Show Time

It's show time, or at least preparing for my upcoming Shows has put me in full-on production and deadline mode. I've been reading about several other artist's who are in the same boat. In addition to a few upcoming shows, I also needed to fill wholesale orders (with packaging and shipping being my least favorite thing to do -glazing follows a close second!). I've been a little whiny-fussy-sassy because of this -and there is really no good reason for my disagreeable mood, so I forced myself to SNAP OUT OF IT! I think creative types are particularly susceptible to mood swings and my fussiness is the counterpart to bursts of my much needed inspiration. One of the best things I can do to snap out of a fussy mood (besides going out for Mexican Food) is to create something I WANT to create and not feel I HAVE to create. For my upcoming annual Show at Half Moon Creek Gallery I worked on one of the feature outdoor sculptures I've been thinking about for a while now... a Praying Mantis that will hold a small pot of flowers. Here are a couple of photos of Mr. Mantis in production. I used different size of rebar for his frame, because it's less expensive that the smooth cold rolled round stock I normally use. The sculpture is over 6' tall and his leg span is about 6' wide as well! I needed the hubby to help me get him out of the Shop and in the garden area to patina (I call it the weathering pen). We were laughing the whole time because we're not sure he is going to fit through the Gallery doors -ha! This is soooo me, I NEVER, EVER measure ANYTHING! Oh well. I'm not sure the finish I want to use, but I know I won't rust him. I'm thinking of trying a new patina that will give him a verdigris greenish finish but I need to talk to my friend Marieke about some cool metal patinas  she uses and has offered to share with me. This would be the perfect project to try those out on. I was also thinking of slumping some large, fused glass eyes and weld them in place with little brackets or clips. How cool would that look?! 

For Mr. Mantis, I was inspired by a lovely little book I bought in Seattle years ago called "Backyard Bugs" by Robin Kittrell Laughlin. This book also partly inspired the name for my Show at Half Moon Creek Gallery. "IMBY -In My Back Yard" opens Friday, June 5th in Anchorage at Half Moon Creek and will feature sculptural works for the home and garden. I'm going to start on a Grasshopper sculpture tomorrow that I did a little graphite drawing of. I was thinking, if the Praying Mantis doesn't fit through the Gallery doors I'll put him in the Annual Alaska Botanical Garden Fair Outdoor Art Show & Sale June 20th and 21st. There is a wonderful, special Gala event the Thursday prior to the Fair on June 18th, that features the Outdoor Art Ex

hibit, music in the garden and a outdoor buffet with a wine and beer bar. Usually 75% of the works in the Outdoor Art Exhibit sell the night of the Gala, with 50% of the proceeds benefiting the Garden and 50% to the artists. I volunteer coordinate the Outdoor Art Exhibit and LOVE this event

 because of the incredible venue and opportunity that artists have to create larger, outdoor works that are featured with a beautiful backdrop that only can be found at the Alaska Botanical Gardens.

 

Artful Home Summer Catalog Page 27

I just received the Artful Home Summer Preview Catalog in the mail and I'm in it! Even though I received an earlier courtesy shipment of catalogs from The Artful Home/Guild Sourcebooks, there is something satisfyingly magical about seeing yourself and your work in National PRINT! The company had asked me to submit hi-res images and detailed information on my "Leaf" series of outdoor sculptures a couple of years ago. Last year was the first time my work had been sold through Artful Home. I was asked to offer the "Summer" sculpture again this year. My experience working with them has been extremely positive. They have a professional, electronically automated internet site called the "Artist's Extranet" site that handles virtually every aspect of the order, inventory, sales and shipping information for their artists. The Artist Extranet also offers Artist Resources, Business Resources links and other helpful information such as packaging how-to's, shipping tips and even law resources for artists. Their monthly Guild Artist News the "Insider" has up to date industry trends, trade show reviews and other professional insights that help keep the business side of my creative brain fresh. Here is a link the their Artful Life Blog. (which I just learned they have.)

If your an artist and would like to learn about selling your work through the Artful Home -here is the link. This is their blurb: "For 25 years, we have successfully connected artists with customers who buy and commission artwork. Artful Home puts the work of our artists in the hands and homes of art lovers across North America, through our website, email marketing and print catalogs."

