As we move through the early days of 2014, I’m back in the studio rested, refreshed, and inspired from a recent vacation.  I am seriously dejected by this Midwestern Winter, however.  Normally I’d just head into the studio and leave the season behind, but family concerns and logistics have forced me out into the elements more than I care for.

In early October of 2013 I spent three weeks driving around the American West on the vacation of a lifetime.  I even got to several National Parks and Monuments before the Government shutdown.  I missed several (because of the shutdown) that were on my list, but that’s just an excuse to return, I guess.  I have tons of inspiration photos to pour over and lots of energy and ideas to transform into art in my studio.  Here is some of my newest work in various states of progress.

 

 

 

 

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THE GUITAR IS DONE!

All glassed, all glued, all grouted, delivered and in its new home!

53 days, 500+ woman hours, a bazillion pieces of glass, and several pounds of grout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Gala to Kick off the Encore on June 6th, 2013.

 Each Guitar will be displayed in front of (or near) the sponsoring business location.  I am pleased to announce that my guitar is sponsored by Couri Insurance Associates (CIA) and will be displayed at 379 West Main Street throughout the summer and beyond.  You can see the guitar and then trot across the street to River’s End Gallery to see my personal work on display!  You can pick up a guitar-pick shaped walking tour guide at any Main street business and wander through Downtown Waukesha enjoying the shops and the guitars.

You can see all the photos that detail the Making of the Guitar.

From this:

TO THIS!

Finished photos (front and back) plus detail shots are here

If you’re interested in following my work you can sign up for email updates from me (up there on the right), or subscribe to my rss feed and get updates in your bookmarks.

Some of you may be wondering how little Waukesha, Wisconsin got to be a Guitartown like Hollywood, London, Nashville, Austin, and Miami.  Waukesha is the home (and final resting place) of Les Paul who is considered by many to be the father of the electric guitar.  The Gibson corporation thought it appropriate to honor Les’s memory by bestowing this great honor on Waukesha.  I’m proud to be part of this encore celebration of the history of music in Waukesha and it’s rich culture in Wisconsin.  The entire Guitartown Waukesha project can be followed here.

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Most people don’t know that glass is a liquid.  It’s a liquid that flows very, very slowly over centuries rather than minutes.  When looking at a hundred year old pane of glass, it is clearly thicker on the bottom than on the top, due to the effects of gravity on this liquid.

I like to think that I’m taking this shiny, hard, sharp, liquid and elevating it.  What went on around it through its life is now added to my work and my artistic vision.  The colors that the glass reflected are now on its surface and changing its character. Viewers no longer look THROUGH this glass, but rather into it.

If you don’t know me, I’m an artist who is pushing the envelope of the definition of mosaics. 

I layer glass, I stack glass, I add inks for vivid colors, I add beads, guitar strings, polymer clay, and most anything that strikes my fancy.

One gallery owner calls my work “glass mosaics“, another gallery owner calls them “glass paintings“.  You decide.  Or add another qualifier.  Or not.

Whatever you call them, I’ll keep making them til the deep, deep, well inside me runs dry. . . . . . . and then I’ll find something else fun to create. 

 

Looking for my recent work?

Looking for more traditional mosaics?