Teaching at Institute of Mosaic Art, Berkeley CA

This past October 18 - 19, 2014, I taught a sculpture class at Institute of Mosaic Art at 805 Allston Way in Berkeley CA. My class was on making 3 dimensional bas relief wall hanging cement art. The base is Wediboard and the technique uses Thinset, mesh and quick setting concrete. The class was held on a Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 3pm,  and the students went home with 4 (at least) small cement substrates ready to mosaic and hang on a wall. The reason I call this "3D Bas Relief" rather than "sculpture" is that these pieces have a flat back and are meant to hang on a wall rather than be free-standing. The class was a huge success - a lot of fun with 11 great artistic women! It was so well received that I will be teaching again in March, 2015. Check IMA's website.
One student said this: "You have a special touch and a unique style that so many people appreciate, including me! Some people are talented artists but not necessarily good teachers but you have both abilities and that is very special! Several students commented on how much you cared about our success and that's why we all walked out so satisfied."

My Vintage Christmas book, illustrated by George Hinke.

"Jolly Old Santa Claus" - my favorite illustrated book! As a child it totally filled my mind with the colors and visions that I still associate with Christmas and Santa Claus to this day. The story is simple: Santa at home in the North Pole prepares for Christmas Eve and then recuperates the day afterward. The colors and warmth and sense of place in these illustrations is beyond compare!   Illustrations by George Hinke. Published by Ideals Publishing Co., Milwaukee 1, Wisc. Copyright 1958. Edited and prepared by Van B. Hooper. Written by "Sparkie". I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Guitar Mosaic - 1939 Gibson

This is a mosaic commissioned for a 30th anniversary. The recipient plays guitars and owns this particular one - a 1939 Gibson with the rounded top and the beautiful coloring. This is my interpretation of that classic guitar. I created the substrate out of cement on Wed board to create a bas relief wall hanging. Then I mosaicked it with glass and mirror. Size: 30" x 12".

Another Elephant Head Mosaic

The second of four bas relief elephant head wall sculptures. I created the cement substrate and then mosaicked it in glass and mirror. 
Size: 18" x 18".

A new Flamingo mosaic!

This is another in a continuing series of flamingo sculptures. Nothing says that a flamingo HAS to be pink! I have 3 more waiting to be mosaicked. This one and the other three each have different "twists and turns" in their necks.I did some work in Photoshop here to lessen the background a little because it was too distracting.

21" wide x 24" tall and stands 4 feet tall on it's rebar "leg".

Elephant Head Mosaic

I have neighbors who love elephants and have opened my eyes to their amazing souls and physical majesty. So I have started the first of 4 bas relief mosaics. These two photos are of the same mosaic. It is made of glass and mirror on Wedi board. The Wedi is covered with cement to give it a shallow 3 dimensional look. 18" x 18". 

Southwest art series continues - Snake, Lizard and Sun

This is a mosaic headed to it's new home in Taos, New Mexico soon. I adore New Mexico and the art one finds there. Whenever I travel there I get totally inspired by the atmosphere, sunlight and the total environment. This piece is actually a "tableau" of three pieces that can be hung in many different configurations. I gave the client a print out of the different ways these pieces can hang together. The snake and lizard are both approx 9" x 24" and the swirl is approx 8" x 8". Glass, beads, turquoise, ball chain, mirror on Wedi board. October, 2013.