Here are a couple of pictures from Spring Carnival yesterday. This is the crowd of people hoping to get one of the 50 lucky slots to participate in the Slush Cup -competition is steep because the winner takes home a season's pass worth over a $1,000! The crazier the costume, (or the more skin showing for the 37 degree water) the better your chance was to be picked. The judges this year included Governor Sara Palin and other local notables. Well, the skis are waxed, 

goggles cleaned, Potato plumped, Hawaiian Lei's and bells donned must only mean today is RACE DAY. We're heading up to the Mountain to launch Gus' entry "Potato Head Racer" in the Dummy Race. When D was at the registration table, it seems we have been issued a challenge by the Mountain Learning Center's Race entry... uh oh, they said something about wanting a side of french fries!

Finished Pieces

This is the finished Nautilus Shell wall sculpture. I like the addition of the Rockfish for added color. I also embellished the piece with strands of glass beads in sea colors of blue and green that sparkled and caught the light.

Here is a quick image of the finished Humboldt Squid wall sculpture. Though the sculpture was a bit heavier (at least 25 lbs. due to the larger steel tentacles) than most of the sculptures I make, it hung well using three hangers in the back. You can't tell very well from this digital picture, but I did use a lot of strands of glass beading on this piece too. I'm a little disappointed that the finished pieces look very similar the most of my other seascapes. With the addition of the new clay elements, I was trying for a really different feel but when I look at the digital images they seem way similar to my other work. Oh well. These two pieces were delivered to a local Gallery, Half Moon Creek Gallery in Anchorage, where I can conveniently drive them there in mere minutes. Shipping is going to have to be rethought, because the way the ceramic components are wire mounted they would be impossible to ship without breakage... More brainwork needed there.

The Humble Humboldt

Finished up the main supports for both sculptures and welded all the tentacles for the Humboldt Squid and the Nautilus Shell. There are some heavier duty hanging washers welded to both frame backs. With the thicker round stock I used for the squid, the piece is a bit heavier than normal. I'll use reinforced hanging wire looped through the washers that will hang nicely on J hooks.  

Still to be done is the bead embellishments and the actual wiring of the clay pieces to the steel frames... I'm always way too rough with the finished clay work! I've managed to break off fired clay loops for hanging, crack fish in half, breaking off fins, cracking tiles while pulling wire through the drilled holes too roughly etc. Trying to force ceramic is not the same as "horsing" steel! I'm thinking I'm going to use a lighter gauge copper wire to "hang" the Squid and Nautilus Shell from their steel frames. I'm also contemplating adding a couple of Rockfish (from the plaster cast molds I made last summer) that I have to each sculpture. I like the splash of color added to the Nautilus Shell and I like the additional sculptural clay element when added to the Humboldt piece.

When the Metal Meets the Mud

The strike of inspiration continues...
Today I was able to continue work on a piece that was started back in January. I wouldn't have believed it was that long ago until I looked up the Blog entry -yikes! "The Strike of Inspiration" was about some fiberwork that I had seen by artist, Judy Perez and was so inspired by her Blog banner "Painted Threads," that I wanted to make a sculpture of a Humboldt Squid and a swimming Nautilus Shell. The clay work went pretty fast, fired well and then I opted to use some matte glazes instead of the Majolica glazes I first mentioned in my earlier Blog.

This week I finally picked up some 1/2" Cold Rolled Round Steel Stock for the squid tentacles. My first choice was to use at least 

3/4" - 1" but at more than $60 bucks a stick for the 3/4" the 1/2" would work fine ($25), Plus, with the thicker size comes added weight which starts to not be very practical for your average wall mounted sculpture. Bending that round stock was a BEAR! I'm not used to hand bending such thick material -I took a couple of Aleve after that workout!

 The Squid and the Shell have holes on their backsides that I drilled while still leather hard clay. The plan (today) is to wire the body over the tentacles o

nce all of the hot, welding and metal work is done. I'm thinking there will be some additional sealife embellishment including the strings of beadwork I like to use. I'm not sure what else... I'll weld up the Nautilus tentacles tomorrow.

Spring Carny Also Signals the Big Meltdown

Anchorage is finally starting to unthaw and the snow is giving way to patches of mucky ground. Girdwood still has PLENTY of snow, which is a good thing because next weekend is the famous Alyeska Resort Spring Carnival. The annual Carnival, sadly, also signals the ski season is coming to an end. There are events scheduled all weekend including the Freestyle Competition, Annual Tug-O-War (Alaska style -across the glacier cold Slush Cup Pond!), the Slush Cup and one of our family's favorite events, The Dummy Race. Gus will be entering his "Potato Racer" in the kids category, with the best part of entering, a ride up the mountain in the Cat Track Groomer for launching.

