A Change of Atmosphere

September is my favorite month. It’s the beginning of a new season, it’s my mom’s birthday month and everyone and everything seems to get back to a routine. Oh, the temps are still hot in Tucson but the earth has a subtle change in degrees, with longer shadows and slightly cooler evenings. I anticipate the fall from a distance with pumpkin everything. There is a change in the atmosphere in more ways than one. As an artist in business for over 33 years I go through patterns of change, then comfort then change again. Just when I think I have…

Outdoor Decor

As we are discovering this year, folks are relocating in large numbers to Arizona, many are choosing Tucson to settle. I say to all the newbies, Welcome to Tucson. There are 10 good months of pleasant weather here and outdoor living is what we have become accustom to. So, it’s no surprise that folks want to find art that suits their home but also their courtyard, patios, and pool sides. I’m your gal and happy to oblige. Here are two new mosaic panels that are suited for outdoor decor. They are 3-d sculpted tile features mixed with flat piece handmade…

The Color of Grout

Grouting is my least favorite task when making a mosaic piece. It’s labor intensive, it’s messy and there is a lot of clean up afterwards. I especially hate not being able to take a break and come back to it when I feel like it. Grout has a life of it’s own….

March is Make Something Beautiful Month.

There is nothing like spring weather to inspire you to get out in nature, put out the patio furniture, plant a garden and make something beautiful….

Adjust, Flow and Grow

I am so excited about new things happening this year.  I’m still adjusting to how business practices are changing….many are shopping on line.   My beloved Stein Mart is no more.  Gosh, I just loved that store.  Such cute things for ladies my age.   But Alas… no more.   I am old school. I like to shop in person, I like to talk on the phone.  I prefer meeting in person. With the exception of a doctor appt.  I love video chat for dr. appointments.  But I’m not crazy about zoom.   I’m still making art the way I have always been making…

Drawing From The Desert

I never tire of the desert life.  Sometimes I think about living in some other part of the country but I always follow it up with …”but I will miss the desert”. How blessed I am to be living in a place that has amazing weather,  the best sunsets, exotic cactus, dramatic monsoons, easy winters, wide open blue, orange or pink skies, purple majestic mountains, wild lightning shows, starry starry nights that go on forever. Among all that are desert critters that have adapted to the scorching summers; groups of javalina seem to startle the family dog, the coyote party…

Perfection…isms

  Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Do others think you’re a profectionist?   Or do you proudly proclaim you are not one at all?  I am talking about as an artist…not a brain surgeon. Is it bad to be a perfectionist?  That label kinda gets a bad rap. During one of my classes recently,  a student nonchalantly said she was not a perfectionist.  It got me thinking.  First of all,  I don’t expect any of my students to do things perfectly or hold themselves to the standards I hold myself as a professional artist.  I typically expect my students come…

The push, the pull….

When you plan for a getaway,  do you begin to tell yourself, ” I’m running out of time… I can’t go,… my house, my pets, my plants…. need me everyday”? Yes?  No?   I do. I always feel a push to get business tasks out of the way and a (constant) pull of tasks that seemingly need to be repeated.    So, before I take a much needed time off, I get very stressed trying to cover all my bases.  Somehow it all seems to work out.  But getting to the finish line can be exasperating. My nine year old granddaughter,…

Small Sculpture Tile Class

New Class Schedule for April and May. I am offering  2 – 4 week series in Small Sculpture Tiles and Shadow Boxes. Focus will be on technique, color and design. Students will learn to work with raw clay and learn how to use glazes. The tiles you make can be used as an ornament or a special piece in a mosaic. Classes will be held at Blue Raven Art School, 701 E Prince Rd. Wednesday evening from 5:30-7:30 First series will be April 10 thru May 1 Second series will be May 8 thru May 29 Cost for each series is…

Heart Art and February Happenings

We are about half way through January 2019.  Happy New Year Ya’ll! I am relieved the holiday season is behind us, although a little sad because I love the Christmas season and the joyousness of it all.  But I  look forward to new projects the Lord has given to me for the new year.  Every now and then I am asked, “where do I get my inspirations and ideas from?”  It’s all from God!  He made me, he knows how I am and he puts ideas in my head.  I just go with it.   Every single person has special gifts…