Update on the SAMA Show.

Well, I just found out that I was not accepted to be part of the Society of American Mosaic Artists show. I can't say I'm not disappointed. I was very much hoping to be a part of that show and I think that I entered a pretty fine piece of work. But that is the risk of putting yourself out there, and I am most definitely not disappointed that I tried.

I think that this part of being an artist, putting yourself out there and facing the possibility of rejection (and even in many circumstances, PAYING for the privilege of being considered and then rejected) is the part that holds so many people back. It's one thing to create art that is unjudged by anyone other than friends and family. Another step to put it out in public to be viewed and possibly purchased by someone. But it has been the most difficult step of all, for me, to enter my work into a competition where it is judged by professionals in my media. And I didn't make it this year.

I believe that next year will be better.

Florida 1963

I've been working like a dog on this latest mosaic. It's not necessarily one of the biggest I've done, but it goes in a new direction for me. More realistic than previous works. This is the first in a series that I'm planning based on abandoned family snapshots. They may be old photos of family members or maybe even people that nobody remembers, but I like the composition and vintage look of the photo. In the mosaic I'm trying to evoke the feeling of the vintage photo and the odd sort of voyeuristic feel of some snapshots.

This is the full image and below is a detail.

This is the work I submitted to my first ever juried art show. It is for the Society of American Mosaic Artists convention in March of next year. If I'm chosen to participate it will hang in the Navy Pier in Chicago for March and April of next year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Mysterious Amy

My good friend Jennie recently showed me some pictures she'd taken of her friends at a gathering. I like Jennie's work. She's got a great eye and her lighting is thoughtful and accents the work. But one photo in general, really stuck with me. It was a photo of her friend Amy and the pose, the expression and the lighting all reminded me of a classic portrait. I thought it was beautiful, capturing an interesting expression. The image stayed with me and I decided that I would like to try to work a mosaic using it as the inspiration. Jennie gave me the photo to use and this is the result. Thanks Jennie. And thanks Amy. I hope you guys like it.

Here's the original photo.



And here's my mosaic version.

Houses

So, a while ago I found this supply of wooden houses for an unreasonably low price. I bought as many as I could imagine a) justifying the cost and b) justifying the space to store until I figured out what the heck I was going to do with them. I do tend to hoard my favorite supplies, something I'm trying to get over.

So I started out by painting a few of them and then they sat around in my studio for a while, trying to guilt me into working on them by being just cool little houses. But this week, this week I finally found the idea for a couple of them and now I'm sort of kicking myself that I didn't get more of the houses when I could.

Still, these are a great start.

This first one is called Sea House. I painted it, this mottled blue/green, intending all along for it to be a sea theme, but it wasn't until I added the papers at the back of the niches that I started thinking about what I wanted to put on the front panel. I am just so pleased with my saucy little mermaid.


The second I'm calling Tea House. I started out with an idea of using tea bag labels for shingles for the house. The tea pot handle and spout were a splendid accident and I love the miniature tea cup. I was very inspired by some recent research I've been doing into steampunk art and Victorian looking stuff.

Some mosaics

I've been making mosaics like a mad woman. Okay, not really a MAD woman. I'm still bathing regularly, I sleep fairly regular hours and I interrupt my schedule to watch "So You Think You Can Dance." But otherwise? MAD WOMAN.

I found myself inadvertently participating in an art fair, which is coming up this weekend. I know, it seems as though the word "inadvertently" doesn't really seem appropriate, but trust me, when I started out I had no idea I would have a table in this art fair. So I've been making some small mosaics. These are just little tidbit mosaics. Something to hang in a tiny little space where the light will hit it just right.

I loved the confetti icing so much I plan to do many more of these. This is approximately 6x4 inches.

Once I did the cupcakes, the pie seemed like a natural progression. This one is approximately 9x6 inches. I'll be doing more of these as well. It seems that, exactly like the model, one slice will never be enough.



This little guy is...well, I'm not really sure what he is, but I think he has a sweet expression. I started doing these mosaics with the little painted moon faces a few years ago and they are always popular. This one is roughly 4x6 inches.

There are more but I'll save them for later.

Original Painting

Was invited back the next week to paint from a live model. Couldn't pass that up! Once out of school it is rare to get an opportunity to paint live models, unless you can tie down or drug your own family members. (A course of action I am NOT advocating.) So here's the mostly finished piece. Still have some work to do on the background which may, or may not get done.

Rossetti Copy

Was privileged to be invited to participate in a painting exercise recently, where we painted a copy of a favorite portrait. I chose Rossetti's Persephone, as it is one of my all time favorites. The colors and the technique fit right into my personal aesthetics.

Here's the original (on the left in case I really need to say. And my copy is on the right. I think I did pretty well overall.

Tatterhood Study

Practicing painting skills for my fairy tale illustrations. This is just a study. Trying to get facial proportions and skin tones down. Already realized, after initial posting that both these illustrations have the left hand coming up in some awkward way. Trust me when I say that I have created work in between these two pieces which did NOT have the figure holding their left hand up to their face.

Illustration: Contained

"Fashionably Contained."

Painted in acrylic on canvas board. 8.5"x11"