Artmaking in the North this weekend included Dummy prepping of Gus' race entry, waxing and ski tuning, dummy fluffing, race cow bells and flower lei round up, etc. -you get the picture. Last years entry "Last Call Crow" which was the entry from the employees, was supposed to shoot off flares from it's HUGE black wings, but instead went down in flames just after take-off! We're looking for Potato Racer to have a 2-peat WIN in the kid category -keep your French Fries crossed for a big V ne

xt weekend. And if your in Alaskaland, make the drive to Girdwood for the Slush Cup, where there's always PLENTY of ice cold beverages, Hot Toddies and outdoor BBQ going on.

Something to Crow About!

"The UAF Undergraduate Research Symposium was held at the Museum of the North yesterday. Students from across the campus came to present their research projects that had been funded through various sources. I am very happy to report that Kristen Shake shared first place for outstanding research with two other students for her work on carbon biogeochemistry and ocean acidification in the Gulf of Alaska. Kristen delivered a near flawless presentation on the work that she has been doing in my lab for the past year. Buck Sharpton and Brian Rogers served as judges and both of them spoke to Kristen afterwards about her topic and were very pleased that she will continuing on at UAF in our Master's program. If you see Kristen around, please join me in congratulating here on this impressive achievement."

Dr. Jeremy T. Mathis

Assistant Professor, Chemical Oceanography

University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of fisheries and Ocean Sciences

That's a picture of "Big Red" a plasma cut and welded steel rooster garden sculpture I made. The large, outdoor sculpture was voted "People's Choice" at the 2008 Alaska Botanical Garden Fair and Outdoor Art Exhibit. I thought it was fitting to "Crow" about our daughter's achievement!

Yaay a Clay Day!

It felt good to get my hands in clay again. The clay I'm trying this week is Goldbar Brown from Seattle Pottery Supply and is a ^04-6 golden brown clay. I'm waiting to pick up a steel order tomorrow so I was able to work in the studio on clay, getting some more Sea Tiles and Fish made. My thinking is that while I'm plasma cutting and welding the rest of the week, the clay work can be drying, so hopefully I can fire the kiln next week... I still don't have a good production schedule figured out for switching back and forth between mediums. It seems I just do what needs to be done, then try and fit in what I'd like to be doing. There is always way MORE of what NEEDS to be done, than time for what I'd LIKE to be doing! I'm probably just a bit cranky because I was wearing my shipping and receiving hat yesterday, preparing a huge box for Fireweed Gallery when I'd rather have been playing :o) But it felt good to get so much work shipped off, because sales have been great -whew. I'd also really like to get some new glazes ordered but first I need to test some of those ^6 glazes as recommended by Eric from my Seattle Pottery Supply visit, but even before that I need to prep some test tiles and pieces first. For me, making test tiles falls under the not-so-fun category of what NEEDS to be done. I've read that there are other potters who feel the same way -ha!

Today while making more of the Sea Tiles I discovered a couple of great new tools, one from my kitchen (isn't that where all clay tools originate from?!). The first is a handmade spoon my friend's woodworker husband made me for Christmas. The handle is perfect for getting the co

rners snug and smooth when I was doing some slab and mold work. The second handy-dandy tool I discovered was using a roughed up piece of plywood to make fish fin marks! The irregular grooves and ridges from the peeled plywood made great looking marks, similar to a fish's fins.

Hip Hop

Happy Easter Bunny Day! It's that time of year when our house smells like Apple Cider Vinegar the day before Easter (from egg coloring), and Honey Glaze Spiral Ham the day of Easter! All quite Pagan I suppose. Each year I have a hard time throwing out the beautiful egg dye colors we mix. I know as an artist I should have had other creative projects lined up to use the dye for after the eggs were done, but I didn't... I don't recall ever being that on top of it. Getting the eggs, supplies, dinner, baskets, chocolate, etc. usually has been my limit! The artmaking comes from the joy of feeling a crayon melt smoothly on the still warm hard boiled egg before getting to choose the deepest most brilliant color of dye that will coat it.

