Two more pieces of art to go

As looked at the art I have already completed (flowers), I decided I did like them just the way they are.  This morning I took out my hot air balloons from the kiln and I was pleased with the way they look especially with the background I chose for them.  I strayed from drawing strictly with black glass powder and incorporated colorful glass, I think that's ok. Now I just have two more pieces to create and my artists statement to submit.  I hope the show goes well otherwise I will have my own artwork to hang on my walls. If that happens that's okay too.  

art & do overs...

I signed up for a gallery show to present six pieces of art.  It was supposed to be on March 4th & 5th.  Luckily for me the gallery owner changed the date to the 13 & 14th of March. I'm not done, and what is done, I'm not sure I'm happy with it.  The little flowers are really nagging me... "Do over", "do over".... I need six pieces total, I have finished 3, the 4th is in the kiln and I still need two more. I might need 3 more since I really don't know if I want the flowers.....  I still have to write an artist statement, and send her pictures of the completed work.   I kind of feel like backing out, but at the same time she did move the date so I can do things over..... well here are my pieces so far (minus the flowers since I'm still debating, and don't wan the online world to see it just yet......

fused glass birds on clear Tekta, painted background in shadow box 8"x10"

Fused glass light house & birds on clear Tekta, painted background in shadow box 8x10"

limping along

Take foot and insert in mouth. That's what I did when I agreed to having not one, not two, but SIX pieces of art available for a show on March 4th & 5th....  I like the idea that it's a galley show instead of me having to be there for both days all day. Anyway, since I only have my small kiln available I have to create ONE PIECE AT A TIME. Which wouldn't be a problem if I didn't procrastinate, and things didn't sidetrack me.  

This is the first finished piece:

                                        Fused glass birds with painted background in shadow box.

    On another note, I received my official emailed "unconditional acceptance letter from the Incarnate Word University Online program" this morning. My stomach is doing flips, a little from excitement but mostly of uncertainty. My mind just flipflops. If I do this I HAVE to see it through until I'm finished.  It's an investment in myself. I am trying to rationalize the expense of the education, which I believe is going to cost around 40K and take approximately 3 years to complete.  I can buy a 30K+ car to drive to work and around town, knowing that just driving it off the lot it depreciated in value, and if and when I decide to trade it in it will only be worth a fraction of what I paid for it. I am trying really hard to see this education as an investment in myself, for myself without a depreciating factor. Can I see it through till the end???? 

Poetry in Glass

I finally broke down and used the fusible decal paper I bought over a year ago.  I took my poem to work and printed it out on the laser printer and crossed my fingers that there would be enough iron oxide in the toner to burn into the glass. And there was! I wrote this poem quite a few years ago, and out of all the poems I have written, this my favorite.  It's a nostalgic part of my life spending my childhood summers in Rockaway, New York.

 I will be incorporating this piece with a couple of others to make a larger panel.

St. Josephs Island

It was a spontaneous and surprising Valentines weekend when my husband suggested a trip to St. Joseph's Island, better known as San Jose Island. A 21 mile barrier island on the Texas coast in it's most natural state. The only way to get on or off the Island is by passenger ferry/jetty boat, which means no cars are allowed on the island either.  The last ferry pick up time is at 6:10 pm and you DO not want to miss the last ride back to Port Aransas. There is NOTHING on this Island (not even a port-a-potty).

When we reached the island, there was just one small dock that lead to a cement/rock pier. The cement portion of the pier had a stamp date about every 20 feet of 8-21-35. When we got off the ferry all I could see was sand dunes filled with plant life. As we walked the pier I finally got to see a beautiful beach area, as the pier continued off into the Gulf filled with fishermen.

When we finally set up our area, I noticed two things. We were the only ones with a beach umbrella, and I was the ONLY person that went into the water (as far as I could see). The temperature outside was in the low 80's and the temperature of the water was in the mid 60's. It felt refreshing, kind of like early June on the beaches of the northeast coast.  My husband spent his time on the pier fishing, and not catching anything but the rays of the sun. We also went for a long walk as I hunted for seashells, and coming back to our area to have a picnic lunch. It was also pretty cool sitting on the pier and watching the dolphins swim.

This was my very first time visiting St. Josephs Island, and even in it's natural state and beauty, the human species has touched this island in the most negative way. Trash. I watched one couple that road the ferry with us, set up their area, then take a large black trash bag and went for a short walk. When they came back, the garbage bag was filled. The garbage isn't just left behind by people, it's washed up to shore. Plastic bottles everywhere, plastic buckets, plastic caps from different bottles, plastic bags.......uuuuggghhh this is what I found as I walked. It's sad. I think that it every person that visits the Island really should fill a trash bag and bring it back on the ferry to be disposed of properly. From now on, I will be bringing my own trash bag on every trip I take to the coast.

This is the trash that the couple collected upon arriving to the island. 

Friends and Art

This week has been a very special week for me. I picked up one of my best friends who lives in Kamloops Canada. She was vacationing in Baja Mexico and took a detour to San Antonio instead of going home. I have been enjoying her company, even though I have been working all day leaving her alone at my house during the day.  We spent the evenings together this week talking about our future, our past and creating art.  She is a poet and an artist. We both love working with glass and we both signed up for glass shows promising art that is only in our imagination right now.  I will have an extended weekend, taking off Monday and Tuesday so we we will be creating some art together and firing up my small 110 kiln!

Last night we went to the Mcnay Museum of art and spent the evening amazed of some of the new installations.  I didn't take a picture of my favorite temporary installation (which photographing is  allowed). It was a complete art studio made totally out of cardboard. From floor to ceiling to everything including a cardboard door that lead to a cardboard bathroom, It was amazing!  Here is a link to a few pictures Full Stop by Tom Burckhardt - Cardboard and Paint 2004-2005 - McNay Art Museum.

Before leaving the museum, I made the mistake of going into the museum gift shop with my friend last night. I was admiring a VERY expensive embroidered throw pillow when my friend decided that she was purchasing it for me. I guess I shouldn't admire anything in front her any more!!!! I do appreciate that she likes me that much to buy me the gift, and I will always look at it and remember her.  Today is Friendship Day (according to Facebook at least) so I want to do something special for her tonight before she leave on Tuesday afternoon.
Here is my pillow: (I'm thinking out taking the stuffing out and framing the thing, don't tell her that though!!!!)

I love the colors and the pattern! The embroidery, which can't see in the picture is so detailed and flows with the patterns. (it was the last one out of 150 the museum sold)