The most AMAZING mosaic wall...

You must check this out.  Michelle Legler, mosaic artist in Arizona created this masterpiece.  Her blog is fantastic as well...  HERE... enjoy!

A new creative day...

Well, several days that is.  Polymer clay tiles are time-consuming and the process pretty painstaking: Roll out the clay, stamp, cut into tiles, bake, and then paint about three layers.

When I moved I thought I had most of my polymer clay paraphernalia packed in one or two boxes that would be easy to access.  Not so... surprise, surprise... I have yet to find some key things, but at least I could stamp, bake, and paint some tiles for picture frames.  They are just not going to have Scrabble pieces on them--this time.
As soon as I moved my laptop and printer to another desk, my creativity came flooding back.  I don't think computer vibes are good for visual creativity unless you're doing digital art and things like that.  I had my work table back, and out came decorative paper, glue, and some newly purchased wrapped canvases for collages.  No pictures of those yet, but I have three in the process now.

I got stuck on this one portrait/collage and decided to make some mosaic tiles instead.  That's a creative endeavor that always just flows.  So, here's the first picture frame of four, and the basket of newly painted tiles.  I took one picture with a flash so that you can see the hint of gold in the light and another picture without a flash.  It's so inspiring to root around the tiles to find just the right combination.  Even the most unassuming and ugly tile has its place.  I have thrown out a few, very few, and those that are "grayish" and hopeless, I usually repaint and give a new life.  It always amazes me how the tiles always find the perfect home on a frame or box.  They know where they need to go.  On this particular frame I used a tile that I painted three years ago...  Never could find a home for it until today. :)

I think that maybe my creative dry spell is over!  Yay.  

Boxes up the wazoo...

I've been making lots of mosaic boxes and I'm very grateful that they are selling here locally. Sometimes there gets to be a few too many polymer clay tiles, though. They are EVERYWHERE! I step on them, sit on them, my cat sits on them. They underhandedly sneak into my basket of paper ephemera that lives under my table. And then I can't find some of the lettering. I was looking everywhere for a polymer bar with "heart's desire" stamped into it--actually I was looking for "heart's" and could only find "heart" pieces until I discovered that "heart's desire" resided on one single polymer bar. The word "your" had to be put on extra. Gets complicated, doesn't it? (The picture is a different heart box.)

At some inspired moment I stamped the words like "Life is singing" on a tile. When in the world am I going to use THAT??! It might be singing, but I don't think it'll go on a box any time soon. I also have startling words like "Secrets!" and "Forever" lying around for future projects. Forever is a good Valentine's Day word, isn't it? I could do a "Secrets!' box for someone working at the CIA. Maybe I should make a box with all the left over letters across the lid. That would surely sell...yeah right. So, I'm going letter crazy. :)

It has been driving rain all day and gusting winds, so maybe I can blame it on that.

Cheerio,

Maria

BAILEY SAYS: "LAZY CAT WHO DOESN'T CREATE..."

.....BAILEY ACTUALLY SAYS: LAZY CAT LIKES TO SLEEP"...

Well, at least he knows what he wants. I think he's lazier than Garfield. However,

I have not been lazy this weekend. I created a polymer clay tile mirror and a inspirational box! Bailey slept through the whole thing... Did you know you can use cool buttons to make patterns in polymer clay? Anything that has a dramatic surface makes a good imprint. Sometimes I even embed small charms and figures in the clay. As long as it can be baked safely, the sky's the limit! The paint adds dimension and interest to the surface. You can't go wrong, really, as long as you stay with colors that compliment each other to cut down on the "busy" look that can come from too many mixed patterns and colors.

A NEW DAY, ANOTHER PIECE OF ART...

Hi, my name is Maria and I'm an artist (among other things,) like gardener, shop owner, and butler to His Majesty Bailey, the Cat. I could write a separate blog "by Bailey" but this is an art blog. I love to make art of all forms, but especially painting in acrylics, making mosaics on mirrors and boxes. I use stained glass tile, or polymer clay tiles that I have cut, stamped, painted, and embossed. It's a tricky and time consuming adventure in clay, but the results are always satisfying. As an artist you never know how a project will end. You might have an end result in mind, but halfway thru, the artwork takes on a life of its own... Every artist will tell you that they weren't sure how that dratted cat ended up in the dramatic sunset they were painting, or why the cat was blue along with the purple cat held in the mermaid's arms... Well, honestly, I never painted many sunsets... I have painted a pink beach on occasion, and admittedly a blue cat with white stripes once. If that Blue Dog could make it big, what the heck!

Maria