An Easter Bunny Day surprise was left for me by Linda from Blue Starr Gallery! Artmaking in the North was chosen for the Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you Linda. The rules are that I am to pass the Kreativ Blogger award on to five other Blogs I feel are deserving -which will be difficult to choose only five. One of my favorite things about Blogging is making random, surprise Blog connections through other people's Blog Rolls. I also appreciate people who Blog regularly, a least a couple of times each week. Though I don't formally "Follow" any Blogs, I do read several each day to get the inspirational side of my brain warmed 

up. With so many talented people out there in the Universe, my laptop has provided a wonderful secret portal into many creative studios. So... without further ado here are my 5 choices;

*To a fellow Alaskan Artist, I first choose Anji Gallanos of On Ruby's Hill She has many, many followers, she is talented, she is honest, she is inspiring, she is creative, she is sharing & giving and her Blog always manages to cheer me up, even when I didn't think I need it.

*Whitney Smith of This Artist's Life

Her talent as a potter keeps me inspired but it's her honesty about what it takes to be a full time professional artist that is always soooo true to heart. I hope to some day be as honest in my Blog about the trails and tribulations as a professional artist, as she is able to be. 

*Geninne of Geninne's Art Blog is simply lovely.

Her illustrations and images of her workplace are sunny, artful and always radiate luscious colors. The drawings of her birds are happy and make me want to break out my watercolors and paint in the mid day sun every time I read her Blog!

*Judy Coates Perez is a Mixed Media Artist who has inspired many people through her designs, illustrations and processes. She has been recognized by many professional publications and her Blog is called Painted Threads. This is one of those Blogs I like to read because I always find other artists in other mediums sharing their talent through the www. Judy's illustrations on fabric have even inspired me to create sculptural clay pieces.

*Teesha Moore of Teeshas Circus.

Just take one look at her work and her Blog...  How does one person have this much creative energy?! This is another Blog I like to find those surprise connections through. 

Bunnell's Plate Project Comes To Anchorage

Anyone who visits the scenic, seaside art town of Homer, Alaska, usually does for two good reasons, Halibut Fishing and Gallery Hopping, and not in that order! I love Homer, Art patrons love Homer and other Artists love Homer. There are many Galleries to visit along the Spit and along the main street, Pioneer Avenue where my work is featured at the Fireweed Gallery. Another one of my favorite shops along Pioneer Avenue is Blackberry Bog.  Gina Hollomon sent me this postcard announcing that the famous Bunnell Street Art Center  near Bishop's Beach in Homer, will have the 2009 Plate Project travel to Anchorage April 17 - 27 at Out North. There will be an Opening Friday, April 17th, from 5 -7 PM. 

The Plate Project is Bunnell Street Arts Center's Annual Membership Drive, coordinated by the very talented Ahna Iredale since 1994. Plates may be selected with memberships from $100 to $1,000. A membership to the Bunnell nurtures and supports innovative art in all media for diverse audiences. If you can't make the Plate sale, at least check out what the Bunnell offers and take a moment to look at Ahna's latest body of work decorated with clay from Kachemak Bay using sgrafitto (I've seen various spellings of this) technique.

OK, since I was shamelessly Blogging about HOMER, Alaska, I thought I should promote the BEST Halibut Charter outfit

-our friends Geri and Sean at North Country Charters! This is me and my bestest friend Patty (after my Show opening last fall at Fireweed Gallery), us girls SMOKED all of the guys on the boat! I even caught the largest Halibut, AND the whole boat limited out -thanks to Captain Sean, who always knows where the fish are. Mmmmmm....Halibut Tacos!

Whew, A Sigh of Relief Upon Approval

Commissions put a lot of pressure on an artist and this piece was no different. It was important to me that I get it just right. The clients who commissioned the Tabernacle were pleased with the finished work. Whew! In the beginning, I wasn't sure what a Tabernacle was or really used for, but did some research and worked closely with the client, Sister Kathleen to have a better understanding of it's uses and symbolism. Rick, the fabricator and I worked hard on this piece and had to overcome a few design challenges. First, creating a symmetrical globe (not affected by the heat from welding!) is not very easy, especially one that features a lock and key. Ultimately Rick had to fabricate a custom rear pin hinge because the commercial hinge proved too weak and tweaked the lid of the globe when opened. In addition, we wanted to combine 3 different types of metals. The base is all hand formed stainless steel, the sphere is aluminum and the land mass details are plasma cut from black iron to hold the forming and heat treating for color.

