Polymer Periwinkles and Beginning a Large Project

I've been awash in periwinkle blue for the last two days! There's a picture of a frieze and a mini frieze in my Online Gallery at http://www.amusedgallery.com/. I still have a Periwinkle Project at the completion stage- it needs a frame so I'll be starting the day doing a bit of shopping.

I'm going to begin work on reinterpreting this photo I took on my walk the other day. I'm planning on making it a large piece...

A Perfect Start to A New Week

This morning I went for a long walk along Oak Bay Avenue. I had a list of rather dull errands and was able to complete them quite quickly so I had plenty of time to window shop and take photos of various things that caught my eye. I'm really excited with some of the photos I took and I think I'm going to have a busy week in the studio as a result!

I'll begin with Periwinkles.....

Framing Polymer Clay Artwork

One of the ideas I discussed with Kathleen was using "real frames". I tried one yesterday and have to say that I really like the effect of the clean solid frame and the organic 3D composition. The clay piece is 6x4" in a 9x11" frame.

Apples in a Bue Bowl-

It's finished...(I think) I just started considering something to tweak the background.....there may be a second "final image" tomorrow.....

I've started to really get the bug to put these in a show somewhere... feeling the need for first hand feedback besides the kind words I receive online- my next scheduled show is in August and that's a long way away.

The next piece is another floral....the sketch is on my table.

New Frieze- Starting and Mid Point

Yesterday I began work on a new frieze. I started by laying out a background... I really liked the effect and often have a "twinge" as the design begins to disappear but then the composition begins to take hold. Here's how it looked at the end of the day. There's a lot more to do-it's going to be a fun day!

A Visit From A Creative Friend

This weekend my friend Kathleen Schmalz from Guelph Ontario came to visit. She's a person with boundless creative energy fuelled by her inquiring spirit and generous nature. Her wicked sense of humour adds spice to every conversation. We had a long chat in the studio and she gave me a some exciting ideas for the friezes...

Take a peek at some of her paintings at http://guelpharts.ca/kathleenschmalz/photomedia-listing.php

Single White Bearded Iris 26x22"

oil on canvas painting showing the fragility
of the beautiful white iris bloom - SOLD

White Peony 22 x 26 " oil on canvas painting of the lacy white peony bloom - SOLD

Gate- mixed Media 3x5"

The Second Fishing Boat Frieze

Yesterday I completed the second frieze and I'm much happier this time around. I decided to leave out the background and define the negative space with the frame. It was fun to dash about the house testing the effect on different coloured walls. I loved it on a red wall.

I used wire for the fishing boat masts but they were prefectly round and straight and didn't look right so I pounded the wires with a hammer for that "organic" effect.

I solved any "warm room/saggy clay effects" by gluing thin popsicle stick-like strips of wood to the back then laying a second sheet of clay on top.

The eyelet hanger is screwed in the back of the area with the fish and it balances nicely when hung on the wall.

The piece is 15" x 10" so it's the largest frieze so far !

An Old Book Escapes A Dreadful Fate

When I was at Parksville (Rathtrevor Beach) I saw a rather ubiquitous mass-produced fish-shaped clay platter in a local store. The platter was not inspiring (especially since I am an advocate of handcrafted items sold at a fair price by and for for local artisans- don't get me started) but the shape of the fish was inspiring. It reminded me of this Sunset Book (1959) that I found in an antique store several years ago. I originally purchased it to use for collages and altered books but could never bring myself to "cannibalise" it, especially since it described aspects of my own part of the world that have changed radically since the time the book was published. I'm so glad to have the book now as I'm working on interpreting west coast fish in a semi-realistic way for a series of polymer clay fishing boat friezes.

Rathtrevor Beach- Vancouver Island

My daughter and I spent a few days at Rathtrevor Beach on Vancouver Island. We had wonderful weather that I hope will shake me out of my misty grey mode for west coast interpretations. When the tide goes out on this beach it can take half an hour or more to walk to the water's edge. We paused for a long time to share time with the resident Heron and a migratory flock of flock of geese. We walked along the beautiful forest path on our return hike. The spring wildflowers were in full bloom and blazed the mossy forest floor with sweeps of blue and pink.

Polymer Clay,Paperwork and Some Changes to This Blog

I have finally finished 3 days worth of paperwork! Why do printers always run dry just as you are about to print the very last invoice?

I had orders from four different venues and had to photograph, label, invoice and pack it all. As I went through the process I decided to fine tune my Gallery Blog to be my sales site. I also came up with a new logo font after finally working out how to download and extract fonts into Vista. (enough said on the vista subject :-(

I have some new info for my blog guests. This blog will continue to run at http://amusedcreations.blogspot.com/.

The aMused Gallery Blog will be at http://www.amusedgallery.com. I hope you'll continue to visit this blog and drop by every now and then to see what I'm up to in the gallery. If you visit any of the galleries that display my work, please mention that you saw them in my blog!

As for artstuff- I still have fishing boats and Magnolias on my list but was sidetracked by pears....

Fishing Boat Prototype

I finished the fishing boat and I'm putting it in the "Prototype Gallery"- on my own wall. The salmon just don't "pop" enough. I wanted a moody cloudy day effect but paid for it with a lack of contrast. I have another idea for the angle of the fishing boat too- more sketching and colour consideration- I'm not through with this concept yet.

Today I'll be moving from the sea to the garden- working on a rudbeckia themed frieze.

International Autism Awareness Day

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Every day is autism awareness day in our home as my daughter has Asperger's Syndrome. She is a wonderfully talented and outgoing person with a big heart. She attends mainstream high school and is exploring options for a career after she completes school. She loves anime, here's a sample of her art!

Happy Autism Day Gen- you make us very proud!

CNN has wonderful day long coverage on Autism- as 1 in 150 children are diagnosed within the spectrum, it's something everyone should learn about.

A Run of Pink Salmon & Magnolias

We have a lovely magnolia tree in our front yard and it's beginning to bloom...I think there will be a pink driven theme in the upcoming weeks!

My order of black premo arrived and I've done as much as I can on the fishing boat project for today. Tomorrow I'll be putting it all together...