I cleaned and rearranged the studio while waiting to see what hurricane Florence was going to do. While doing this I found this piece of art. It is in need of repair because the stones became unglued in my boiling hot car, so I had to carefully break the glass, sand it down and replace …
I am beginning another commission with this nest from a dear friend. I hope to build her something very special! Notice the thin easter grass the bird collected and wove in. If you have a nest and would like to see it become a sculpture DM me or send me an email. These are so enjoyable to …
I’m back! August was full of helping the family (Mom had a knee replacement) and preparing for a new school year with my students. I left little notes for myself in my studio knowing I was stepping away for several weeks. This was good because I just dove right back in and began building four …
Ever wondered how to create an image transfer print? Below are some basic directions. STEP ONE: Create a color photocopy of the image you would like to transfer (above you can see my photograph of owl feathers I had printed on a laser copy machine- basic color copier at Staples). TIP: images transfer in reverse. You …
August 8, 2018: HOW-TO Image Transfer Print, Screech OwlRead More »
The commissioned piece is complete! I curled pampas grass from my neighborhood in the “attic” area. The wood is reclaimed from a local boat in Charleston, SC. I hope he loves this little gem as much as I do. Size: 6″x9″x3″ Do you have a nest? See my SHOP if you would like one of …
August 3, 2018: Commission Complete, Nest with Pampas GrassRead More »
This beautiful nest is the beginning of a commission piece a friend has hired me to create. I am going to build it a little “home”. If you have a special nest you would like to have created into a piece of art, you can find more information in my SHOP or email me.
I was given these amazing blue paint chipped boards by @live_tiny, which is going to be built into my next nest house. Not sure this large nest from Gatlinburg TN will fit but I will know once I assemble it. I have other back up nests in case it doesn’t. Excited to work with the curved …
This is my dog Obi! He is three years old and is now retired from the racing industry. He was born in Iowa, transported to Florida where he never raced well and was put into the adoption system (they used to exterminate ex-racers) just before his second birthday. We can’t even imagine a time without him. …
Completed! Having more studio time lately has given me an opportunity to figure out how to attach the glass without ruining the integrity of the larger piece. I am calling it “Interlace”.
This nest must have been built alongside a home or tree with that straight edge. It was a gift given to me by a dear friend. It was created with spanish moss, pine needles, and some other type of muddy vegetation. It even has a hollow egg in it! I plan to honor this gift …
Messy studio shot of how I am incorporating the sweetgum seeds into one of my nest sculptures.
Graphite drawing of the sweetgum seeds I found on the trails at James Island County Park. This one is available for purchase on my website if you are looking for some affordable original art.
This is my favorite sapling from the Francis Marion National Forest. Jazz hands!
A few sketches in my nature journal of the longleaf pine saplings on the forest floor at Francis Marion National Forest. These saplings can take 5-12 years setting roots before it goes vertical. It has the potential to live 500 years!
Set off on a trail in Francis Marion National Forest today with my friend who is a scientist. Great to get a different eye on the subject I am inspired by.
I am making studio time for my correspondence art project with Laura Gaffke. These artworks of hers inspired my moon map (lower right). I dug into our collection and found some of her work from 2012! Read the letter I wrote her about the work at our website www.lauraTWOtina.com.
Just so I know what I am looking at while drawing in the forest, I am making mind maps of information. This week I am researching the difference between the Loblolly Pine and the Longleaf Pine. What I learned is that the Loblolly is the second most common tree in the US, while the Longleaf …
“In this twentieth century, to stop rushing around, to sit quietly on the grass, to switch off the world and come back to the earth, to allow the eye to see a willow, a bush, a cloud, a leaf, is an unforgettable experience” ~Frederick Franck I have recently returned to reading these for probably my …
Walking the forest at James Island County Park, I did a few quick drawing studies of the various bark textures. These are the loblolly pine and live oak. I also did a quick sketch of the needle palm growing nearby. I will do a further study of the palm as it is so distinct for …
I am studying the forest floor at James Island County Park today. This is the beginning of a year-long study in this natural space in the suburbs. P.S. this is the space that would be eliminated with the 526 road extension project.
This spanish moss is intricately woven as the base of this nest. The pine needles and leaves sit on top. I am designing these sculptures so the front can be seen as easily as the back.Look at the back of this nest!
The nest is going in! It is holding together really well. A few more branches will be added to secure it and then I will design the top of this piece. I may add the little feathers you see on the left.
This lovely nest will be carefully placed in one of my hand-built houses. I will weave in thin branches to balance and secure it within. This nest has pine needles, leaves, thorny vines to hold it together, and spanish moss on the back.
Finished! “Soaring” 4.5″x12″x3″ hawk feather, map, teak (reclaimed from old boat), plexiglass
This is my workbench below my studio where I do all of my building. It is nice to have an extra space to make a mess with the saws and drills. My grandfather was a carpenter and taught my Dad his woodworking skills. My Dad taught me all that I know and has set me up …
Process shot of three sculptures I am currently working on. Lots of plans brewing for this “Dwellings” series I will be diving into this year. I started these dwellings a year ago, but it took me awhile to figure out how to work with this teak wood repurposed from an old boat. There is a …
“Loop” 7″x11″x3″ wood (repurposed teak from a boat), branches, grass leaves, nest, map, plexiglass. I completed this piece after months of troubleshooting glass vs. plexiglass. I ended up with plexiglass because I can remove it easily (screws) if needed and has an added UVA protection. This particular piece is staying in my private collection. My …
I mistakenly left this piece in my hot car which melted some of the adhesives on these stones. I had to break the glass and tear it off to get to the stones. In the process, I damaged the surface of the wood box. My solution is to cover the damage with soil and matte …
Since 2006 I have been working with Laura Gaffke sending art through the mail to one another and meeting up over the phone lines weekly. She lives in Connecticut and I am down the coast in South Carolina. Cleaning my studio today, I set up a corner for our work to give me continual inspiration …
This new year I am going to be immersing myself more in nature and drawing in a journal like a naturalist would. The first entry will be on ice and snow. Who knew??