Recently, a lovely new non-denominational Chapel was built at Horizon House and a Tabernacle was needed. The inspiration for the Tabernacle was the Cosmic Eucharist provided in writing to me by Sister Kathleen O'Hara of the Providence Horizon House, assisted living facility. "The Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the alter of the world. It unites heaven and earth. It embraces and permeates all creation..." read in part the writing Sister Kathleen provided me, which was part of the Ecclesia de Eucharistia No. 8, Pope John Paul II. Though I am not a Catholic, the writings Sister Kathleen provided me helped to better understand and create her vision of a world or globe shaped Tabernacle. There are many artists who specialize in creating Liturgical Art but this was the first piece that I had created. From the begin

ning, it helped me to know that I had the faith and support of the Tabernacle committee to complete their vision and was honored to have been selected to produce the globe sculpture for such an important part of the new Chapel.

Back in the Saddle Again

Feels good to get back to work. With all of the sour and frightening economic news, both my husband and I feel fortunate to have great jobs. Jobs that we love and have benefits, his providing our health insurance and my being self-employed allows the opportunity to better manage the home and family affairs with the added benefit of being able to put the kids first when necessary (without the threat of being let go).

A big box was waiting for me when we returned home! I love getting mail, especially packages :o) My folks, (my Mom) are the best at sending us care packages. This box was from my Dad sharing his found object bounty with me. 

We both do assemblage work and he came upon a generous frame shop owner who gave him a ton of unwanted frame ends! There are some really great pieces that will be perfect for my Shrine-a-rella's. Above is a picture of one of my favorite Shrine-a-rella's, "Know Yourself." I couldn't part with this one so it avoided the Gallery and hangs on our wall at the cabin. Some pieces are like that. I have mini love affairs usually with all of my work which makes it hard not only to price the work, but give it up and turn it over to the Galleries to sell. The love affairs make me feel like the price should be be ten times what the market will bear, but how practical is that? I suppose loving the work is a good thing because I frequently hear comments from customers of how "It looks like you enjoy what you do." I suppose the majority of the time they're right...

Before I can go digging and sorting through my new treasures I brought back from Seattle, and the huge box of 

lovely's my Dad sent, I forced myself to get some metal work done. Wow, what a difference working in the shop and not have it be -20 below! It was sunny so I threw the doors open and swept out the volcanic ash that seemed to be everywhere. The Gallery's and I enjoyed good sales last month and I need to create more pieces. Today was a plasma cutting day and I cut out some crabs and other metal for some wall sculptures that will get welded and assembled tomorrow afternoon. In the morning I meet with the Tabernacle client to deliver the commissioned piece...I am sooo hoping they like it as much as I do...

Home Sweeeeet Home!

We made it home and just in time! There was   another major eruption of the volcano this morning at 6:00 am and it was a doozey -an ash cloud reached 50,000 feet into the sky. While we were in Seattle we missed some GREAT powder days as well as we missed the U.S. Ski Team Alpine Championships and we missed the start of the 2009 Telepalooza World Telemark Freeskiing Competition. With all of the snow while we 

were away, layers of ash and snow covered the deck and stairs. It is going to be hard for me to harvest some of the ash to use in a glaze because of all the snow, I'll have to figure something out. But first, the cookie jar is empty.

The delay in Seattle did a number on my production schedule. I've got a lot of pieces to get to the Galleries and a commission piece that was supposed to be delivered last week.

Everyone has been very understanding of my absence but I put a lot of pressure on myself not to let anyone down or to miss a deadline. On the positive, I was caught up and even a bit ahead before we left the second time.  We needed to make two trips to Seattle in March. The commission piece was completed and just needed to have the clear coat dry and the finished work 

delivered. Here are a couple of pictures of the commission job. The commission was to create a Tabernacle for a beautiful, new Chapel. I needed to do a lot of research on the Eucharist and what a Tabernacle was used for. Fortunately, I had meetings with the clients as to t

heir ideas, needs and the overall design they were looking for before I started the design and production. I worked with the very skilled and talented, Rick at Western Sheetmetal to help with the stainless and aluminum fabrication work. I think the finishe

d piece is really beautiful and was a real creative challenge, nothing like I have ever done before. After I meet with the clients next week, and if the piece is as they expected, I will post pictures of the finished Tabernacle in the Chapel.