Writing Season One

With Tiles it's all about the Storage

I know a mosaic artist who works in stained glass, broken china and other types of tesserae. Some of her mosaic supplies are large pieces and she stores them in large bins in her garage studio - she also has a large cupboard with those big plastic drawers to store her mosaic bits and bobs. When I began working with the tiny ceramic tiles I use, the largest size of which is only 1/4" square, I wondered how I would store them for easy use. At first I used a stack of clear plastic cups. I could nest the cups... Read more →

Artists Converse Forever

I subscribe to a couple of interesting 'thoughts of the day' type of items, one from Forbes.com Newsletters. In today's email came this Daily Thought: "...An artist carries on throughout his life a mysterious, uninterrupted conversation with his public. - Maurice Chevalier...." Chevalier was a singer, dancer and actor - a performance artist if-you-will, but his words are so true no matter in what medium an artist works. Think of these examples: sculptor Auguste Rodin - a great site, the Rodin Museum in Pennsylvania, U.S. painter Paul Klee "...There are a good 4,000 works by Paul Klee stored in the... Read more →

'Painting' with tiny ceramic tiles is a Joy

Working with ceramic tiles that are but a mere 1/8 inch on a side can be seen as either challenging or exhilarating. For this artist, using these tiny bits of glazed ceramic is like painting with tiles. They are small enough to give freedom of movement within the design. The larger tiles I use, about 1/4 of an inch square, give interest and allow for tile cutting. They can be cut on the angle to make great triangular pieces, or cut in thin rectangular pieces and those necessary "bits" that fill spaces that just seem to need it. This photo... Read more →

Awards at Livermore's Bank On It Show

Ever since I was a youngster I've liked receiving awards. This could mean that there is a bit of competitiveness in my nature or it could mean that I appreciate the positive opinions of others...probably both. I don't mind constructive negative opinions - in the art world this means critique. It is helpful at times to have the eye of another artist on some aspect in your work; it often helps to clear up a block or allows you to see something you've overlooked. In the world of writing, it's analogous to having someone proofread your work - your eyes... Read more →

Ryan Fine Art Gallery Reception and a Day of Wine and Art

This past Memorial holiday weekend was a busy one. On Friday evening in downtown Livermore [my community] was a reception for an exhibit titled "What Lies Above Below & Through" at the Ryan Fine Art Gallery. The exhibit runs now through June 19 and showcases some extraordinary work. I am pleased to be a part of this show wi th my work "Sunset Mandala Mosaic." Artist receptions are always fun because I love to talk "art" with other artists. Admittedly artists speak a special language...but then I suspect definitive languages are spoken at gatherings of medical doctors, architects or accountants... Read more →