Making Art is Making Decisions

“You’re so talented!” It’s a phrase that makers of art hear often, and don’t get me wrong, we appreciate being paid a compliment! But I believe that natural ability has little to do with what we make. True, most artists have a natural aptitude for working with their hands, but what brings our ideas to life is commitment, paying attention, exploring, and making decisions.

Whether a woodturner, a painter, a weaver or a glass artist, what we do constantly is make decisions. Which tool shall I use next? Which product will give me the result I’m looking for here? How much should I use? Should I stop now? Of course, we aren’t voicing the question and formulating an answer. Experienced artists and craftspeople appear to work intuitively because they have internalized the knowledge. We did that part years ago. Whether schooled or self-taught, our so-called “talent” is the result of years of education, experience, research, observation, and lots of trial and error. We develop a relationship with our medium and learn to conform to (or challenge) its boundaries. Most art and craft media require carefully planned technical decisions. For myself, I need to imagine how the firing process will transform what I’m doing. I must remember what I buried under that clear crushed glass, because until it’s fired, it’s opaque and obscures what’s underneath.

And firing glass presents technical decisions relating to the size of the piece, which kiln I’m using, what result I want to achieve; all this and more goes into planning a firing schedule to end up with a chunk of glass that will remain intact for the next several centuries. When I try a new firing schedule, I record the results on a spreadsheet for future reference. Each medium has its own set of decisions to be made, and most “talented” people have been refining their decision-making skills for years. When you admire a well-made, beautiful, challenging, or wonderfully functionally designed “something”, you can also appreciate the skilled decision maker who brought it into being. The final decision they so wisely made? Stop, it’s done!

Remembering a Special Commission, a Treasured Experience.

An image stirred a memory as I was browsing my computer recently.

In 2017, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts approached Brenda Wainman Goulet to design and make several special “Recognition Awards” for folks who had contributed to the Festival in different ways. She reached out to me with an idea for a joint commission; her sculpture and my glass, together! Brenda envisioned a way for our talents and skills to work together. She designed and cast the “Trees and Rocks” base, and I made glass inserts depicting the Northern Lights, with a musical note embossed on the reverse side, that would subtly appear in certain lighting conditions. Brenda was a founding member of Artists of the Limberlost, and her spirit, energy and leadership are greatly missed. I'm grateful that she invited me to share this project with her.

Artist of the Limberlost; One Last time!

Hello Glass Enthusiasts!

I've been absent from Blogger for quite a while, so here's an update.

The pandemic happened, my husband and I got itchy feet, and we made a major life change, moving from Muskoka to Kingston ON.  I also made the painful, but right decision to close my glass studio. After 40 years it was time to retire. My equipment and supplies went to 3 different people, all now exploring the medium of glass in their own ways.

So now I'm in Kingston Ontario, and have been invited back to be a guest artist of Catherine O'Mara, another of the original founders of the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour!  I'm excited and grateful to have this last opportunity to visit my old neighbourhood, see old clients and friends, and find homes for some of my remaining work.Here are a few pieces I'll have with me in August.  Hope you can come!

 

There's lots to see on the Tour, studios offer a wide variety of art, and are in pretty close proximity. The Limberlost is a beautiful place for a get-away!  

 

Northern Spirit

Bella Beach, October -  platter

 

Grace

Autumn Sunshine - platter