Okay, so I have finally finished the key and have moved on to the next design. I have found that I really like to do two mosaics at a time. The pressure of this mosaic is lessened by working on a mosaic that has a template and all I have to do is cut glass. After I finish this design, I only have to come up with two more (one at a time) designs and execute them. Then all that is left is the background, right...that's all. And I haven't a clue what I am going to do.

Usually, from the beginning I can see the mosaic and what I want to do, then I start drawing and making changes to the original idea as I create a template to mosaic. This idea of creating as we go along and seeing where we end up is very scary to me. I am afraid I am going to screw up Big Time. After this last design made it onto the board, I saw that it had no cohesion with the other designs, but I wanted badly to place it there and mosaic it. So, whatever I thought this board was supposed to be, it is now some thing else.

After I grout the mermaid mosaic, I will be starting another small mosaic of a Seahorse. I created a template for it, so it will go pretty quickly. I'll post a picture soon.

Tiny New Unfinished Mosaic

Here is my latest, completed mosaic. The frame is covered with tape because I want to protect it while I grout. It's always so interesting to see the mosaic before it is grouted. Grouting unifies and changes the mosaic a great deal. There is a fish in the foreground with a light hanging from an appendage with a mermaid in the background. It is a very tiny mosaic made on the glass of this picture frame. I will have better pictures and explanations after it is grouted.

Bella, the Pink Elephant, makes her Debut

This sparkly, sweet little picture frame attracted my attention, and I knew right away that I wanted to put a mosaic instead of a picture on her. The mosaic is 2 5/8" x 2 5/8" and the picture frame is approximately 6 3/8" x 5 2/8". I used a piece from a former bracelet in the center, blue glass tile, wavy glass tile, different types of millefiori, and grout glitter. When I grouted this piece, I tried to protect the picture frame, but right around the mosaic there was some bleaching of the area. She is able to sit on a tabletop, but does not have hardware attached for hanging on the wall.

Beach Daze, an OAK Mosaic and Original Painting

I love the way this mosaic resonates in my senses; memories of days at the beach, warm sand under my feet while walking with my favorite peeps, looking for sea shells (yes, I have boxes of shells, too), lazy summer days at the beach. I grew up in So. Cal and loved to body surf. I spent a lot of time at the beach and the memories always make me smile.
 Especially when I would do something crazy like accidentally riding a very big surf board backwards when I was about 15 years old, and after I wiped out, telling everyone, "Of course I did it on purpose." It was considered very brave to have done such a dangerous stunt. Yeah, right that's me. Okay so I lied, but it was either be considered brave or stupid. Well, I already knew what it was like to be considered stupid so of course I chose "brave"; definitely a better choice. See I wasn't that stupid.
I have had a love affair with the beach since I was a little kid. It is a place I am drawn to, and I know that many of you feel the same way.

A Tragic Loss

I am compelled to speak of the tragic fire on December 2^nd where 36 people died many of whom were artists of various talents. The Los Angeles Times did an article on the people that died and interviewed family, friends, or colleagues that had known them. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-oakland-fire-victims-2016-htmlstory.html

 As I read this article, I kept hearing about people who were kind, caring, quirky, fun-loving, thoughtful, and talented. Many had come here to the Bay area and stayed because they had found a place where they were accepted and encouraged to be themselves. Some people want others who are different to fit into a mold that “society” says is the “norm” and try to sell it as “you can be so much more”, but trying to fit into someone else’s or society’s mold only makes you less. It is soul crushing. 

The Institute of Mosaic Art started out in a converted factory off the Fruitvale exit not far from the Ghost Ship warehouse, and that is where the comparison ends. Fortunately, Laurel True and her partners were able to update and renovate the Institute. That is where I started taking classes in mosaics in 2005. I was in a precarious emotional place at the time, and this warm and caring artistic community welcomed me and gave me a safe haven to heal. There were no expectations that I needed to fulfill. 

At first, I felt like an impostor as they immediately referred to me as a mosaic artist, but then I started to evolve into my own style (still evolving) of artist, and realized that if others see you a certain way and encourage you to be what you so very much want that you eventually will become some form of that. And by some form of that, I mean that we are all different and a true expression of self is unique.

In this way, I feel a kinship with these struggling artists who found a safe haven where they could be free to laugh, dance, and celebrate their incomparable selves. My heart grieves that they had to die in such a manner, and to all of you who lost a love one in the fire, I am so sorry for your loss.  

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE!

I hoped that when I started my college classes I would have time to work on my mosaic since I was flowing (and glowing ;) with inspiration, but no not at all. I looked at my last post on July 4th and was stunned that all this time has gone by. Here is where I am now with the mosaic.

As you can see I added more to the leaf design, and an embellishment to the design to the right of the leaf. I may remove that since I am not sure I added it because I really wanted to or because I felt I had to do something and splat! There it is. Now, I am sure about the key design, even though I just barely started it.

But the good news is: I started it! That sometimes is the hardest thing; deciding on the glass. I almost wish sometimes that I didn't have so much glass to choose from, but not really.
This mosaic started as a piece that was going to have an orange and red background with all the designs emerging from the background. But now I can honestly tell you that I do not know what the background will be. I am going to trust the process and let myself go with whatever glass and patterns speak to me. Art can be like life; you cannot force it to be beautiful, harmonious, or joyful; you just show up, put your heart into what you are doing and hope for the best.
I am cramming for my finals that are next week. When they are done I intend to throw myself into my mosaic and finish it, finally. I have prepped a butterfly-shaped base for my next mosaic. But we will see...
I have the feeling that when I get back into this mosaic, its intoxicating possibilities will draw me in and I will not be able to think of anything else until it is finished. I hope to have it finished before Christmas or the New Year. Let's see what happens...

New Vision with Old Work

I started this mosaic awhile ago, but I got stuck. Now I know what I want to do with it. Actually, I already started. The leaf was only the orange stained glass and the gold lizard charm. My initial thought was to make the leaf all orange, but my new vision is as you see it and with another leaf  on the right side.

 I added a drawing of a key that was inspired by a 100 year old French key.

As you can see, I changed the key's shape to fit my vision. Art is not about duplicating, but about expressing the way you see the world. I am beginning to understand what my mosaic vision is: it is the way that I would like the world to look if it were made up of glass, gems, beads, charms, found items, etc... Aha moment.

 When I started to do this leaf I felt a shift taking place inside my thought process. Excited to be taking a risk, challenging myself, and believing that I have nothing to lose if it goes terribly wrong. Working in this beautiful medium, my missteps are glittering works of art. How cool is that.

 Of course, I would prefer not to make a misstep, but that is impossible. Life and art are rife with faux pas. Why would anyone want to keep creating art when you know it could all go so terribly wrong? For me, it is the adventure, and believing that this is what I am meant to do; to express myself in glass.

The sun has finally set. I can hear the fireworks beginning to go off.  Happy 4th of July! Hmmmmm how would I express that in glass...