grouting .......

Grouting is so messy but it adds a"grounding" element to the piece. I love the stages of grouting....the mixing....the spreading....the squishing into the cracks.
The wiping off of the excess....the wiping off of the cloudy film over the glass, the peaking through of the images under the tempered glass.
I love the way it reveals itself.
And now it has to dry. Two to three days of drying is needed before the next step which will be to mix metallic powder into a sealing solution.
This adds another dimension to the grout.










































And since I have to wait three days....I started a new piece.
Today I created the design with tempered glass and found objects.
Can you see into the key hole?
Can you see the eye of the Madonna and the child looking up at her?
Tomorrow....grouting again......

Ahhh.....creating again.....

I just love creating these mixed media wall pieces.
I am using antique hand written French letters, pictures, tempered glass, gold mosaic tiles and glass butterflies.






Tomorrow I will add grout and it will change a lot....

So much fun.....!

Enjoying new blossoms, good friends and old artwork....

Being away for a while does bring it's rewards....like the gift of reuniting with good friends.
And when I'm over at a good friend's house it also means I get to look again at little pieces of art work that I've given as gifts.

It's always a good feeling and a bit of a relief to see something that I made, years ago, and actually be charmed by it. The emotional process of creating art is...at least for me.... such a roller coaster ride.
I was sharing this online today at That Creative Place, where I teach classes.

A woman, new to sculpting, was taking my class in learning to sculpt a face and I wanted to make sure she knew that it is a process....a process where it is necessary to be kind to yourself. Everytime I create something I seem to journey along the same path...and even though I know the twists and turns of this path, I still fall into the emotion of it. I wanted to prepare her a bit for this possibility.

When I'm creating, it is like falling in love. I am so in love with what I am making that I am sure it is the best thing I've ever done.
I'm sure it is worth millions of dollars.
Then.....a couple of days after I have completed the piece, I see everything wrong with it.
I am embarrassed for anyone to see it. I am sure it should be thrown out!

Fortunately,within a month's time, my emotions level out and I can see the piece for what it is, and appreciate the good points, and learn from the places that don't work as well.

And then there comes the time when I haven't seen a piece of my artwork for months or years....
and when I see it, I am happy.
Today was one of those days. :)

Joyful return....

One of the great blessings about being able to live between two beautiful places in the world is that by being away for a few months, my eyes are clear and bright to soak in the beauty everywhere.
It is easy to be grateful.

We returned to cold temperatures in Northern California and rainy days, but there is the great joy of opening the front door of our little cottage....of meeting friends for coffee and pastries.....of the flowers tickling Spring's fancy....and of course....there are the smiles of my grand children. Ahhhhh......Blessings Abound.

Saying goodbye to Hawaii.....

It's time to leave.......it's time to return to the mainland and the cold.....Ugg boots and coats instead of slippahs and sarongs.
Whispering....alooooha....
till we meet again.

Sailing on Dreams.....

She's done.... :)
May I present......."Sailing on Dreams"

18" Antique beading, netting, fabric and trim.
Metal wings covered in antique metallic lace and rhinestones.
Abalone shards
Glass bubble covered with rhinestones
Nautilus shell
Antique iron base

Available for purchase.
ikons@hawaii.rr.com for any questions or more photos.

Almost done.....

Just adding the finishing touches......
Should be all done tomorrow.

Making progress......

Abalone shards....antique beadwork, fabric and trim....metal wings....metal stand...

Making progress.......