Finally in Glass

Paper to Clay, to Plaster to Wax, and Plaster Again

Snowpacolypse has hit! I've been stuck indoors these past few days because Seattle can't handle a few inches of snow, but the good news is it has allowed me great progress on the Flower and Garden Show project.

So far what I have accomplished is the finished drawings for eight 1ft squared panels to go in the garden, I've sculpted four of them in clay and taken plaster casts of those four, and I've then taken waxes from three of those plaster molds, from which I have made three plaster/silica molds that are ready for the kiln! Glass arrived just before the storm, and a good friend is loaning her kiln, so all I have to do now is figure out what firing schedule to use and how to pack the pate de verre.

Wish me luck.

I have my Cake and I'm Eating it Too!

Life has it's moments. At this busy time of year I find more things have been calling me away from what I thought I needed to get done, and then I accomplish more that I had intended in the first place.

For instance, I needed to spend some time in Alaska to grieve the loss of a family member and spend time with those still around. Death is one of those things that you just can't avoid and it never comes at a good time. It interrupted plans to visit a university in SF that I am seriously considering. It also put me behind schedule as far as the projects I'm working on which would serious compromise my time management if I was selected for the residency in January I have applied to that I really, really want!

But...

The airlines suddenly came out with amazing winter deals which would make it so financially easy for me to fly to California for a few days for the university appointments. As I was struggling with the moral dilemma of: can I afford even more time away from my responsibilities?- I got a call from the residency folks who said I was not selected (therefore not committed to living and working on Vashon for a full month or two) but that they still want to invite me to do my project I had proposed for them- sometime in the next four to six months!

So I get my cake and I can eat it too!

Now I'm in SF exploring, learning a lot about the CCA program, spending time with my best friend (what a good sanity check!) and I'll still be able to come home and finish my obligations to the Flower and Garden show coming up!

Look for progress on that soon.

Re-evaluating Resolutions

In the year 2010, my New Year's Resolution was to put out at least ten applications. It didn't matter what they were for, grants, scholarships, fellowships, calls for art etc. as long as it pertained to my art career. I think I got to six.

This year, 2011, I started out with the Resolution of developing my portfolio to be presentable to grad schools, and then apply. So far, so good. I think I'll make my goal this time! But the funny thing is, in this year alone I've now totaled eleven applications for those other things!

Going by this measure, I may have better success at applying to grad schools next year, when my New Year's Resolution will be something different, something like...

getting a residency in France!

Just updated my online portfolio for one of those eleven applications this year. You can see all that and a proposed project I have in mind for the next installation here.

Pangur Ban

Well, the sweet thing has taken the name of Pangur Ban, even though "Ban" means "white" in old irish, it still suits her. She also sometimes goes by Butter Bean.

A distraction, a nusince, and endless inspiration, much like the original Pangur who was written about by a 9th century Irish monk.

I and Pangur Ban, my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will;
He, too, plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing to see
At our task how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
Into the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den.
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine, and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade ;
I get wisdom day and night,
Turning Darkness into light.'

Feeling Monkish

With a day off, and the morning light coming through the window, a large cup of hot tea and monastic celtic music playing on the Thistle and Shamrock, it was hard not to imagine being a medieval scribe as I took to creating the pages of my own personal calender and notebook.

Here are the steps I took to making a personalized planner which I hope will help me to better manage my time in the coming years:

Making the pages,

Binding them,

And then collaging pretty papers to make the front and back covers.

Oh yeah, and now we have a cat.

Experiments and Inspiration

I think it always valuable to take time to visit museums and galleries. There is always something to learn or something that might spark an idea for my next creation. That's why when I visited my family in LA I made it a point to see the Getty Villa and also hit up the Huntington Library. I love those intimate little museums of private collections put in an idealistic setting! And yes, I did get inspired for some good ideas I'll put toward a show I have in mind.

When I got back I immediately got to work on a different project: art for a garden to display at this year's Flower and Garden show. What you see here are experiments for cattails and roses.