Backsplash and picture frame updates

This morning I started bright and early to install the latest panel of the backsplash. It went up with some difficulty - but it's up and looking good. My client is happy with it and excited to have it grouted tomorrow. I will get to my client's home tomorrow bright and early again - and get the three panels grouted. The fifth and last panel will get started in the next couple of weeks. I hope to get it mosaiced, installed and grouted by the end of August. I will post pictures of the backsplash when I get them.

The commissioned picture frame is mosaiced; I grouted it and painted the edges yesterday. I will repaint the edges later today and then get it to my client tomorrow or Friday. I will post a picture of it here sometime next week.

I had a vivid dream last night that I can't stop thinking about. I wrote it down, talked with my husband about it, and "worked" it a bit...came to some conclusions about what it's talking about. I have realized it's about the changes that are going on in our family (my daughter going to college in less than a month) and being
"called" to take on something that I keep on trying to "give away"...for me, it's about the "call" for me to do sculpture, which is something that I have done a little bit of, but I have avoided trying to create a piece of sculpture that I have been sketching and planning.

I will work this dream by writing about it, sketching it, painting it, and then sculpting it in some way. I'm not sure it'll be ceramic or cement with mosaic - or maybe both. Or maybe working this dream will propel me to finally create the antlered one extending a lotus flower to me. I hope it's that simple.

My website and dream art

My www.DreamMosaics.com website has been converted to http://home.comcast.net/~dreammosaics just this weekend. I'm in the process of building it but one thing that will be different is the main focus will be on dream art - mosaic, fine silver, clay sculpture...and soon encaustic painting.

I do have my birdbath on the new website for anyone who would like to see it. The pictures aren't very clear and the color isn't very accurate, but you'll get the idea. I'm hoping to get a picture of it in its new yard soon.

I have recently been having dreams, seemingly ordinary and pretty boring. But then I remember that each dream we have is another look at something, maybe something that we are not aware of or we are denying its existence (which is an unconscious process). So these dreams come to inform or remind us that that this something is there and real, whether we like or not. If we accept that aspect of ourselves and recognize it as "me" then we become more whole, which has got to be more healthy.

So my dream this morning, as embarrassing as it is, came to remind me of my passivity, my choice to not speak up and speak my truth. That is a common motif in my dreams and in my waking life. Time to stop keeping my mouth shut and be silently frustrated. Say something! Just because I assert myself by speaking my truth, it doesn't mean that the people around me have to change - it's me who has to change and it'll feel better.

So in order to explore this dream in its language (rather than talking about it) I will create sculpt it out of clay. Michel Eyquem De Montaigne said "I believe it to be true that Dreams are the true Interpreters of our Inclinations; but there is Art required to sort and understand them" (Essays, Bk. III, Ch XIII). Couldn't have said it any better.

Birdbath...backsplash...photo frame...dream art

The birdbath is in its new home in Charlotte NC...it was delivered at the end of May. The new owner is very happy with it, which is always nice. I will post a photo of it soon.

The backsplash is coming along - I'm finishing up and installing the 4th panel this week.

Last week I was hired to mosaic a photo frame using my client's grandmother's china as tesserae. I have sanded and sealed the frame and will start mosaicing it this week. Due date is August 10 so it'll be quick piece.

I have been creating clay sculpture to express dreams that I wake up with. I created a face that expresses a dream that I had forgotten something really important and then remember it in the beginning of the dream. I do see those kind of dreams as a gentle poke at me, to wake me up - there are things that I'm not keeping track of...falling asleep to. I hope the face will be a reminder to stay awake, conscious in my waking life. I have also sculpted an abstract piece to express a dream I woke up with this morning. I will post a photo of the piece along with the dream when it's fired and glazed.

Dream art, kitchen backsplash, and birdbath

I began the "bones" of the dream totem pole - it's what I saw in a dream a few years ago. The pole should be a little over 6 feet tall. I have 4 faces formed that will be placed on the pole. I need more faces to create a mask on.

Yesterday I got a lot done on the kitchen backsplash - the rolling hills are full of greens and look great. I will finish this particular panel (with two hills) on Thursday of this week.

The birdbath is coming along - the base is done and I'm now working on the movement of water up with column - around the bubbles.

Today I will work on the piece of dream art that's supposed to be in the "Artists in Dreamland" exhibit this year.

Niki De Sainte Phalle listened to her dreams too

I forgot to add that I was talking with a delightful artist on our way to Niki's Queen Califia's Magical Circle...she said that Niki told her that her dreams guide her. I have since read that she dreamt of a garden that she was inspired to create in waking life. I was so excited to learn of this - as my passion is dream art!

