Barbara [Svetlick] Wilson

Blogamatically Challenged

Barb Editing

August 18th

Spent my "torch time" today making flower beads. I haven't made them in a long time but I find it very relaxing since I do it without really needing to think about how I do them. I love the flower beads and when I started there were few artists making them. Because of that, I made good money on Ebay. I also spent a few hours on the Southern Banjo.

I think it has taken on a life of it's own. I learned that you can't get parts because they don't make them and they are not as popular as guitars. That is sad. A banjo is a wonderful instrument as is the harmonica. Don't know if that is the Southern in me or just because I find them to be almost human....soulful and moving. It will be a unique piece when it is finished. The two violins I made have sold. One to an antique shop and the other to a musician. I think the next one will have white and yellow roses but that's for later I guess.

I finally got out of the house to get my hair cut and then Lewis took me to our old hang-out which was sold and renovated for dinner. The food was great and the new bar was built like a beach cabana that stayed with the theme of the 3 volleyball courts. I think everyone should have a hang-out place that lets them just put their hair down and enjoy an hour or two of decompressing.

I am putting the photographs of the banjo below as the piece progresses.

barb

Banjo Sculpture

Building Art out of Trash

The banjo was found at the weekend swap meet at the Fairgrounds

and was purchased for $10

It was missing the pegs, the bars that hold the strings up

3 of the pegs that hold the head on.

The head was old and stained, ripped in a few places.

I cut the edge off the head and painted it with magnolias and leaves

attaching it to the back of the banjo.

The glass magnolias and leaves were made on steel wires

which were painted with enamel paint, interweaved

and inserted in numerous holes drilled in the support bar.

The glass was cut to fit the top because the banjo

was 10-1/2 inches and I couldn't find a clear one in that size.

I painted the bottom of the glass with more flowers

giving the banjo 3 layers of flowers.

Banjo Sculpture

Banjo Sculpture

Banjo Sculpture

Banjo Sculpture

Painted magnolias

Banjo Sculpture

The clear glass on the face of the banjo

has been painted with magnolias and leaves on the bottom

Wildflowers growing up both sides

and Morning Glories at the top.

This gives 4 layers to the banjo. The back is painted.

the sculpture glass magnolias and leaves

are wired above the back painting.

The glass front is painted on both sides of the glass.

I still have to deal with the issue

of the missing hooks but I did find pegs for the top.

There is still a lot to do to it

but it is a very indepth piece for an old Southern

Banjo.

Magnolia blossoms

Red Hibiscus March2017

Ice Blue Flowers March2017

English Roses

MIXED MEDIUM ART

When I am working on a mixed medium sculpture, I use soft glass making my leaves, flowers and buds on steel wires. This is the first time that I have used very long wires [6 to 8 inches] which allows me to intertwine them easier and stronger.

This project is using one of the used student violins that I found at an antique/thrift store this weekend. These English Roses are made with moretti 104 and Bullseye 90 glass [not mixed]. I don't particularly like the 'green' palette of 104 so all of the leaves are Bullseye. The flowers and buds are mostly #262 Moretti and a few in Bullseye pink.

When I form a flower or leaf, I intentionally make them in motion. I do not do flat symetrical flowers, I am an impressionist artist. I want the colors and the forms to create the image with each person who views it. I want the impression to be as varied as possible giving everyone the opportunity to appreciate the delicateness of glass flowers.