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.
