some times you just can't rush things. The lace coverings were drawn out on graph paper, photocopied and then transferred onto clay. They were then draped onto the distressed stone shapes, cut out with an x-acto knife and then baked. The last step was to trim out the design using a magnifying glass lamp to painstakingly perfect the detail. This is a very simplified version of the process, with lots of steps before beginning the lace coverings. It was very challenging and well worth the learning experience.
I know!.....................it's been a while since you've heard from me!! Eeeeek!! This summer has gone sooooo fast and I've been having the time of my life. We've had lots of partying with family and friends, a lovely visit from our friends Annie and Ed Hooten from Albuquerque who took the time out of their busy vacation on their way to Oregon to come by and see us. Thanks again.... we loved it!!
The best part of the summer was the addition of a new baby girl to our family. We are in love again and so proud. Being a grandmother is everything it is cracked up to be and more.(except for the wrinkles) I don't usually post personal family events on this site but I couldn't help putting up just one photo. Can you blame me?
Finally!!!..... I had time to clean my studio! It was a total disaster!! In between everything I have been working day and night to complete a four piece portfolio of sculpture pieces for an online Gallery. Whew!! It is finally finished and ready to photograph. The photos I am posting here are not the professional shots but you can get the idea.
This one is titled: Imagination Celebration
Albert Einstein once said" If you want your children to be brilliant.... read them fairy tales, but if you want your children to be genius's read them more fairy tales".
The next piece is titled: Curtain Call
We all have parts to play on the stage of life..... hopefully when we take our last curtain call it will be with few regrets and hearts full of sweet memories of precious times with those we love and cherish. Encore!! (sorry these photos are slightly fuzzy, a photographer I am not)
Well..... that's all folks!! Thanks for tuning in ..... I'll be back sooon!
Help! Somebody stop me.... I'm having way too much fun!!!!
More Poly Fiber Masking...... is there such a thing as too much fun???
The ART of storytelling is found hidden in all the Arts. I love to tell stories or introduce narrative into my work as a means of self expression. This latest visual treat is no exception. The title is "Epiphany" She appears when you least expect it and sings a different tune.
Have you ever had this awakening? When all of a sudden you change your mind or a thought dawns on you that you never even considered? It is one of the incredible experiences that we as humans are lucky enough to be conscience of.
I have combined a variety of techniques, mediums, and found objects. Wood, paper, clay, paint,eggs, and the wonderful dangles I found at a great shop in Santa Fe. while I was down there teaching. Wow! I just had an epiphany.... teaching plus shopping....heaven!!!
I am so excited to be teaching my first workshop to the lovely ladies in Albuquerque NM. I will be leaving April 22nd and spending the first day in Santa Fe. just seeing the sights and then Fri. night with be a "Meet the Artist" event at the Wooden Cow Gallery and then the fun begins on Sat. morning bright and early. Thanks for the invitation from Annie Hooten.....xoxo I will post pictures and give you details ASAP!
Mixed media is my true love.... and coming from the Synergy conference I was motivated to try a new combination of mediums that have been rattling around in my head for some time. Some of my work is very large and presents unique problems such as how to adhere polymer to large slick surfaces like metal, ceramic and glass. Polymer will stick to most anything ,but I have found especially with larger surfaces that potentially the clay if bumped or jarred will pop off or over time will shrink off the surface and then has to be glued back on. Here I am combining liquid clay with fabric or paper fibers to create a very durable background to then adhere the polymer components. The combination of the fibers and clay compliment each other beautifully and present new textures and depth. There is a trick to it and not all liquid clays, fabrics and papers will work but when it does the result is incredibly solid and unique. You can use it on so many surfaces to cover vases, pots, lamp shades to making jewelry. For lack of a better way to describe it I am using the term Poly Fiber Masking. I am working on a simple way to explain the technique. I'll get back to you later on that....for now wish me luck.
Welcome Home!!! Thank you to all who contributed to making the Synergy2 Conference such an outstanding event. And to all my new friends... thank you for all making me feel so welcome and sharing all your valuable knowledge and experience. It was such an inspiring and encouraging group of artisans, and educators. I am so looking forward to seeing all the creative work that will be the result of this wonderful collaboration.
Integrating transfers into my work has been so much fun. Whether inside, outside, around, top, bottom, wherever I can fit in a fun combination I love to find that certain look that says Wow! It's not so much about the image as it is about the shape it creates and the possibilities of using other techniques to enhance it as well. I will be teaching this along with several other techniques this April in Albuquerque. If you are interested in taking this two day workshop you can contact me by e-mail at mhcpurpledoor@msn.comor Annie Hooten a hootenannie4@aol.com Stay tuned for all the details.....
Bedazzled! This is the title for the finished piece made for Utah's Ballet West Partners in Dance event. I was also bedazzled by the beautiful performance of Swan Lake at Utah's Capitol Theater following a spectacular dinner and socializing with other Ballet lovers and artists . It was truly outstanding and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful evening. These point shoes will be on display for all performances in the Capitol Theater and the Rose Wagner Theater through April 2010.
Following the ice and snow will come new beginnings. Wrapped in a warm blanket, sipping hot tea, staring into the flames of a dancing fire, I feel the stirrings of ideas that have been a long time gathering. While I wait for this blooming I will focus on the task at hand.
The Arts call to us to participate in various ways usually resulting in an enriching experience. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the annual "Shoe In" for Utah's Ballet West. A pair of point shoes are given to juried Artists to do with as they please. The altered and transformed shoes are then sold or auctioned off to raise funds and encourage support for the Ballet. Here are the first glimpses of this new undertaking. Stay tuned...
"Dance has always been a way of accessing the other worlds, especially whirling or spinning."
- It begins with an idea...... shoes and candlesticks....
- add a hat box lid....
- and then another....
- choose bold and unpredictable colors and the result will be? I guess we will find out together.....
Here are detail pictures of the four mandalas that were included in the gallery show. They are pictured along with their titles and mantras. These were so fun to do and ponder on while working.
A mandala is a shape, pattern, or form created to facilitate meditation. The unconscious mind re-orientates the world from distractions and outside influences to one of inner focus, with the purpose of achieving self-awareness, wisdom and compassion. Mandalas have been used in the Eastern traditions for centuries to create “sacred spaces” in ones’ life.
Nature is the greatest source of the mandala, whether looking at the mountains, or the stars in the sky we are forever surrounded by the circle as a symbol of completion that is central to the mandala. When natural mandalas are combined with symbols of everyday experience that involve emotion such as love, discovery, and personal acceptance we can truly transcend into that peaceful realm that we so passionately seek.
What a fantastic evening! The opening reception for my show at the Finch Lane Gallery at the Art Barn was a wonderful experience. I met so many great people and made some lovely new friends. Thanks to all who attended ... family, friends, and art lovers from everywhere.You are my inspiration and my motivation. Here are a few photos from the show.... enjoy!!!
