Crowpost's Blog

Dos Amigos Mosaic!

crowpost — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:27:37 +0000

Just a quick post to let you all know that the Community Mosaic Project that we started at Dos Amigos restaurant in the Spring is now completed and hanging there (Main Street, Concord.). It traveled to Keene to the Art Walk where passersby worked on it, then to the Hopkinton Town Library where the Youth Volunteers completed it. It’s really great, stop by and check it out if you get a chance!

Mosaic Commission Updates/Workshops

crowpost — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:16:25 +0000

Thanks to all of you who are being so patient while I work out my Fall workshop schedule. I promise to have some classes up in the next few weeks. Tendonitis in my right elbow has been giving me some grief and slowing me down. Maybe a good thing? We can all use a little slowing down now and then!

The commissions are going well, the mosaic frame for the Morrill family is nearing completion. It’s been an interesting process, the first time I’ve attempted to “paint” with glass. I’ve achieved what I set out to do and am pleased with the results. However, I won’t know how successful the whole concept is until I’ve grouted it. I’m excited to get there but remind myself to stay focused. As I often tell my students, no racing for the finish line! I promise to post photos as soon as I’m able.

In the meantime, please stay in touch. Will also be posting upcoming exhibits and shows VERY soon!

Mosaic Inspiration

crowpost — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:36:50 +0000

Recently went to the Hildene Meadows Craft Fair in Manchester, VT. What a beautiful drive along the river! If I were of a mind to make postcard photos of the state, that’s where I’d go. The fair was great but I was surprised to realize I was mostly inspired by the little town of Jamaica, VT. There’s a cool shop downtown that sells blown glass pieces. What I LOVED where the stained glass/blown glass leaded hanging window pieces. Bright, colorful, textural and roughly made, imprecise. Really great! I’ve been thinking about how I might create some mosaics based on that idea. Mosaic on windows with more of a 2-dimensional use of glass and found objects. I’m excited to experiment with this. I have to delay gratification for awhile though… Still working on commissions and trying to discipline myself to stay with it. It’s not hard really, it’s just the creative monkey mind wanting to play- everywhere! The point being, one never knows where inspiration will show up. We just stay open and pay attention and have fun!

What Mosaic is This?

crowpost — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:56:14 +0000

It’s great I’m so busy with commissions I hardly have time to blog! I’m working on finishing up the Morrill frame for the painting, then onto the Bird Backsplash for Rosemary. Time is flying!
I just got a huge infusion of lovely stained glass pieces donated to my by a really nice guy from Swampscott. A whole trunk-full! Now I’ve sorted it, kind of, and put it in boxes on the shelves of the studio where I can dream on it as much as I want…very inspiring! I can’t wait to use it and may have some need for it in the current mosaic. Anyway, I want to say I truly appreciate the kindness and generosity of strangers. Who are now no longer strangers, part of the efforts behind the community mosaic projects which make them what they are, a community effort, no matter where you come from! Thanks to all who support what I/we do and keep it coming!
Stay tuned for photos of recent works and fall workshops…HUGE FUN!

Mosaic Workshops and What’s New

crowpost — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:53:21 +0000

I’ll be offering several new mosaic workshops starting again this Fall from my studio on Kast Hill. Including the “how to” 3D armature building and sculpture in concrete for mosaic. Please be sure to send me your name and email address for updates.

I’m currently working on a commission for a lovely family in Penacook, NH. They recently purchased the Day of the Dead Community Mosaic Project and installed it over the mantle of their fireplace. The new mosaic is a very large frame for a painted portrait based on a Klimt piece. As you might imagine, it’s over the top colorful and reflective. I’ve incorporated design elements reminiscent of Klimt’s graphic style by using repetitive geometric shapes and bold patterning. It’s been challenging and fun. I have three more commissions in the works when this piece is completed.

Coming up…the annual “Pocket Garden” show and sale. Promises to be a great one! A lot of new artists and craftspeople. Stay tuned, more on this later!

Community Mosaic Project and Market Days

crowpost — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:10:51 +0000

Just completed three grueling days (8am to 9pm) at Concord’s downtown Market Days as a participant of the Arts Market. Looonnngggg HOT days in on a stone and brick convection oven know as Eagle Square. Sucking up lemonade and water as fast as we could sweat it out… BUT, we had a blast. SO FUN creating a large mosaic panel with hundreds of people of all shapes and sizes. (I’m referring to both the people and the glass.) It appears to be a nature themed mosaic. The project was a huge success to be sure. The panel is back in the studio where I’ll be prepping and grouting it as soon as I can stand on my feet again! Then I’ll be searching for a window in downtown so we can show it off. Anyone have any ideas?

Many thanks to all of you who added a piece or pieces to the mosaic. It’s really beautiful. Be sure to check out the photos on my Kast Hill Facebook album. (I’ll post later on today.)

Community Mosaic Project Opportunity

crowpost — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:16:46 +0000

Just a quick note to let you all know that I’ll be at Eagle Square during Concord, NH’s Market Days, July 15,16,17. As a part of the Art’s Market, I’ll be setting up a Community Mosaic Project for passersby and those who worked on last year’s project and want to do it again!! I’ll be there each day from dawn til dusk so be sure to come by and add a piece or two or three! See you soon…

Pricing Mosaic Commissions

crowpost — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:09:37 +0000

I guess it’s like any art work we make. Always hard to figure out how much to charge for a piece. It’s easier in some ways to price something you’ve made for sale than to price a commissioned mosaic. It’s always a ‘guesstimate” based on previous experience. I find it really difficult. Seems I get into making something and it takes me a lot longer than I thought it might, therefore, I’m not asking what I need to, to make it profitable. I’m hoping that with time and more experience, I’ll be able to resolve this dilemma and be much more comfortable asking for what I need. If anybody has any suggestions regarding this, I’d love to hear from you.

Dragon Mosaic is Finished!

crowpost — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:47:28 +0000

About 14 Youth Volunteers of the Hopkinton Town Library Summer Reading Program worked with me all last week to complete a dragon mosaic. It’s to be permanently installed in the children’s section of the library for all to see. Please stop by and see it. It’s absolutely beautiful! The kids worked really hard on it and they did a fantastic job. You all have a lot to be proud of! Be sure to look at my Facebook Kast Hill Studio album (see link to right.) Thanks everyone!

Mosaic with Kids/Artist Residency

crowpost — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:13:53 +0000

Today I get to meet with the youth volunteers of the Hopkinton Town Library to make sure that the drawing/cartoon I’ve done of the dragon for our mosaic panel is what they had in mind. We met a few weeks ago to brainstorm ideas for the “Read into the Knight” project; a mosaic panel for a wall in the children’s section of the library. They agreed on a dragon and surprised me by deciding on variations of gold/amber for the body. The rest of the details will be kept secret and revealed only when the project is completed!

The kids are excited to begin and so am I! It’s an ambitious project but if we all stay focused, we should be able to get it done. I’ll be at the library starting on Monday and through Friday, each day from 9:30 to 4-4:30. Wish us luck and stop by to say hi if you’re out and about!