A Cool Breeze Blows In.....

Introducing my new mosaic, "Breeze". It's the first mosaic I've completed since injuring my shoulder. I started off telling myself I was going to make it without nipping any glass, but that only lasted several hours and then I had to nip a few pieces here and there. It was a painful progress, but I'm quite pleased with the results. "Breeze" went straight to a gallery for the month of June.

Mosaic Lesson

This is my latest mask that still has to be named. (You can click on his picture for a larger view.) He's my first one to have teeth and hair. He still has to be grouted and everything that is currently white will be transformed into charcoal gray with the grout. He'll also have recessed eyes once he's all finished. I'll post a picture of him after he's grouted so you can see the difference.

Excitement from Down Under

Last Christmas season I was up in my studio each day, working away on a large mosaic toucan. I finished him in late January and mailed him off to Australia. Sandy Robertson, a brilliant mosaic artist from Oz brought the international mosaic community together for an incredible project honoring the late Steve Irwin. We donated animals on mesh and she's been working like crazy with a team of assistants to create magnificent mosaic panels that will be installed at the Australia Zoo. The first panels will be installed in mid-November for Steve Irwin Day. This week the mural made the paper in Australia. The article tells more about the project and shows pictures of the panels that have been completed thus far. I am so thrilled and honored to be a part of this.

Bon voyage, dear friend!

I've posted previously about how hard it is for me to part with a piece of art that features a face. "Marge" is my latest piece to leave my studio nest and go to her new home in NY. She's due to arrive there later today. As always I'll be wondering what she'll be looking at each day. Farewell, Marge! I know you're going to someone that will treasure you always.

I've got The Blues

If you're in the Chicagoland area and you love art and/or The Blues, I invite you to an art opening and wine tasting at Karen Solem Gallery in Elmhurst, IL. The opening is on Friday, June 6th from 5:30-8:30PM and will feature art that was inspired by Blues music or is mainly made up of the color blue. My vase, "Montego Blues" will be on display.

Mother Mary has gone home

My mixed media mosaic,"Mother Knows Best" was hanging in Orleans Street Gallery in St. Charles, IL since March as part of their exhibit "Picturing Mary: Contemporary Images of the Madonna". My piece was chosen for the promotional postcards and newspaper articles for the show. It was quite an unexpected and exciting honor! Last month I was informed that "my Mary" had sold. I made a quiet visit to the gallery earlier this month to say goodbye to her. This week the show ended and she went to her new home. Does anyone else have a hard time saying goodbye to their creations? I always get particularly attached to the ones that incorporate some sort of face and wonder where they're hanging and what they're looking at all day. Best wishes, Mother Mary on your new journey.

Welcome to my little corner of the Web!

Wow, talk about pressure. Okay, not really, but it was fun to say. I plan to not only showcase my art and interests in this blog, but also present to you other artists and their creations that I find exciting.

Right now I'm facing a long list of art deadlines. Yep, it's busy season for entering juried shows with specific themes, so I'm spending a lot of time in the studio. While I'm nipping and painting I have a zillion things whirring about in my head, but the biggest presence is Etsy.com! This summer I'll be opening two storefronts on Etsy. One will feature my mosaics, paintings and mixed media pieces and the other store will be for supplies. Stay tuned for details coming soon!

When I'm not spending time with my incredibly supportive husband and three dogs, I'm doing volunteer work for Catahoula United Rescue Society (http://www.catahoulaunited) I'm a foster mom, home visit coordinator and all around volunteer for them. They're a fantastic group of regular people that pull together to pluck Catahoula Leopard Dogs from high kill shelters across the U.S. and place them into foster homes until they are adopted. It's hard, emotional work, but when you get a kiss from a grateful shelter dog it's like the sun shines into your heart.

I look forward to sharing more with you!

Valerie