Members Merit Awards published in August Newsletter

 

'Inspiration' wins a Merit Award

Thrilled to win a Merit Award for my dot mosaic sculpture, titled ‘Inspiration’. See the exhibition, which is on throughout August, at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa.

'Inspiration' - in daylight and in the dark

Receiving the award

On display with judge's comments

Exhibition details

A Review of 2018

At the beginning of this year, I set myself just one goal: to continue developing my Swirl-StoNZ. Unfortunately I have not succeeded very well with this. Other creative opportunities have come along to take up my time as well as some important non-creative life plans. Half way through the year I even had to turn down several art opportunities, as I simply did not have enough spare time, but others I really felt I had to take up. My dot mosaics were supposed to take a back seat for this year, while I concentrated on developing my Swirl-StoNZ. Instead they seem to have taken over. 

In summary, I had planned to enter a couple of pieces for the New Zealand National Mosaic Art Exhibition 2018 in September but the Estuary Art Centre also put on another Mosaic Exhibition in May, which I was asked to enter. As this was not in my original plan, I submitted my large ‘Watching the sunrise over Rangitoto’ artwork, which had to be re-mounted on board (as it was originally done on a canvas), re-grouted and framed. I was amazed that it sold on the first day.

I spent a lot of time creating my two pieces for the New Zealand National Mosaic Art Exhibition 2018, as this was the first time I had entered this biennial event, which was held in September at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa. I was thrilled to receive first prize in the 3D category for my sphere sculpture ‘Aotearoa – land of the long white cloud’. Although I did not sell this piece at this exhibition, I entered it in the Member’s Merit Awards Exhibition held in November at the Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna. Not only did I sell this sculpture at this exhibition, it won the People’s Choice Award and I was commissioned to do another similar sculpture, which will be my first project of 2019.

My polymer dot mosaics will also be featured in a second book, titled 'Polymer Journeys 2019', which is due to be published early next year. The submission of photos and text for this involved some work, as well as my one entry for the 2018 International Polymer Clay Awards.

So 2018 has turned out to be a successful year for my dot mosaics, which is good, just not quite what I planned. For 2019, I do still want to develop my Swirl-StoNZ but I also feel I should ‘go with the flow’ and continue with the success of my dot mosaics. If only there were more hours in the day J 

Aotearoa - land of the long white cloud

This piece won 1st prize in the 3-Dimensional category in the New Zealand National Mosaic Art Exhibition 2018.

Aotearoa - land of the long white cloud (6 views)

As you look round this spherical sculpture, you will see

• The North and South Islands, with the main towns/cities in grey and the topography in shades of green.
• The Auckland city skyline, with Sky Tower, and some yachts indicated by the white sails. Auckland is often called the 'City of Sails'. Rangitoto Island in tucked in the background
• A sandy beach. There are so many beautiful beaches around New Zealand.
• Mt. Cook and part of the Southern Alps, with one of the many beautiful blue lakes.
• The top end of the 'long white cloud' forms into a spiral shape, reflecting the Maori 'koru' symbol. 

Aroha Nui (with afterglow)

Aroha Nui (with afterglow) - in daylight and darkness

This polymer mosaic is my first one to incorporate ‘glow-in-the-dark’ tiles. They outline the central heart shape when the lights go off, hence the reference to ‘afterglow’ in the title of the piece. Aroha Nui means ‘much love, with deep affection’ in Maori (the language spoken by the indigenous people of New Zealand).

New Zealand National Mosaic Art Exhibition - opening night and prize-giving

General view on the opening night

My two entries were Aroha Nui (with afterglow) and Aotearoa - land of the long white cloud. Now that the judging has taken place, I will post more details of each soon.

Aroha Nui (with afterglow)

Aotearoa - land of the long white cloud

So proud to have won an award, as this is the first time I have entered work in this exhibition.

New Zealand National Mosaic Art Exhibition 2018

I have just handed in my two pieces for this exhibition. Will post photos after the judging and opening night on Friday 7 September. The exhibition will run all through to 30 September at The Estuary Art Centre, Orewa.

My latest sculpture - Mochacinno Swirl (with afterglow)

Mochacinno Swirl
in daylight and in the dark

This my latest sculpture, which is being entered in the Annual Members Merit Awards Group Exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa. The exhibition opens on 6 July and runs until 5 August 2018.

