I have been creating custom work for more than 15 years. This blog takes you inside that process.
How does custom work begin, and what is the creative process between artist & client.
Thu, Feb 18th, 2016 Mary Ann & Robert saw me at the St. Armand's Art Festival in Sarasota this past Fall. They saw my smaller tumbled stone ceramic wall art pieces and wanted one bigger. We chatted about ideas then made an appointment for a home visit.
From there we discussed what they like about the work, I took images of their home ...
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Sun, Jan 24th, 2016 Here are some answers to common questions.
1. HOW DOES THE COMMISSION PROCESS WORK?
Commissions always begin with a Conversation before we ever have a Commitment. Clients frequently have a location in mind and a 'feeling' of what they want, but they are often less clear on design & composition. 'I'll know it when I see it', is what ...
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Fri, Jan 1st, 2016 My newest handmade ceramic backsplash tile is underway for a client in Edward, Colorado. I met Nat at an art show in Vail in 2013. He mentioned his kitchen renovation project was in the planning stages and he was interested in a custom handmade kitchen backsplash. I stayed in touch and 3 years later I'm creating the ... read full article →
Tue, Nov 3rd, 2015 There's no better way to know if sculptural tile art is right for you than to see it in your home BEFORE you purchase it.
That's why I always offer free home showings to clients, whether at an art show or while I'm working in my ceramic studio here in St. Petersburg, FL.
1. It's simple and convenient. If you ...
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Sun, Jun 14th, 2015 This is an exciting project where I am creating a custom ceramic wall tile for a client in Pensacola, Florida. The wall I'm working with calls for a large vertical wall tile piece. Just overlooking the lake, Susan & Ian have many ideas they want incorporated into the custom design.
I met Susan and Ian at the ...
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Sat, Apr 18th, 2015 Lynne & Rich met me at an art show in downtown Sarasota in 2014 and though they liked my work, they were not ready to talk about artwork for their new home.
One year later we reconnected and the conversation about creating a custom piece for their Sarasota living room began! I visited their home to see the wall, their ...
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Sat, Feb 28th, 2015 I met Reiko & Phil in 2011 at an art show in Dunedin, FL. They loved my work, but their home was still being renovated. I saw them each year for a few years and then I received an email - we are renovating our bathroom and we want a piece from you!
So I visited them at their ...
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Thu, Feb 26th, 2015 I have known Susan and Al for quite a few years now. I'm happy to include them among my top collectors as they have purchased many wall murals from me over the years.
In January I ran into them at an art show in Sarasota and they expressed an interest in a black and white mural for their new Condo ...
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Mon, Jan 12th, 2015 I met Jill & John in Denver, Colorado but they live in Texas. We began our discussion about creating custom tile wall art for their Guest Room in Colorado, but once they got home to Texas, the real details began.
This tile art piece will be 30" w x 56" h as seen taped out on the wall below. ...
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Thu, Oct 16th, 2014 I'm working long days in the studio creating a 30" x 72" custom tile wall art piece for Rob in Texas. I began the first day laying out 40 clay tiles on my table and sketched out the image we agreed on.
The sketch occurs using a chopstick the first day, then altering and stretching the clay ...
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Sat, May 31st, 2014 Bill & Linda met me at the Winter Park Art Festival and now I'm creating a bamboo wall art piecel for their newly renovated master bathroom. This location is perfect for a piece of undulating wall art.
Two murals are made. Each has different lines - but the real difference will come in color. I'll glaze both with ...
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Sun, Mar 16th, 2014 My Sarasota client is renovating his kitchen and has hired me to create a custom kitchen backsplash behind his 6-burner viking stove.
Below are some shots of the custom kitchen backsplash in process. The total backsplash size is 18"h x 36"w. I designed & created 3 renditions of the tile art kitchen backsplash and let them dry on my ...
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Thu, Jan 30th, 2014 It comes up often as I travel across the country. I meet people who love my wall murals... but they're just not sure. That makes sense to me. It's one thing to see these sculptural murals on a wall at an outdoor art show, but quite another to visualize it on your wall.
That's where my ...
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Fri, Jan 3rd, 2014 I have been a yogi for over 12 years, and though I am familiar with the Om, I never knew about the Tibetan Prayer Wheel.
It is carved with the Tibetan symbolism of Om Mane Padme Hum. The wheel is balanced on a fulcrum with a bearing so it spins. Each time the wheel is spun, the ...
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Wed, May 29th, 2013 Jim & Sheryll just built a beautiful home in rural Ohio. This dream house is set back in the woods, overlooking a grove of trees, beyond which is a river.
The ceramic tile art is going on the living room wall, which is lit up by a host of large windows looking onto a beautiful view of trees and a ...
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Tue, May 21st, 2013 I'm gearing up for a long trip out west - from Iowa to Denver to Park City Utah! So I've been in a throwing frenzy.
Here are some pics of newly carved vases....
This week I begin my saggar firing. The carved pots will get black and white surfaces... at least to start. ...
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Tue, May 7th, 2013 I met Mike and Marilyn in Melbourne Florida at the Melbourne Art show. They loved my sculptural wall murals, but didn't see a piece that would work for them. We had a short conversation about a potential commission and later that day they invited me over to their home to see what they were thinking.
Marilyn and Mike have ...
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Thu, Feb 28th, 2013 Discussions with Mr. H began about 3 years ago; drawings and a commitment were set up in the spring of 2012 and now, after a few delays on both my side & my client's side, the mural is underway.
Mr. H's handmade kitchen backsplash mural will go below a strong copper hood, just above a professional cooking ...
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Sat, Feb 16th, 2013 Many clients come into my gallery and love what they see, but have never considered a sculptural wall mural before. They may also see a smaller piece, but need a bigger size. This is what happened with Dick & Betsy. They are not sure about the work yet...but if they did want one, it would ... read full article →
Sun, Sep 23rd, 2012 I'm excited about this next commission. Judy & Jim, in Houston, TX asked me to make a wall mural for their bedroom in my traditional Saggar Firing technique.
I haven't done one of these in a while, so it's been really exciting to do it. All I needed was a request!
So I made 2 murals, bisque fired the tiles ...
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