Looking Through The Aspens

This piece measures approx. 16 x 28 inches. It is a multilayer image with dimensional trees on both the gold back surface, the mat surface, and finally on the surface of the glass that covers the image. Unlike most of my work, light cannot pass through this piece. The background was created with metallic powders. The trees are created with glass enamels and multicolor beads and no-hole beads. There are also polished semi precious stones in the image as well as a vintage rhinestone. This is just a continuation of some of the techniques that I have been using to create my minatures.

New Type of Minature

Here is a new piece that I have just completed. As usual - not easy to photograph! (Notice my reflection holding the camera in the first photo!) This measures approximately 11 1/2" square including the frame. Unlike all the minatures that I have been making lately, light cannot pass through this piece. The tree is created on a two level background (gold with a green mat) and the topiaries are on the surface of the glass which covers the tree. Once again, this piece has several levels of dimension.

Fireplace Screen Completed!!!

I had promised to show photos of the Fireplace Screen when it was completed and here it is! I am thrilled with the work that the furniture maker did to complete the piece. This was done by Barry Bradley a great custom furniture maker from Fredericksburg, Texas. This piece will now be shown in the Texas Furniture Makers Show to be held in Kerrville, Texas in November. If you are in the area stop in and see it - I know I will! It is a great adventure to work jointly with another artist to complete a piece. I hope to do more of this!

New Minatures and Vase

These minatures are of both bluebonnets and yuccas. The flower images are created using both glass beads and vintage glass and crystal stones. Because the images contain several layers they change appearance depending on how much reflected or transmitted light there is available. The vase has the same type of yucca plants created using glass enamels, glass and crystal stones, rocks, and stained glass.

Group of "Tree" vases

This is a group of vases that I create using beads, rocks, semi precious stones, dichroic glass, and glass enamel painted details. They create the illusion of looking through a group of trees since the glass is either clear or a transparent color. Some of the glass enamels have metallic powders mixed in before the image is painted.

Unique "TEXAS" Fireplace Screen

OK - I have been talking about working on this screen for quite some time now but my part is just about complete. This piece is being made with Barry Bradley, a respected furniture maker and sculptor. These three glass panels are my contribution and they are complete and ready to be delivered to him. He has designed a carved mesquite frame that will depict tree branches. I could only take a photo with reflected light because we were afraid to stand the glass up before it is supported by the frame therefore this is only reflected light not transmitted light. The colors will be more brilliant when lit from behind. When this piece is completed it will be shown at the Texas Furniture Makers Show which will be held in Kerrville, Texas in November.

New Group of Minatures

Here is another group of minatures. They contain multiple layers of images. Some have as many as 4 layers of glass. They depict bluebonnets, yuccas, and trees. These will be shown at the Texas Glass Artist Association Show and Sale which will take place on October 20th at the Fort Worth Community Art Center. Several Glass artists will be participating showing all types of glass - jewelry-fused pieces-leaded glass etc. Come see great pieces and talk with the artists.

"Texas Wildflower Circle Dance"

With this piece I have returned to my larger format. The colors are much more vivid in person. It measures 24" wide by 36" tall. It is probably one of the most detailed images that I have tried so far and is a combination of both design and realism. The flowers depicted are Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, and Yuccas. Hundreds of vintage glass jewels have been incorporated into this one! The frame is rough cedar.

Minatures

This is a group of new minatures that I have just completed. The square pieces measure 10 1/2" including the frame. Depending on where they are displayed the lighting changes the images. The left piece depicts a field of Texas Yuccas - The right is a field of Bluebonnets. Some parts of the images are encased between two layers of glass and other images are applied to the surface of the front glass. In some cases there are three layers of glass and glass jewels.

"Harvest Time"

This is a small piece - 16"x20". It has a cedar frame. It is shown here with both back lighting and frontal lighting. That is part of the beauty of stained glass - the colors and look change with the lighting.

"The Grandaddy of Em All"

This piece is different from my usual because the border and the ground work are the only mosaic/grouted portions. The tree trunk is painted with glass enamels and some additional glass is added to the surface to show dimension. A dichroic sun has been added to the back of the piece and shows through the tree as deep red. That is the reason for the orange and golden leaves on the tree in that area. Because the sun is dichroic and the lighting wasn't at the right angle you are unable to see it in the photos. The leaves on the tree are dimensional glass shards added to the surface of the background glass. Because the background is clear, you see a flagpole and tree in the background on the right. They are not part of the glass image. This piece is framed in cedar and measusres 20"tall and 28" wide. It will be displayed at Artisans of Rocky Hill Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.

"Golden Grove"

This piece shows a grove of dimensional golden trees. Although it is difficult to see in the photos, there is an additional layer of octagonal iridized glass in the center with more trees - therefore you are looking through two layers of trees. It measures 20"x28" and is framed in cedar. This piece will be available at "Artisans of Rocky Hill Gallery" in Fredericksburg, Texas.

"Bonnets and Brushes"

Not much to say - here is another small floral depicting Bluebonnets and Indian Blankets. It is similar to the last one with a circle motif in the center rather than the octagon.

"Bonnets and Blankets"

Here is the first new piece in a month ......
This is a small floral that is framed in cedar. It is difficult to tell in the photo but some of the glass around the outside is brown to blend with the frame. I haven't tried the octagon shape before. I also emphasized the border more on this piece. The beveled star in the center and the glass surrounding the bouquet are clear but look different colors depending on the background they are photographed against. The bluebonnets are dimensional with additional layers of glass.

Blue Sky Ranch Commission

This is my first attempt at a curved window. The client had a problem with too much sunlight coming in and heating up the house so there is none of the clear glass that I usually put in my pieces. The sun is dichroic glass so it is vivid red, orange, gold depending on the viewing angle and it is reflective silver when no light is coming through it. The yuccas and the bluebonnets are dimensional with additional layers of glass. The frame is cedar and the window will be installed in an existing frame - permanently mounted with quarter round. I will try to post photos of it installed at a later time.

"Twilight"

This new piece is much more opaque than most I have done. There is not any clear glass in the image at all. It is framed in rough cedar and measures 20"x28". The tree is dimensional and the rocks depicted around the base of the tree are polished semi precious stones.

"Is It Snowing Again" rework

I decided to add additional layers of glass to this piece to give it more color and detail. Color was added to the back so there are up to 3 or 4 layers of glass in some places. One photo is just front lit to try to show the surface detail on the trees.

Minature Landscape

This is a small piece - only measures 10 1/2" square including the frame. It has dimensional trees and a dichroic moon. Something this size can be displayed in a window but it also is quite effective just displayed on a small stand like the type you might use to display a plate.