"In The Morning"

($100.00.......6" x 6"....Mixed Media on 300 lb HP and Balsa Wood.....Mounted on a 2.00" depth Clayboard)

"Early in the morning will I pray to you, my Lord." This mixed media piece expresses my thoughts on how to start the day. I am really not pleasant until I've had conversation with God.

This piece has two levels of depth. The area surrounding the glass is a piece of 1/4" depth balsa wood to make it the same level as the glass. The dimensional look is quite appealing when viewing the original piece and creates a tremendous amount of depth. I even wrapped some of the text pages around the balsa wood which creates another level of interest. In pieces like this, where there is a hugh "wow" factor of fused glass, it is best to keep the main thing the main thing by not introducing too much color, line drawings, or any other imagery. This is a lettering piece....pure and simple. Even the glass has gestural writing written into the powders before firing. 

I did do a lot of deconstruction from some of the text pages and some blue monoprinted rice papers left over from other projects. In fact, using deconstruction to add a bit of color is a much more subtle technique than trying to do a wash or other type of painting. That would look contrived, but this leaves just a whisper or fragment of the color in a very random way. 

By using balsa wood instead of stacking 300 lb. HP papers to imbed the glass, the end result is a much cleaner edge which allows it to be mounted on a 1.50" or 2" depth clayboard rather than presenting it in a frame. And there you have it...just a few more things to think about. 

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.