Mosaic salmon sculpture in progress 2

Happy New Year's Eve! I am currently working on the third of the three salmon for my concrete salmon sculpture. The sun is shining, so I thought I would take a couple of pictures of how they look so far. The glass has been adhered to the concrete and next I will be grouting them with charcoal grout...all of the black outlines should look pretty cool-I'm excited!

Mosaic salmon sculpture in progress

Happy Christmas Eve! I have been working away on my first large concrete sculpture (looks a little like a giant salmon wreath!) since I took my classes this summer. This will hang outside underneath the peak of a roof. Each concrete salmon is between two to three and a half feet long and has a copper tube through the center of it. I first sculpted the three salmon from polystyrene foam and then coated each in layers of concrete and fiberglass mesh for strength. After the concrete cures, I will mosaic each fish with a variety of stained and fused glass. I can't wait for that part!

"Rhinestone Rooster" hanging sculpture

Tis the season for little gifties. This is a fun one..."Rhinestone Rooster" a 6x6 hanging sculpture of acrylic on wood with clay and glass accents for $125. It can be found in Art Spirit Gallery's Small works invitational show

Spokesman-Review Commissions

After returning from Australia I got to work on a fun little project for a couple of my favorite journalists Jim and Rick who are retiring from the Spokesman-Review. Jim is an avid flyfisherman and loves cutthroat trout and Rick is a salmon guy. Although I had a few ideas to go on...when they opened their gifts at the retirement party last night, the final paintings ,commissioned by the Spokesman-Review, were a surprise.

Link to a nice write up in the Spokesman's outdoor blog

Here are the very nice thank you emails I received from them today. "Just hung the painting and it looks great - toasting it with a Winterfish ale, to be followed by the salmon dinner we deferred from last night since the retirement afterparty went so late. Had lots of compliments on it, one of my fellow retirees who got an iPad said he wished he would have thought of something more creative instead. So thanks again, and have a great rest of the holiday season - Rick"

"I LOVE it. It's perfect. It captures exactly the feeling I wanted. Both pieces were a big hit at our party and you have a few hundred new admirers. I couldn't have dreamed up a better retirement present." -Jim

This is why I love my job!

Australia

Yay! I am back from Australia...it was an excellent trip. I have my photos posted on face book if you want to take a look at them. Now it is time for all of the gift shows. I have work at the Tinman Gallery "Best of 2011" group show, which opens this Friday December 2nd. I also have work at the "Small works invitational" group show at the Art Spirit Gallery in CdA, ID, which also opens this Friday.

"Garden Fowl" Original 5x7 Acrylic Painting

Just a rooster among the flowers! This little 5x7 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas sold, but I would be happy to make another...

"Big Bird" Original 5x7 Acrylic Painting

A silly plump whimsical bird to brighten up a wall or corner! "Big Bird" a 5x7 Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas for $95.

"Tittle Tattle" 12x36 Acrylic on canvas

Continuing along my theme of gossip in the pines and rumor mill, this one is titled "Tittle Tattle". An acrylic on canvas for $750. It is currently in the Artisan's Wares Gallery in Spokane

"Looking for Love" Original 10x10 Acrylic Painting

A fun little piece with lots of found objects titled "Looking for Love"....in all the wrong places. It is an acrylic on wood panel $195. Currently at the Art Spirit Gallery in CdA

"Winter Steel" Original 50x35 Acrylic Painting

Yeah, today I dropped off my latest commission "Winter Steel" a 50x35 acrylic on wood and canvas with clay and glass accents. It was fun using all of the different media as well as juxtaposing the stark winter scene with the colorful steelhead. Only a few more days until I head off to Australia.

"Choral Koi" Original 20x20 Acrylic Painting

Happy Birthday Kristina! I recently got to do a really fun commission for a birthday surprise. Kristina is an amazing singer who is a member of Spokane Choral Artists and works with the Children's Chorus among many things. Her friends banded together and commissioned this piece "Choral Koi" for her. It is a 20 x 20 textured acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. She received it yesterday and sent me the sweetest email today (see below)...it just made my day!
I received the most incredible gift last night! Not only a bunch of wonderful friends, but the MOST GORGEOUS 'Choral Koi'!!!!!!! That was beyond any surprise I could've dreamt up. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your painting. I'm sure that i don't have the words to express it correctly, but I adore it! Here's a weird thing that will make you laugh: I thought it was particularly amazing to be able to touch it! I love the way that your paintings have such a lush texture on the canvas and I've always wanted to touch some of them. Of course, I never did because it wouldn't have been appropriate. But, when Sarah unveiled your painting last night, after almost crying and falling in love with it ... darn it, I got to touch it! And, I let other people touch it, too! Is that weird? Oh well. I am delighted and still smiling ... and, I will be for the rest of my life whenever I look at that wonderful work! Thank you!!!!!

Light Concrete Sculpture Workshop

Finally posting my photos from the Light Concrete Sculpture Workshop in Oakland Oct 1-2. It was great fun and I learned so much from Tracy Broback at the Institute of Mosaic Art. I can't wait to use my new skills in future endeavors.

"Little Green" Original 5x7 Painting

I'm finally home for a little while-yeah! Had a nice closing reception for "Shape Shifting" at Dean Davis Studio. I'll post photos later. Here is a new little green moray eel (5x7 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas). He is also going home with the new owner of "Shapeshifting".

Turtle Cement Sculpture

Here are a few pictures from my cement sculpture class in San Jose, CA last weekend with instructor Brent Sumner. We made metal armatures with wire mesh, then applied a mix of cement and darjit (paper pulp and clay) to outside and then a second sculpted layer, finally glass jewels and oxide color. I learned a lot and it was fun!

Hutton Settlement Acrylic and Inspiration Workshop

This morning I had five students from Hutton Settlement over to my studio for a talk about finding inspiration and a demo on acrylic texture. They were a lot of fun and learned quickly. Here are a few pictures from our hour together.

Shape Shifting Opening Reception

Lots of fun was had at the Shape Shifting opening reception at Dean Davis Studio, 216 W Pacific in Spokane. This show is up until Oct 7th and there will be a closing party on that date from 5:00-10:00pm, please come if you are in the area! Here are a few pics from the evening.