Color

Color can be a powerful swizzle stick stirring up memories and feelings.  My mother’s red lipstick made me proud as she always tried to look her best.  The yellow school bus was both a happy, and sad, color when it drove off with our little boy.  The glorious lime green moss that lays in stark contrast to the dark green foliage in my forest -  sometimes making me stop and sigh.

 
I'm intrigued by how color effects people and why we make the choices we do for our art, cars, toenails, pets, luggage, coffee cups, toothbrushes, etc... Whatever it might be, we make color selections based on what?  So, I did a little digging and found a few TidBits that might give us some insights or, at the very least, will hopefully amuse.

Organized Chaos by Patty Franklin

First, here is a Global Color Survey.  Once you've entered your answers, it will offer you the results of over 130,000 people.  It doesn't tell you anything about what your answers mean, but as you try to select a color for the word "dependable" or "nausea" you get to analyze yourself.  (I have to admit that these are two colors I've never pondered.)

For more serious studies on color, check out Exploratorium where you can access 4 in-depth videos:

Making Color

Color Vision and Color Photography

Pigments and Paints

Oaxacan Dyes and Textiles 

If you have yet to check out Pinterest, try it - you'll love it!  It's like having a huge bulletin board of your favorite pictures/items saved and available to share with friends.  They now have "secret" boards so you can keep some things just to yourself or, for a select few.  One of my boards is dedicated to COLOR! where I place pictures that tend to be bold and bright (but of course).  If you need an invite to Pinterest, just send me an email. 







Want to add a splash of color to our grey Northwest days?  Winter is a perfect time to visit Art Spot in Edmonds, WA.  I stopped in last week and found a huge inventory of supplies, a calendar of fun classes and terrific artwork - perfect for Christmas presents.

Color Resources on the Web:

Colour Lovers  

Color Is Information

Complete Color FAQ 

Colored Glass Chemistry 

FAVORITE COLOR COMBINATIONS OF THE MASTERS

And Finally, Here Is A 
Thanksgiving Color TidBit 

STRESSED TURKEY COLORS 

You probably don't need to worry about this unless you do your own turkey hunting, but a turkey has several flaps of loose skin around the head and neck that turn color depending on its mood. The flaps are called the "wattle" (on the chin), the "snood" (on the head and over the beak) and the "caruncle" (on the throat).  Under calm conditions, these areas are pinkish-gray or blue; if the turkey is annoyed or mating, all these areas turn bright red.

I hope your wattle's all stay neutral this Thanksgiving.
Have a Happy Turkey Day,
Patty

Patty Franklin mosaics
patty@thefranklinhouse.com
206-310-8769

 

The "Meaning" of Art

I’m amazed and often impressed (sometimes confused), by artists who clearly articulate why they create art and what their goals and intentions were.  There are artists that can talk at length about what they had in mind when creating a particular piece, what message they wanted to convey, what they wanted the viewer to experience, or what their emotional or philosophical meaning was.  I’m just not that deep.

I usually begin my creative process as though my mind were a blank slate (not hard for me to do).  Naturally, I’m know that I’m going to mosaic, but I’m generally not sure what the piece means to me - yet; let alone what it’s meaning will be to the viewer.  Instead, I go with the flow (aka andamento in mosaic terms).  I simply work piece-by-piece and let the mosaic happen. 

I'll either fall in love with the piece or get part way through and think, “wow, this is really hideous.”  Fortunately, that last one doesn’t happen as often as it did in my early years.  Nevertheless, whether it's terrible or fantastic, each mosaic is a representation of me, my mood, my sense of humor, my moment in time…

When a person steps into a gallery, museum, exhibit (etc…), the dating begins.  The artwork stands alone, mute and vulnerable.  The viewer has all of the power and gets to derive what a particular work of art says to them.  They add their own background, personality, experiences, current state of mind and so on, to arrive at their meaning.  That’s the way it should be.  In fact, it’s what makes art so personal - the viewer comes to their own relationship with the artwork, often times independent of what the artist intended.  Marcel Duchamp summed this idea up when he said: “The artist only has fifty percent of the responsibility.”

Here are some mosaic artists that I admire and want to share with you.  Enjoy!

"Don't Loose Your Marbles" by Jean Wells

Jean Wells is as nice as she is talented.  She's from the Northwest and her father did the incredible mosaic commission for St. Demetrios Greek Church in Seattle.  Be careful when you go to her website - you'll be there for awhile.

"Bright" by Irina Charny

I've admired Irina Charny's mosaics, ALWAYS.  She inspires me and her work makes me happy!
I just gave myself an early BD present by ordering her book.  Now, I can sit back this winter with a hot cup of apple cider and drink in all of her colors and details.

