Just For A Bit Of Fun

For a bit of diversion on what I hope is a beautiful day for all of you -go to this link and play.

http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/

For a bit of diversion go to this link and play. Too much fun !


http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/

An Artist's Studio

I have to say that being able to see Anita's studio was as interesting to me as her class. I could not carry on a conversation - I was too busy looking at her inspirational collection of baskets, vintage quilts, dyed clothespins, weaving equipment, yarns, cloth, threads, dyes & paints! I was at a loss for words. Anita is a world traveler - and her collections show it ! Thanks Anita for such a fabulous class and for your hospitality & inspiration!

Ravens in The Window.....

.....of the Anne Martin McCool Gallery in Anacortes, Washington that is. These fabulous creations are made by artist Teri Silva. Crows & ravens are some of my favorite birds. Despite their sometimes noisy behavior I am amazeed at their intelligence and determination. I would have dearly loved to have been able to get one of these birds - but I had to leave them on their perches - cool shoes, accessories and all. What wonderful, whimsical work !

The fellow above sported an anemone and a fine top knot - and look at those shoes !
This one's a feather head - and must be a saddle show afficianado !
Here we have ravens showing off their sandals and Texas red boots (complete with gold tips!)
This pithy looking fellow shows off his bunny slippers ..... and there was even more of these wonders in the gallery !

Glass Museum: Part 2

Here is one of the " glory holes in" the glass museum. The glass is molten in these furnaces. The photo below shows a vessel being formed - in this case reheated. The vessel is coated with many layers of glass in the process and color is added with glass "stringer" at various points in the forming process. Forming the glass in between heatings.
The museum has visiting artists (in this case the man in the light pants and blue shirt whose name I do not remember!). The other three men in the photo are museum staffers - they are SO darn lucky ! They get to work with the visiting artists - what a great was to apprentice !
The blue vessels in the photo's foreground are similar to what the vessel that it being worked in these phtos will look like. They are a speciality of the artist who is visiting.
Below is the dome that vents the furnaces. I think it's an architectural marvel ! I was enchanted with it! Years ago, when the museum first opened, my friend Larry gave me a glass paperweight from the museum gift shop (which is also awesome!). The paperweight is a conical shape and at the time I had NO idea what it was -other than a lovely, useful piece. Now I know what it represents and I love it even more. I really could have spent all day watching these artisans work. It strengthened my desire to work with hot glass once again even stronger !

Museum of Glass: Part 1

Getting to visit the Museum of Glass was really a highlight of this little trip. I can't begin to explain how truly awesome it was. I have a love for glass working and was, at one time, a hot glass artist wanna be. I suppose I am still the wanna be - I love the process of working with kiln fired glass and making lamp worked beads was probably the most mystical thing I have ever experienced. I would dearly love to have a studio set up with a torch and tanks - I could make beads all the time....really. I could ! The photo above is taken of the Museum from the street. The photo below is the walkway to the museum that begins at the Washington State History Museum and Union Station.

The two photos above are of sections of the ceiling of the canopy along the walkway. It was mesmerizing ! I could have spent a lot of time lying on the ground looking up - but I am sure that it would have occasioned stares and I did not want to embarrass my friend!! There are also display cases under the canopy that house an amazing variety of fantastical glass work. Vessels, bowls,cupids and sea creatures - all fashioned out of gleaming magical glass. The last photo on this page is one of the cherubs. The two stanchions are composed of 'boulders' of glass - simply amazing work ! The birds seem to like the shelter that the crevasses offer. I could easily have spent a couple of hours 'oohing' & ' ahhhing' over just this small canopy of world class art - but it was raining and cold - so we hurried on into the museum. There will be a second part of this museum post tomorrow.....