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.