SAMA conference and First Friday

The SAMA conference was wonderful - full of great presentations and mosaic artist who love the art of mosaic as much as I do. I bought four pounds of smalti and some milliefori - and a book by Sherri Warner Hunter. I could've bought more smalti but I was worried I didn't have any more room in my suitcase. I also took a tour of Nicki De Saine Phalle's Queen Califia's Magical Circle. It was amazing, wonderful, fabulous, inspiring, spiritual and moving. I don't think I can post any pictures I took of the maze or the totems because of copyright, but I will find the link to the Niki Foundation so you can see some images of the place. I can say that pictures don't do the space justice - go and see it, experience it yourself. Here's the URL - http://www.queencalifia.org. I just found another garden with her sculptures: http://nikidesaintphalle.org/press/20080107_missouri_botanical_garden. Her work is mythological, spiritual, and epic.

First Friday is coming up - I'll be demonstrating mosaicing again. I am not sure if I'll work on the birdbath or the dream piece that I need to get done for later in April.

Publicity and finding time to create art

This morning I got some publicity done for the "Artists in Dreamland" exhibit. The press releases will be in the Coloradoan, Scene Magazine, ReBeet e-newsletter, and the FCMOCA's e-newsletter. Postcards will be coming soon.

I finished the dream mask - I'll kiln it before I fly to San Diego on Friday .m. I think I'll carve the face a little more to accentuate the lines.

I had a dream with werewolves in the last couple of nights and I am inspired to create a fine silver piece to express the different characters in the dream. Dream theory tells us that every bit and part in the dream, including the characters, colors, floor, and sky, are symbolic parts of the dreams...so I have a "werewolves", men in black suits, and a man/woman parts of myself that I want to explore in this piece. Should be interesting.

Hopefully I will get some more of the birdbath done today too. I need to get some pictures posted here!

Entries to Artists in Dreamland juried and backsplash partially intalled

We juried the entries to Artists in Dreamland on Friday last week. A list of accepted pieces can be found at http:www.Dreamartshow.com - click on the image of the card and it'll take you to the list.

Yesterday I installed my client's backsplash - it's where her sink and phone are. Today's inspection - looks good and she's happy.

I'm still working on the mosaic "Blobs chasing me" and waiting for more PMC to add to the mask. I had a really bizarre dream last night and if I have enough time I may try to create a piece to express that dream

DreamMosaics Studio updates

I finished a panel of the kitchen backsplash today - and finished a mosaic mirror yesterday. I hope to complete some more pieces that have been "work in progress" for quite some time. I have one mosaic wall piece, a fine silver box, and some jewelry pieces to finish. I also have the fine silver mask and a mosaic wall piece to finish up for the dream art exhibit.

I received four more entries for Artists in Dreamland today. The jury meets tomorrow to review the artwork and the dreams that inspired the work. I'm not sure I've counted right, but I think we now have 38 entries to take a look at tomorrow. I will post the results on http://www.Dreamartshow.com and http://www.DreamMosaics.com on Friday night. Then I'll contact each artist with the results over the weekend.

Karen Endres, Dee Dee Hampton and Maya Dobroth have also accepted the invitation!

This is a bit belated - but it's news! In addition to the open call for entry, I had invited Dee Dee Hampton, Karen Endres, Maya Dobroth, and Laura Atkinson to submit dream art for the upcoming Artists in Dreamland exhibit. I noticed that I posted that Laura had accepted the invite, but forgot to mention the other three artists - oops! The great news is that all the invited artists have responded and...

Dee Dee Hampton has accepted the invitation to submit dream art for Artists in Dreamland - she has sent in three entries.

Also Karen Endres has accepted the invitation to submit dream art - I think she'll be bringing in two pieces. I'll see them today at PRAC.

Maya Dobroth has accepted the invitation to submit - I'm not sure how many pieces she'll be submitting. She'll be bringing her pieces in on Friday the 13th.

Deadline for entries for "Artists in Dreamland" is today

I'm about to head over to Poudre River Arts Center for most of the day, to receive dream art entries for "Artists in Dreamland". I'll be there from 11 to 4 p.m. except for a quick run over to FStop coffee shop for a cup of Americano. Today is a coffee day! The coffee shop is on the south side of the building so I won't be far.

Studios news

I'm kilning my newest PMC pieces today - some will be tile for mosaics, some will be barrettes, some will be who-knows-what.

I have two mirrors started with fused glass pieces as focal points - now need to finish them.

I have the bubbles done for the birdbath pedestal. Tomorrow I will thinset them on and then start the movement of mosaic pieces up the pedestal.

The kitchen backsplash is coming along - need to install it and see where we are on the wall.

I'm stuck on the concrete dream-inspired sculpture - it's more about lack of time and energy to do it. So maybe it'll be ready for the dream art exhibit next year, as the altered book I started.

