September Edition - Art Article - Check it out!

                         Please click on this link to read the story of my life and art in the latest edition of the Shawnee Outlook.  http://www.shawneeoutlook.com/  Thanks to the team at the Shawnee Outlook Magazine as well as to Tina Julich for writing such a great article.

Once you have clicked on the link above, then click on the cover of the September Edition. From there you can electronically turn the pages to find a picture of my Glass Cow Skull in the index as well as my article and more pictures of my art and Schoolbus art studio.

Angels heading to Puerto Rico!!!

All of these handmade colorful angels are heading to Puerto Rico. A client has ordered them for her Christmas Tree.  There is no one angel that is alike.

Thank you Ms. Johanna!!

"Ode to Georgia" - Lifesize Glass Cow Skull

Modeled this design from an actual cow skull. Real horns were soldered in, lights are attached up inside the skull.

This piece of glasss art is made of cow horns, bullseye glass, glass beads, glass gems, porcelin flowers, geodes and nodules, broken pottery, feather hanging on horn.  Solder lines stained with Black Patina.

Detail photos - with lights on (above), with lights off (below).

This was created in Janurary 2011.

Process/Sketches

I sketch out the more realistic designs. The above photos show the design before it is cut in glass.

I start with a general design, then it takes on different shapes as I cut the design in glass. I like to embellish each work of art with found objects. In the case of "Pawnee Belle" her fringe comes from broken lampshades, Indian head nickels adorn her jacket, crushed blue glass pieces became her scarf, a chain dangles alongside the scarf.  These portraits were created in 2007. "Pawnee Belle" was traded for a large handmade Commanche drum.

More recent pieces (this summer).  Photo above is called, "Longhorn Steer", photo below is "Mexican Bull". This piece is sold. 

Glass Portraits

On display in the lobby of the Frank Lloyd Wright Art Center in Bartlesville, Ok.

"Pawnee Belle"

"Medicine Man"

"Circle of Feathers"

Abstract Buffalo

Created in 2007.

Silver solder lines were later stained with a copper patina.

Start with the "eye" (auburn rhinestone) in the left center...this helps to see the shape of this animal.

"Longhorn Steer" -  is the name of this original glass art design.  He is 20x13 inches. The composition of this design was sketched by the artist from  looking at a photo image. Most of the glass used is called Spectrum glass which has subtle lines of a milky white color throughout. Colors used were shades of  auburn, dark bourbon brown, sienna, honey gold, caramel and deep bright orange. He is for sale at the Adelante Gallery in Oklahoma City.   

 "Burst of Blue"

13 inches in circumference, 3 1/2- 4 inches thick (side view).
Photo taken with no flash, lights on.

Photo taken with flash, no lights on.

 I was blessed to have prosperous summer. Most of my smaller works have sold so it is time to focus on creating new things.   I love the freedom to do whatever comes to my mind. In this case I wanted to attempt another "wall blossom".  Wall Blossoms are what I call the flower-like designs that look like they are coming forth out from the wall.  Small sparkle lights are strung up inside the deisgn.  Glass sculpture by day, lighted sconce at night. It is a small but powerful accent to any room.    

 I like to incorporate several different objects to create a design. I used antique plates, a cornflower blue vase, cobalt blue bottle top,  a turquoise and gold vase, geodes and glass gems in colors of cobalt blue and chartreuse. I soldered these broken pieces together then covered the silver solder lines with a black patina. My style is eclectic and edgy. Deliberate and mysterious. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  

Side view of "Burst of Blue".  Must see in person to fully appreciate.

SOLD: "Mexican Bull"

Every now and then I like to experiment with more realistic shapes. This was sketched on paper from a photo, shapes were then cut out in glass. "Mexican Bull" was sold through the Adelante Gallery located in the historic Paseo District in Oklahoma City, OK.   The client lives in Puerto Rico...so that is where this bull is heading!!!

SOLD: "Blooming Red Cactus"

"Blooming Red Cactus" was created with the images of flowers blooming amongst the cactus in Sedona, AZ.  This unusual piece of glass art was sold at the Walden Fine Art Gallery, in Taos, New Mexico.  

The many moods of "Enchanted Garden"

 Nighttime inside with artificial light. The different dimensions are emphasized.   

Afternoon sun, natural light, vines come alive.

Gallery photo, white background.

"Sunset Over Sage Mountains" and "Mexican Bull" at the Adelante Gallery

"Mexican Bull"

 I was yearning to switch directions and create something more realistic in design.  When I create a more realistic shape the image is defined before I start to cut the glass.  When I work to create an abstract shape I am cutting the glass shapes with only a very general idea in mind and nothing else.  The colors and shapes dictate the overall design.    

 I first created the frame with silver channel. I had saved an image I liked of this animal and sketched it out on big art paper first.  I thought his long horns would fit well in this horizontal shaped frame. 

 I cut out all of the shapes that I believed I could cut in cold glass.

 I used several various shades and textures of teal and sage. I threw in some accents of a yellowish-green color. I was liking the proportions and wished at the time I had more glass and supplies because I would love to have made a much bigger image of this animal. Three feet across and two feet wide. Someday I will. 

Putting the pieces together. This shows the pieces before they are soldered together. I tried to consider darker and lighter shades. Using dark shades near his flank, thigh and underneath his horns. I used the light colors to make his back, stomach and shoulder stand out more. His body section was more abstract, but the head had to be "right on target" to make the rest of this design work. 

Sunset Over Sage Mountains - Landscape Design

 This Landscape Design is called "Sunset over Sage Mountains".  It will be on display and for sale at the Adelante Gallery at the Paseo Art District in downtown Oklahoma City.  Photographing glass art is tricky. The mountains at the bottom are sage and teal colors, not blue. Some of the sloping mountains are topped with gold small glass gems which depict snow at the top of a mountain ridge.    

 There are five geodes and nodules in this design which came from Anderson, California. Colors in the sunset are various shades of yellow, gold and light mustard green. Filigree from an antique lamp had been soldered in for an intriguing detail.  

 I did not build this design with a frame. A frame can be picked out by the client or they can be hun with the silver channel around the edges.  All silver solder lines were stained with a Black Patina.   

You can see the shapes of the mountain ranges before I added in the sky. The colors in this photo look more teal and sage.

Special Angel on a mission.

I made this for someone who is needing some encouragement. She lives in Missouri so this little Blue and Purple Angel is on a special mission. The wings came off a porcelain figure, the hymnal made of glass. Sterling silver hanging design with a purple gem inside. Black patina on the solder lines and blue dyed leather strip for hanging.