hand made custom wall art
Sculptural Tile Art Outside
custom designed by Brenda McMahon Ceramics

Transforming an Outdoor Living Area

Thu, Mar 2nd, 2017 I travel across the country to art shows and though I am a full-time ceramic artist, I often refer to myself as an Art Farmer. I say this because I plant 'art seeds' everywhere I go. Like a farmer, I never know which seeds will take or how quickly they will germinate. Some sprout right away at a show, others germinate months or even years later. Over my 21 years, I have found each kernel of interest bears fruit at just the right time. I harvest gratefully and move on.

This is how Chris & Michele came to me. They met me somewhere, honestly, it seems neither one of us remember which art show it was. Apparently, Chris and Michele saw me several times and were attracted to my work. They tell me they 'interviewed' 3 ceramic artists to see whose work they liked best and who would fit their needs. Unbeknown to me, I was the winner!

Chris & Michele were on my mailing list and eagerly opened my emails about custom wall art. I offered to send them my free design book and they accepted. After that I suggested we have a phone conversation to see what they were thinking about and that got the ball rolling. A few weeks later after I sent a proposal, they accepted and we officially began our Custom Wall Art together. All in all, it was a process that began over a year ago.

Chris & Michele, both widowed, are newlyweds again and this ceramic wall mural is their first custom piece together. Their enthusiasm is infectious and it is a joy to work with them through the nitty gritty as well as the wide open inspiration. Once ideas were down and drawings were proposed, we came up with a final sketch and the work in clay began.

This wall art is 8' long by 3' high. It will hang on an outside wall above their pool, in full view from almost every angle of their home. I made the artwork on my studio table. I stretched, carved, altered and etched into the clay for a full week. The wall art was bisque fired and then on the glazing table for another full week to complete the layering of colors and final spraying of a clear glaze.

The final piece was loaded into the kiln, fired to temperature, cooled for 24 hours. It was then framed. The stones were set and it is officially complete. The delivery date came a few weeks later. I was joined by my studio assistant, Cathy, who helped attach the mounting board onto the block wall and I then hung the 5 sections. My mom came for the ride and the final unveiling. As a final protection, we added a set of security locks which both prevent theft and movement of the work in heavy winds.

Michele & Chris provided a beautifully presented lunch for the crew and we all sat and admired our handywork. As the light changed over the hour, the new art owners marveled at how the colors were transformed and how the light affected the shadow and the visibility of Convergence's dimensional qualities.

A bit about the name: I always offer clients the opportunity to name the artwork as I, too consider a title. In this case, CONVERGENCE came to me because of the story of how Michele & Chris found one another. Theirs is a love found later in life - a renewed joining of two distinct paths - that have come together into a perfect fit. As Michele shared the story, 'Friends of ours thought we should meet one another and so we did... and we've been together ever since!"

As I see, Convergence is the joining of their lives, flowing forward into a creative collaboration only they can form. The fullness of what each brings to one another is part of that new flow. They liked the name and the concept, and so it shall be, Convergence.

Thank you, Chris & Michele, for your trust, guidance, enthusiasm and committment as we worked together over these last few months. It was an honor to be brought into your home & lives ... and a complete joy to create this wall sculpture for you both!



