Entries and acrylics...

I decided to pull out the paints during down time between working on two competition pieces and a small flower pot - both are something I haven't done in years.

One of the things I enjoy out of EBSQ is the shows they put on for their members to compete in... regular shows, set themes... fun to work towards when there is both interest and time. It also gives me a chance to test new ideas in a small way.

Speaking of not-so-small... The 'elf Himself' is in hiatus while the two entries get completed... one isn't up till May but it's a sculpture [something I did several years ago]. Mosaicing a 3D object is extremely time comsuming and intensive work. The 2D piece is almost finished - well... over half completed - the hard parts are done anyway. That one comes up in April so it's right on schedule. Once those are done it's back to the elf...

I still have a cough, but the plague for all intents and purposes is gone - just down to a 'cold' at this point.

A week of the plague...

I caught the plague [as some call it] from a coworker who brought it to work and who shall remain nameless; I have spend my week of vacation - well, most of it - with a horrendous cold.

I intended to take the week and go to the Society of American Mosaic Artists 2005 conference in Washington, D.C., but I decided early in February that my car needed work more. From what I have heard, the plague was there, too, so not going was a good thing. Nothing commends you less to people than passing on a plague. I would have liked to go, traveling to Australia in October to attend the International symposium is responsible for focusing me more into my art, but I will go next year.

Yesterday was the first time I felt like doing anything outside since Saturday when I relapsed but I got the urge to mow the grass for the first time this year before the rain came back in that evening. Considering that the amount of 'grass' is right at 2 acres and interspersed with trees... It was fun. Lawn tractors are the best inventions for the mind that there is... Nothing like puttering along and coming up with ideas, resolving mental disputes, leveling yourself out into balance again.

I have almost gotten my mosaic work area clean - that was a goal - one of many on a mental list that I had made - and one of the few that might get done before I go back to work on Wednesday. Cleaning and arranging and moving things has been a major effort. I did get a new piece's substrate cut - going outside and using a jig saw to cut it put me back on the sick list Saturday so I've been hesitant about getting more active outside - so far the jaunt on the tractor has not caused a problem.

Regarding work in progress - the elf and his pony are taking a break as I work on two other [new] pieces that will be entered in competition in the next few months. There is no real rush on him - I just have to have him finished by the end of August.

Taking photographs of work in progress is an 'aid'

I just posted a photo of the grout work I did yesterday on my work-in-progress page. It's funny how when you look at things in the process you can see things that you either forgot to do -or- need to do. That's what happened... neither thing is completely 'necessary,' but will enhance the overall design. Nothing needs to be removed [thank God], just two pieces added to ease my requirement for the subject horse to look like an Arabian.

I have a photo album of all the work in progress photos on Yahoo! - private for the moment - to be changed to public when the piece is finished. The album is helpful also... I can see the progression of work and then make decisions based on what I see. Nothing like sitting at work during lunch and debating the next steps.

The 'good life' consists of simple pleasures...

especially on a Sunday. Good coffee in the morning. Going to the toy store [HD] and picking up two new pieces of 48 x 24 substrate. Getting the lawn tractor fixed - not so simple, but a pleasure. Getting around to grouting the elven piece so that I can move on with it.....

While my brother-in-law delivered my Christmas present - to discover and fix my tractor which screams and dies when I attempt to engage the blades, I finished up the first round of grouting the horse under the trees on my outdoor worktable which I set up for the first time. Not bad until you know that I purchased it prior to the hurricanes coming through last year. It breaks down and folds up so it's a nonpermanent item in the yard.

Mosaic is turning out nice, I will post photos tomorrow. The horse will have four colors of grout.... no telling at this point about the elf Himself. Started to glue down the base skin color... Standing back and looking at it - it's going to be even better than I thought.

I am going to have to put another group of tile in to soak for the new piece that the substrate is for and work on getting them off tonight - my nails and the tips of my fingers are black from grout [again].

I hate removing glue...

Whoever came up with the formula that is used to adhere Lyric unglazed porcelain tile to its mesh should be forced to go thru the motions to remove it like I've been having to do.

Stuff almost gains a life of it's own and removing it requires soaking the tile in hot water - then scraping off the large bits - then letting it soak overnight to soften the smaller bits, then getting those off. Nasty - but the hot water does wonders for the cuticles.

I have masked off most of the current piece with painter's tape, worked through three grout tests and have come up with a plan for the horse's face. Grouting-as-you-go is complicated - but the results are well worth it. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be taking it outside to grout and then I can move into putting the star and main color of the horse down to above the breastcollar.

I will also be going shopping for substrate for at least one other project - again - it will be using mostly Lyric. Fun stuff to work with - once you get the glue off. Looking forward to getting my Starrett cutters in next week... that should put a real cap on it.

I went out this morning to the Gasparilla Art Fest. Interesting... there was only one mosaic artist out of over 300 booths. After that, we went to the art toy store [Pearl] and I picked up new acrylic brushes and some other bits and pieces that I needed. Wish it were closer.

I suppose it's time to jump in...

I created this site over two months ago - time I got down to it.

Over a period of years I have been rambling on my Web site - a running commentary along with photos of work I happen to be doing at that time for people that are interested. I still do that, but I will also be doing it here.

Last year during the hurricane season, I was putting weather-related commentary up and it wasn't that easy - the HTML was being a pain in the rump. With a Blog now, this might be more fun.

Hopefully [knocking on wood], we will not see weather like we did last year. I may be a Florida native... but it scared me numb.

But, as in all things, we will deal with it as it comes...