Final #2
sculptural wall art tile
hand made ceramic wall art

On the Shores of the Gulf of Mexico

Sat, Jun 11th, 2016 With each new client I am brought on a journey into their world and aesthetic. I am invited to create an art piece that beautifully matches their home and their style while it expresses something they are drawn to but cannot find anywhere else.

I met Kathie & Andy at Sarasota's St. Armands Art Festival this past January. They were intrigued by my wall work and wanted to pull my quieter colors into their new home in a way that brings peace and calm to their 5th floor setting.

A few weeks later I stopped in for a visit and saw right away their color palette of blues, grey and off white with a slight flash of red! The goal here is to create artwork that will be beautifully integrated into their serene home.

We began as I always do with some conversations, likes and dislikes and a host of photos. This piece is going behind the couch. It will be the focal point of the living room.

The process begins with raw clay, removed from a bag and pounded and compressed. I create individually cut tiles using a template and a wooden board. From there I lay the 'clay canvas' on the table where the real work is about to begin.

Referencing the drawing, I sketch the outline and then begin to create dimension, fullness, texture and carvings. This piece has been on the table for 4 days before Stage 1is complete. I clean all the lines & edges and place the tile on the shelves to dry. They take about 2 weeks to fully dry, then I'll load the kiln for firing #1.

The second mural is made and drying. Both will go into the bisque kiln next and then glazing begins. On the second piece I used the same design with some minor changes - the tree is less textured and more abstract with a slip beneath it to bring the earthy browns and greens to the forefront. The water is a moving body, with a wavy rather than carved texture. The rest is a loose relation to the drawing where I took artistic liberty.

Murals #1 and #2 are glazed, framed and ready for showing.

I drove to Longboat Key to do the installation. Truthfully I did not know which one Kathie & Andy would select. Having spent so much time 'with' them, I had a sense of their aesthetic so I knew each piece embodied what they liked, but there are also distinct differences.

Once at the home, and the mounting board was on the wall... the showing began. #1 went up first. It looked beautiful. I am always impressed how a home environment transforms a piece. They loved it. Kathie said 'we can go home now!; But I still want to see the second one.' The second one went on the wall.

'We love it. But the first one feels perfect', she said, 'even the kids pre-approved it when I showed them pictures of both'.

And so it goes... ON THE WALL.. in Longboat Key. Thank you Kathie & Andy, for hiring me to create a Sculptural Wall Art Mural that is the centerpiece to your beautiful beach home.



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Getting ready to frame
Getting ready to frame
hand glazed stoneware tile
24 glazes available Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Getting ready to frame
Location: above couch
Location: above couch
Custom ceramic wall art tile process
Location: above couch
Home Accents
Home Accents
Custom handmade tile project
Home Accents
Many Shades of blues
Many Shades of blues
custom hand made tile art
Many Shades of blues
Their beautiful view
Their beautiful view
How to create one of a kind tile art
Their beautiful view
The other direction
The other direction
Custom tile art by Brenda McMahon
The other direction
The Selected Drawing
The Selected Drawing
Creating one of a kind tile art
The Selected Drawing
early color sample
early color sample
custom ceramic wall art tile
early color sample
Drawing #2
Drawing #2
Deciding on composition
for custom ceramic wall tile
Drawing #2
We combined ideas and came up with this
We combined ideas and came up with this
Drawing for custom ceramic wall art tile
by Brenda McMahon
We combined ideas and came up with this
I begin with raw clay
I begin with raw clay
Hand made ceramic tiles
I begin with raw clay
Lay all the tiles on the table
Lay all the tiles on the table
How to create custom tiles
Lay all the tiles on the table
the sketch in clay begins
the sketch in clay begins
custom wall art tile
the sketch in clay begins
outlining the water
outlining the water
Indoor and outdoor wall tile
outlining the water
capturing the undulation
capturing the undulation
hand made artisan wall tile
capturing the undulation
carving in texture
carving in texture
ceramic wall art tile
carving in texture
A tree accent
A tree accent
Wall Art for you kitchen and bath
A tree accent
an overview
an overview
creating a custom tile art backsplash
an overview
A signature in clay
A signature in clay
custom ceramic wall art tile
A signature in clay
Details of a live oak tree
Details of a live oak tree
custom kitchen backsplash tile available.
Ceramic Wall Art Custom made for your home by Brenda McMahon
Details of a live oak tree
Filling in hills of this ceramic wall art
Filling in hills of this ceramic wall art
hand made tile art for the wall by Brenda McMahon
custom kitchen backsplash tile available.
Filling in hills of this ceramic wall art
More than 15 colors are used
More than 15 colors are used
Glazing custom tiles
for kitchens and baths
More than 15 colors are used
#1 Glazing the River
#1 Glazing the River
sculptural wall art tile for residential and commercial settings
hand made tile art for the wall by Brenda McMahon
#1 Glazing the River
Waiting to be Framed
Waiting to be Framed
custom wall art tile
handmade one of a kind wall tile
Waiting to be Framed
Mural #1 Complete
Mural #1 Complete
6' long Wall Sculpture for Residential Installation
Hand made ceramic tile
Mural #1 Complete
Mural #2 Abstracted Tree to the left
Mural #2 Abstracted Tree to the left
custom ceramic wall art tile
created by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Mural #2 Abstracted Tree to the left
Fresh clay
Fresh clay
sculptural wall art tile
custom orders accepted
Fresh clay
form before carving
form before carving
custom wall art tile
for indoor and outdoor installations
form before carving
voluminous and dimensional
voluminous and dimensional
custom orders welcome by Brenda McMahon
for ceramic wall art tile
voluminous and dimensional
Layering of color begins
Layering of color begins
Ceramic Sculptural wall art tile
Custom Wall tile
Layering of color begins
Layer colors on tree
Layer colors on tree
Custom wall art tile created by Brenda McMahon
Available at The Artful Home Ceramics
Layer colors on tree
Soft colors will transform in the kiln
Soft colors will transform in the kiln
See Brenda McMahon glaze here ceramic wall sculptures
Available at The Artful Home and Guild.com
Soft colors will transform in the kiln
After the Firing, the colors are transformed
After the Firing, the colors are transformed
hand made tile wall art
custom tile by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
After the Firing, the colors are transformed
Black stains turn to Azure blue
Black stains turn to Azure blue
see how to create wall art tile
by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Black stains turn to Azure blue
Ready for its showing!
Ready for its showing!
hand made ceramic tile wall art
by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
Ready for its showing!
Tree detail...
Tree detail...
sculptural wall art tile
custom orders for kitchen, baths, indoors & outdoors
Tree detail...
#2 Complete
#2 Complete
Waiting for the Showing of Custom Wall Art Tile
Commissions for Residential & Commercial settings
#2 Complete
The Winner
The Winner
ceramic wall art sculptures
hand made ceramic wall art tile by Brenda McMahon Ceramics
The Winner
Making the Comparison
Making the Comparison
Ceramic Wall Art Sculptural tile
hand made ceramics by Brenda McMahon
Making the Comparison

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