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Convergence:  An Art Mural is Complete
Convergence: An Art Mural is Complete
hand made sculptural clay tile art
custom backsplash and special orders by Brenda McMahon
Convergence: An Art Mural is Complete
Out of the kiln & framed!
Out of the kiln & framed!
ceramic wall art tile by Brenda McMahon
custom wall art pieces available
Out of the kiln & framed!
The Art Location
The Art Location
Custom ceramic wall art tile with nature inspirations
brenda mcmahon ceramics
The Art Location
A Working Sketch
A Working Sketch
ceramic wall art tile, waterfall, bamboo, river, stones
kitchen & bathroom backsplash art tile, dimensional wall art tile
A Working Sketch
The Pool Wall
The Pool Wall
Creating Custom Ceramic Wall Art Tiles
How it happens revealed here
The Pool Wall
Inspiration #1 - the River
Inspiration #1 - the River
Ceramic Wall Art in the making. Creating Custom Wall art
Brenda McMahon Ceramics handmade art tile
Inspiration #1 - the River
Inspiration #2 - The Flowers & Colors
Inspiration #2 - The Flowers & Colors
Brenda McMahon Ceramics one of a kind custom wall art
creating artwork 'just for you' to suit your style and home.
Inspiration #2 - The Flowers & Colors
Inspiration #3 - Movement & Color
Inspiration #3 - Movement & Color
Hand-made one of a kind custom tile
kitchen and bath backsplash tile custom artwork
Inspiration #3 - Movement & Color
Backyard Artwork
Backyard Artwork
sculptural wall art tile custom work
kitchen and bathroom backsplash tile
Backyard Artwork
The Final Drawing
The Final Drawing
All details worked out
Custom ceramic wall art tile hand-made by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
The Final Drawing
Hand cut, loose tile; stoneware clay
Hand cut, loose tile; stoneware clay
asian inspired landscape, natural elements, river, sand, water
Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Hand cut, loose tile; stoneware clay
laying the artwork on the table
laying the artwork on the table
wall art, office public fine art, dimensional wall art, home accessory, one of a kind, custom order,
Brenda McMahon Custom Wall Art Tile
laying the artwork on the table
laying the tile out on the table
laying the tile out on the table
creating nature inspired wall art
ceramic designs and working with clients
laying the tile out on the table
Palm Tree Detail
Palm Tree Detail
sculptural wall art tile
custom backsplash
Palm Tree Detail
A Full view, in process
A Full view, in process
brenda mcmahon ceramics
art tile for indoor and out
A Full view, in process
flower details
flower details
Houzz member Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Houzz offers custom wall art tile
flower details
sunset details
sunset details
stoneware hand made tiles
glazed for indoor and outdoor
sunset details
Hands & Texture tools
Hands & Texture tools
Houzz artist Brenda McMahon
Custom wall art tile
Hands & Texture tools
Cattail detail
Cattail detail
brenda mcmahon ceramics
custom tile for clients nationwide
Cattail detail
Drying on the racks
Drying on the racks
free consultation & design book
custom wall art tile
Drying on the racks
Glazing Tools
Glazing Tools
custom tile for residential clients
brenda mcmahon ceramics, houzz.com
Glazing Tools
Glazing Raw Materials
Glazing Raw Materials
high fired glazes for public art tile
Houzz artist, Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Glazing Raw Materials
First layer of color
First layer of color
4 colors in one flower
custom wall art designs, free design book
First layer of color
4 colors in 1 flower
4 colors in 1 flower
brenda mcmahon ceramic wall art
commissions welcome; special order custom tile
4 colors in 1 flower
Cattails to the right
Cattails to the right
Custom outdoor lanai pool tiles
by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Cattails to the right
glaze detail 2
glaze detail 2
A seagull above on wall art tile
nature, stones, earth colors with a vibrant cast
glaze detail 2
glaze detail 3
glaze detail 3
rippling water
carved clay flowers
glaze detail 3
Final glaze colors
Final glaze colors
24 ceramic stains with clear glaze
ready for kiln firing
Final glaze colors
Cattails Glazed
Cattails Glazed
sculptural wall art tiles
by Brenda McMahon
Cattails Glazed
Flowers glazed
Flowers glazed
handmade ceramic art tile custom artwork
brenda mcmahon ceramics
Flowers glazed
Palm Tree finished & glazed
Palm Tree finished & glazed
Brenda McMahon Ceramics one of a kind wall sculptures
hand made ceramic tile art
Palm Tree finished & glazed
Framed & Ready for Delivery
Framed & Ready for Delivery
sculptural wall art tile
one of a kind hand made ceramic tile
Framed & Ready for Delivery
Cathy installs the aluminum cleat
Cathy installs the aluminum cleat
The wall art will hang on this mounting board
custom installed ceramic tile art
Cathy installs the aluminum cleat
Brenda hangs final section
Brenda hangs final section
custom designed ceramic tile art
backsplashes & public art tile
Brenda hangs final section
BEFORE.
BEFORE.
custom designed outdoor wall art
brenda mcmahon ceramics
BEFORE.
After:  Convergence
After: Convergence
brenda mcmahon ceramic custom wall art featured on houzz
sculptural & dimensional backsplash and kitchen art tile
After: Convergence
Our Celebratory Lunch!
Our Celebratory Lunch!
Thank you Michele!!
and of course, Chris.
Our Celebratory Lunch!
AFTER:  Convergence
AFTER: Convergence
ceramic wall art custom designed for residential & commercial
hand made and installed by brenda mcmahon ceramics
AFTER: Convergence
Viewed from every angle
Viewed from every angle
Convergence sculptural wall art mural
custom tile by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Viewed from every angle
Viewed with nighttime lighting
Viewed with nighttime lighting
custom wall art
backsplashes and custom tile art
Viewed with nighttime lighting

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