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!