The deadline for entries for the Artists in Dreamland art show is Tuesday March 10th - I'll be at Poudre River Arts Center from 10 to 4 or so. If you need an extension, please let me know - the jury meets on Friday so we have a couple more days if you need it. I will post the accepted pieces on http://www.Dreamartshow.com and http://www.DreamMosaics.com - probably will email the artists too.

Artists in Dreamland entries are coming in

I'm excited - so far we have 14 entries to the Artists in Dreamland show. This year we have entries from Boulder, Canon City, Loveland, Estes Park, and Rhode Island...oh and Fort Collins of course. It's so fun to read the artists' dreams that inspired the creation of their work and how dreams inform their artwork.

Maya Dobroth has kindly accepted to serve on the jury the work - we will jury the work on March 13th. Then I'll post the accepted art and artists' names here and http://www.Dreamartshow.com and probably http://www.DreamMosaics Studio (Dream art show page).

Studio update: working on the kitchen backsplash today (commission) and the commissioned birdbath is coming along. I will be working on it during the gallery walk (First Friday is March 6 this month). I hope to see you then!

Invited dream artists Laura Atkinson has accepted the invitation!

Good news - dream artist Laura Atkinson has accepted my invitation to submit two pieces for the "Artists in Dreamland" exhibit!

I have received another submission for jury - so we're rocking along!

If you want to take a look at the prospectus and entry form, go to
http://www.Dreamartshow.com and click on the image of the card and it'll take you to them.

Artists in Dreamland

The Second Annual Dream Art Exhibit
Poudre River Arts Center Main Gallery

April 29 – May 16, 2009

Exhibit theme: Dreams, rich in visual imagery and symbols, are a natural source of creative inspiration for artists. While some artists use a dream to express a powerful idea in their art, others use their art as a means to explore their dreams. The pieces selected for this exhibition will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to view dream art as well as the dreams of the art makers. It will be like looking into the dream diary of the artists.

Entry requirements: Open to residents of any U.S. State, territory, & District of Columbia. Work must showcase the theme subject as well as the dream narrative. Artwork that isn't clearly inspired by a particular dream will not be accepted.

Any artwork is eligible: paintings, ceramics, fibers, digital, photography, drawings, sculpture, mosaic, and other media. Maximum dimension of any one side of a 2-D work (including frame) must be less than 36 inches.

Commission: There will be a 25% commission on all sales.

Entries: All Artwork will be judged from digital submissions or photographs of the work. No slides. Send copies not originals.

Submission Guidelines: Mark each entry with your name and phone number. Number entries to correspond to the entry form. A narrative must be included, to illustrate how the dream inspired the creation of your art.

Digital: JPEG, PDF, CD-Rom, DVD.

Three dimensional entries: Three views of the entry are required and will be considered as one entry.

Send your entries to: Kat Peters-Midland, DreamMosaics Studio 406 North College Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of submission of entry, if you want it returned. The deadline for entries is March 10, 2009.

Form: Complete the form found at http://www.Dreamartshow.com. Use additional copy or sheet if more than four entries are submitted. The dream that inspired each piece must be included.

Fee: The entry fee is $10 per artwork. Enclose your entry form and a check or money order for the total entry fee payable to Kat Peters-Midland.

Accepted work: Notification of acceptance will be posted on www.dreamartshow.com by March 14, 2009. Two dimensional work must be framed and wired for hanging. Delivery and return from DreamMosaics Studio is the artists' responsibility. Detailed shipping instruction is provided with acceptance notification.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I love the new year - I think about and plan what do I want to do and learn this year - new art media to try. I feel more energy and to expand and learn I think.

I'm scheduled for a couple of art classes - one is next Tuesday and one is scheduled for that weekend, the 17th and 18th. The first is a Klimt-style painting class, which I'm really excited about. The second class is the Level I PMC Certification class. The talented Peggy Houchin will be teaching the class. Her website is: http://www.bellabeadsandwax.com

FYI mosaic enthusiasts - my mosaic office coasters, magnets, crosses and inspiration cubes will be at the Bellevue Store this weekend, starting Friday night. Bev always puts on a nice art opening party on Friday night complete with wine, cheese, and other goodies - I hope you can make it!

Dream art lovers - the Dream Art Exhibit will be April 19 to May 16 2009 at the Poudre River Arts Center in Fort Collins again! This year the dream narrative will accompany the piece of art in the exhibit. This will give our visitors a unique opportunity to experience the dream as well as the art piece that was created as a result.

I have invited a number of artists who create dream art to participate in the exhibit. So far Dee Dee Hampton and Karen Endres have agreed to have some of their pieces in the exhibit, which is exciting.

I am still looking for more artists who interpret their dreams through the creation of art. All media! Email me at dreammosaics@comcast.net if you are interested in having your dream art portfolio reviewed.

Mosaic on!
Kat