"Summertime" Update

 Here is where I left off with my mosaic that I have given the title "Summertime"to. As you can see, I had done some work, but whenever I looked at the four bare triangles at the sides I drew a blank on what to do. I was starting to question the decisions I was making on the center part and had to admit that it was time to stop.

 I threw out two other mosaics that I had started, was displeased with, and were not salvageable. I almost threw this mosaic out also. But something made me stop and just set it aside. After a bit of time, I found an Etsy store that sold these beautiful glass Cabochons. The Cabochons inspired me and I will use them to finish the mosaic. I just needed something new and unique to tie the blank triangles into the theme of the mosaic. I will be finishing the mosaic when I am ready. I can look at it now and see the way to go. 

I don't know how many of you have started something and messed up and then had to start again in another direction, but I think you will understand what I have gone through with my mosaics. I wanted so badly to create something beautiful and magical that I tried forcing uninspired ideas and failed. I was getting a second chance with this mosaic when I stumbled. I haven't had this much difficulty before. I was always blessed with inspirations, and enjoyed executing them. Now that I have another outlet for expressing myself artistically, I have found that the inspiration will come for my mosaic when it comes and in the meantime I can do something else. 

So, I guess what I have learned from these angst-filled times is that inspiration and magic cannot be forced. They are to be sought through the labyrinth of life seeking joy in the fulfillment of passion through art. Wait. Believe. Be Open to Receiving. 

I used to see the next mosaic that I wanted to create before I had finished the one I was working on, but not so (yet) with this one. We'll see...

Make Time for What You Love

 I picked up this mosaic (again) that I started years ago. Parts of it are lovely and others are merely pedestrian. It has made me realize that instead of forcing myself to continue to do uninspired work when I reach an impasse; it is time to stop and walk away until a worthy idea spurs me onward.

 From this place that I am now in my work, I am trying to save this depressing mess. Perhaps my empathy for this mosaic is driven by the way it reflects my mosaic journey. I started out creating mosaics from my heart. So much love and joy went into them. Then I thought I should make mosaics that other people might like and sell them on Etsy. Of course, I would get inspired and create a mosaic that I loved and could not sell. Then I would feel that I should make something to sell. I have now come to understand that my mosaic journey needs to be fueled by love and joy. I no longer will create a mosaic for the purpose of making a sale, but my mosaics are to be an expression of me through the medium of mosaic.

During the pandemic, I have had absolutely no luck in creating new mosaics. The fairy door is a hideous mess and I started a mosaic of a mermaid that failed miserably due to uninspired choices. As soon as I finish or set aside this twice abandoned mosaic, I am going to attempt a mosaic that has been haunting me for years,but one that I felt was beyond my abilities to properly execute. But then I figured if not now then when...

Here is the mosaic mess I am trying to save. The left side is amazing but the butterfly surrounded by blue glass does not fit, right. And the dragonfly at the top has ugly, boring wings. Stop laughing and saying it belongs in the trash. Okay, the challenge is great; I admit. However, I have been inspired and so I want to try and save it. I'll keep you updated and hopefully, surprise us both.

And So the Sea Horse Mosaic Begins

I started this mosaic yesterday after having completed 64 questions on Chapter 1 of my Federal Taxation- Individual class. The crown, fin on the back, and the midsection are all done in dichroic glass.

Today after completing five homework questions, I did the face in lavender stained glass, and the jaw- highlighting in a dark bluish-purple mirrored glass. I had to let it set up before continuing. The waiting for the glue to dry and hold the glass in place is important and necessary on such a small mosaic area. Then I added the bluish purple glass to the outside curve of the stomach and continued using the lavender glass to create the neck.

I wanted to put the eye on the sea horse, so I took a container of tiny beads and chose the one I wanted. While choosing; of course, I knocked over the container and that is why you see the green spoon in the photo. That spoon saved me a great deal of time and effort. When you think about what your life would be like without something as simple as a spoon, it makes you appreciate the small things that we take for granted. And then we go on to be grateful for all the cool stuff, oh yeah.

At this point the sea horse looks kinda weird, It doen't look very cohesive and it will be my job to pull it all together or else it will just be a freaky mosaic. Here's hoping for a miracle.

I have started choosing glass for the Sea Horse mosaic since I am now done with the little dolphin mosaic :)

Sorry about the shadow; it really hinders the effect of the glass. So these are my first choices but not necessarily my last. The pink assortment under the dolphin is the glass I am thinking of using for the sea shell behind the sea horse. The lavender and purple glass is what I am considering for the sea horse, and the blue glass is background and possibly foreground choices.
 I will continue to take pictures as I create this mosaic. Since it is so small, it will be easy to show my process of choosing glass that brings my idea of what I want this mosaic to be into being. I can start out with one idea but then ZAP! I see something completely different and it takes over and the mosaic becomes something else. For example, the dolphin mosaic started with the bead work and then the blue belly, but then instead of doing light grey fins and tail, and a dark grey body then ZAP!
This sparkly lighter blue glass went on the tail, fins and nose while the rest was a sparkly white glass. And just now the dolphin's name came to me, "Sky". Definitely a summer sky. See what I mean. You never know when inspiration is going to hit and I have learned to just go with it and no regrets.

Side-tracked by a Dolphin

Seriously, I really believed that I was going to choose glass and start on the Sea Horse mosaic. But there was the dolphin substrate and all this glass left over from the last mosaic that was perfect for it, so I jumped in and now it's done except for grouting.

I bought the little dolphin substrate at the craft store at the beginning of the summer because I thought it would be the perfect addition to the "Beach Daze" mosaic that I did back in April 2017. I will place it on the upper right-hand corner of the mosaic, and will post a picture of it when it is finished. The dolphin is made with glass tiles and beads.

Grouted & Hung on the Wall!

I started this mosaic about November of 2016 and got stuck for awhile. I picked it back up last summer and continued to struggle with the design and glass choices. Now it is done; grouted &
hung on my wall. Of course, I feel a sense of accomplishment, but mostly relief that the difficult decisions are behind me. This is not the first time that I have chosen to do a mosaic without a template and got lost in its creation. I think like a lot of artists it takes struggle to define who you are and accept it. I have come to understand what mosaics make me happy creating and be okay with that.

The mosaic is approximately 23 1/2" x 3 1/2". It is on a wood board with  wall hanging hardware on the back. It is made with mirrored glass of different colors, stained glass, many different types of glass and beads. It will be listed in my Etsy store with a great deal more detail.

I have yet to name this mosaic, perhaps "Elusive".

Next Up!

I love, love, love doing beach themed mosaics. This is another smallish picture frame and I am going to mosaic a Sea Horse with a Sea Shell behind it. In the picture, it is sitting on the table that I create all my mosaics on. It is ready to go! Now I will choose the glass and then I will start.