"Nana Mosaique Noire by Niki de Saint Phalle

It shouldn't surprise anyone that I've includee Nikki de Saint Phalle on my list.  You either love her or hate her but you have to admire her commitment to doing exactly what she wanted.  She lived a fascinating life and I highly recommend reading her story on the foundation's website (linked above).

"The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt

Be still my heart... Gustav Klimt was an odd duck, but oh my, his swirls and golds.  Nothing else to say.

I'll end with Antoni Gaudi.  There is not really a good website to send you to, but just Google his name and the images will speak for themselves.  


















I guess, in looking at this (by no means all inclusive) list, I enjoy mosaics that are; big, bold, bright, odd, 3D, contemporary, swirly, comical, flagrant and bulbous.  So what does that tell you about me?  Hmmm...
Send me the links to your favorites, I'd really love to know patty@thefranklinhouse.com


Patty Franklin  mosaics
www.pattyfranklinmosaics.com
206-310-8769

Mosaic Travel Possibilities

I always get a bit antsy in the fall - hearing the call to travel.  Maybe it's because I know that I'm headed for the grey days of winter.  Just in case you feel the same, I thought I would share with you a few mosaic travel possibilities.  Some of these trips are virtual and some would be best live (not always possible, but we can dream).  I've also included new pictures of my first forest sculpture "Into The Woods".

Enjoy, Patty

 

First Stop - New York

From your computer, you can take a tour of the fabulous underground mosaics at Art Underground/Treasure of New York.  This is a 60 minute video detailing one of the world's foremost public art collections. 



Artist - Andrea Dezso

Now, if that doesn't get your mosaic juices flowing there is always Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) on Park Avenue until November 15th.  But, alas, this would require an actual visit to NY.  Do I hear "road-trip"?  YES






"Les Trois Graces" (1999)

 

 

Curated by Nohra Haime, there are nine  monumental sculptures made of polyester resin, with mosaics of ceramic, mirror and stained glass, towering as high as 16 feet and as wide as 13 feet. Saint Phalle’s signature nanas and totems are featured, as well as works from her iconic Black Heroes series depicting legendary jazz musicians and athletes. 

On to Turkey and the Hatay  Archeology Museum where there are over 35,000 artifacts and the largest collection of mosaics in the world.   

  

Next stop -  Rome and the  Vatican Mosaic StudioI recently discovered this clip from RomeReports.com which gives you an inside look.  My friend (and pen pal), Adri, is not shown  in this clip, so I posted his picture above.

 

Time to step off of the tour bus and get down to some mosaic business...

 



A new how-to book came out a few months ago.  It's available (on-line) but I haven't had a chance to look it over.  The title is intriguing - it makes me wonder what "secrets" they are giving away...

Please send me a note if you have seen this book and want to give me your thoughts
 Patty



Glue:  On my constant search for glue knowledge, I found The Glu Guru Adhesive Test Center.  (Some things must be shared.)

And, finally -

"Into The Woods" (Work In Progress)

 



“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.  Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”  -Dr. Seuss
 

(hiding among the leaves)

 

(a cottage belonging to, who?)

 

(I never skimp on color)

 (the bigger picture)

 

 

 

TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)

Copyright owned by Patty Franklin

www.pattyfranklinmosaics.com

all rights reserved, no pictures may be duplicated without written permission by me, blah, blah, blah...

 



 

 



Late Summer 2012

EDGE Presentations on August 25th:  I'm preparing to leave for my week of professional development workshops at Fort Warden.  IF you just happen to be near Port Townsend on August 25th, here are the details on our final presentations.  This would give you a good excuse to snoop around this lovely little town and, maybe discover some new artists!

I will be "artist in residence" at Bassetti's Crooked Arbor Gardens in Woodinville, for several weekends in September.  With three full indoor galleries and art throught the gardens, it is always a delight to stop in and meander... open Fridays and Saturdays from 10a - 4p.  Make sure to look for Cary Grant - he is quit the handsome boy!

Basic Mosaic Class at Cole Gallery - October 2, 9 & 16 from 5:30p to 8:30p

This to That -  a handy site for getting help determining what type of glue to use based on "what" you are gluing to "where".  Of course, most of you know that I prefer Dap Kwick Seal Plus (clear) over Weldbond, which you can easily find at Target, McLendons and Home Depot.

"Into the Woods" update:

I know I'm being a terrible tease, but...

Here are a few WIP (work in progress) photos.  More when I return to town!

An example of the custom substrates I'm building.  This one sits on a 12" round base and measures 24" high.

A taste of the primary colors (and materials) that I'm using in my first sculpture.

Just a hint of the canopy.

Stay cool and I'll be back with more fun stuff in a few weeks.

TTFN,

Patty Franklin
www.pattyfranklinmosaics.com
send me an email
206-310-8769