New mini glass works

New works are smaller for the upcoming shows. Mirror mixed media mosaics and tiny jewel colored 1" glass pins and pendants as well as the framed glass paintings.

My other series I like to refer to as SOL (Smiling Out Loud) pieces are dreamlike images inspired by St. Francis, Madonnas, angels, folktales, proverbs, love, and dogs (love dogs!). Vibrant jewel tone color palett combines with wildlife and the SOL pieces. A direction my work has moved toward since 2005.

Featured in several of my pieces is my k9 Aussie companion Risa. 

The glass paintings glow with color and gold metallic highlights in both series. It's fun to toggle/play between them for endless design combinations!

 The light shines thru the sides in the glass pins highlighting the glitter in them. I have always wanted to make a few of these - they are so cute and colorful to wear! Just had to finally make some :~)

 Currently on the easel is a shy, mysterious, lovely Kit Fox.

Bat Night Magic

Bats are fascinating and there are always many flitting in the night at the park where I walk Risa. It's great the way they catch the bugs in flight and they are very small, barely the size of a  child's hand.

They make twilight a magical time - the in between time of light and dark with Maxfield Parrish blue colored skies and twinkling stars.

Mermaid finished!

The streamlined, kelp mermaid La Sirena is finished and framed. The frame (not shown) complements the painting. Will get better picture and replace this one!

La Sirena Progess 3

Home stretch - almost finished. This is a critical part of the painting, the final background. It is a one time deal - once applied that's pretty much it. The only way to correct in this technique is by removal thru razor or solvent and redoing. At this stage the whole painting will be covered with the background of the undersea water. So careful planning on colors, then several layers of painting to create luminosity. Layering the paint colors is how shading and depth is created - usually 2 - 4 layers per element. 

This is how the Sea Turtle was created and this painting is part of the Sea of Cortez series - part fantasy, part reality; what is often referred to as 'urban fantasy'.

She is adorned in kelp and the green surrounds her like the kelp beds with the orange Garibaldi and sea turtles (inhabitants of kelp) as her escorts. 

La Sirena Progess

More mermaid painting. Have a few corrections to make, then a bit more coral life and finally the magical waters. This will be a companion piece for the sea turtle in the Sea of Cortez series. They will be in the glass painting exhibit at the Tucson International Airport Sept.7  - Nov. 30.

I will also be doing my very first art show Nov. 14 - 15 and I am working on my display design. I am excited and nervous, working hard to prepare for both shows!

Everyone has been so supportive and I feel lucky, grateful that I will not be doing my first show solo.

La Sirena Progess

The painting in progress. Glass painting is a mindset of thinking in reverse. Once in the 'zone' it's best to keep painting until finished. So I will paint until completed. That is my best work mode anyway - all at once. Saving the best til' last - the mermaid. I have several colors in mind - golden yellow and blue like Clarion Angelfish, red with blue dots like grouper, or shading from red at bottom to golden yellow. All inspired by actual reef life. Nature is amazing in it's colors and I will use that for color/pattern guidance. As shown, the back is Very Different from the front of the painting because of the reverse process. I love to watch it magically appear as I finish each section.

La Sirena

Another reverse glass painting in progress from the Sea of Cortez series. Urban fantasy is a favorite genre where reality and possibilities dwell. 

In reverse glass painting, everything is painted on the back side of the glass, from front to back - literally backwards.  A tricky technique and a challenge I enjoy, which is why I find myself returning to it often. More than my standard acrylic and illustration techniques. 

Every so often I have this dream where I am underwater, swimming effortlessly - slipstream, quicksilver graceful - seal, otter like. It feels so wonderful gliding, playing and observing life under water. Then I wake up - wondering what the hell I'm doing on dry land in bed - "oh yeah, it was just a dream..."

Sueño del Mar

Ocean Dream or Dream of the Sea.

This is from a series of reverse glass paintings I am working on of the Sea of Cortez.  An experiment of balancing a little fantasy with reality. Sea Turtles are such charismatic, mysterious creatures and I do not get tired of exploring the undersea life in all it's colors and moods. Working on little 3 min flick of the technique but for now google wikipedia for an explanation of the technique of reverse glass painting. :~) It's featured in a lot of my work.        Click on the pic for larger viewing.

Stay tuned for another Sea of Cortez painting that includes una Sirena (mermaid).