There will also be also be three of my Swirl-StoNZ pendants, including 'Prima', which was the very first one that I made.

          Prima                              Rainbow                     Midnight Fiesta

Cut in Colour Mosaic Exhibition - sale on the first day

I have entered one large picture, a sculpture and three brooches in this exhibition which is on throughout May at the estuary Arts Centre, Orewa.

Post Script: On attending the opening of this exhibition, I was thrilled to find out that my large mosaic picture, 'Watching the sunrise over Rangitoto', sold on the first day. 😊

Sphere of Happiness

This is my latest dot mosaic sculpture titled 'Sphere of Happiness'.

I was wanting to include words in this next sphere sculpture, which was inspired by a recent customer who requested yellow Swirl-StoNZ because, in colour therapy, yellow is for 'Happiness'. I have chosen to use shades of yellow and orange for the tiles and have included words associated with 'Happiness' by stamping individual letters on some of the circular tiles. You will find the following words spiraling around the sphere: Happy, Joy, Smile, Content, Love, Blessed, Delight, Laugh, Elation, Bliss, Hug, Fortunate, Radiant, Satisfaction, Pleasure, Well-being, Euphoric, Cheer, Enjoyment.

Sphere of Happiness

This piece is one of my entries in the 'Cut in Colour' Mosaic Exhibition, which will run from 2-27 May 2018 at the Estuary Art Centre, Orewa.

A Review of 2017

I made one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2017 to 'be proud of my creative artwork' and I think I have managed to achieve this.

This year has resulted in some successful dot mosaic pieces but also the confirmation that as much as I love making them, the time involved does not make them viable to sell (apart from reproduced as greetings cards). So I think the dot mosaics will have to remain as a hobby.

I have also been developing my idea for Swirl-StoNZ, as a New Zealand made souvenir/gift in the lower cost bracket, so I can get back into doing some craft markets, which I have missed. After much practicing to master the technique, I had built up some stock and made some display panels ready to launch Swirl-StoNZ by Claire, at the Labour Day Art and Craft Market at Mission Bay, on 23 October 2017.

Disappointingly, this event was cancelled due to the bad weather so, I had to wait until the Christmas Art Markets at the Estuary Art Centre at the beginning of December. This was my first proper event selling and demonstrating how I make the Swirl-StoNZ (apart from selling a necklace and earrings set in an exhibition at the Estuary Art Centre and a few small pendants in their gallery shop).

The Christmas Art Markets turned out to be a big success, helped by a feature in the Hibiscus Matters local newspaper. The newspaper article had a photograph of a bowl of Glow-in-the-dark Swirl-StoNZ, which I had made for the Mission Bay event to attract children to my stall. These were so popular they sold out in the first hour. People came specifically because they had seen them in the newspaper. Consequently, I spent the next week making another batch of Glow-in-the-dark Swirl-StoNZ (discovering in the process that making my own glow-in-the-dark polymer clay was better than the manufacturers), so I could get them into the gallery shop before Christmas, for all those that were disappointed that they had sold out when they came to my stall at the Christmas Art Markets.

For years I have been trying to find something creative I can make that I can turn into a small craft business. I know, from the initial success, that I can build on the Swirl-StoNZ, with several branches on the idea to explore. So, 2018 will definitely be the Year of the Swirl-StoNZ for me.

Another feature in a local newspaper - The Rodney Times 12.12.2017

I was just about to throw out an old copy of the Rodney Times, when I thought I would flick through it. I was totally taken by surprise when I saw a photo of myself, demonstrating how I make my Swirl-StoNZ. It was taken at the Christmas Art Market at the Estuary Art Centre on Sunday 3 December. I had no idea the photo was being taken but it is good to see the crowd of onlookers fascinated by the process.

Here is my 2nd batch of Glow-in-the-dark Swirl-StoNZ

They will be packaged up and go to the Estuary Arts Centre 

in Orewa (NZ) on Tuesday morning (12 December).

2nd batch of Glow-in-the-dark Swirl-StoNZ - even better!

I know a lot of people were disappointed that the glow-in-the-dark Swirl-StoNZ, featured in the local newspaper, were sold out when they came to the recent Christmas Art Markets at the Estuary Art Centre. These glow-in-the-dark (GITD) Swirl-StoNZ were so popular, they sold out within the first hour, mainly bought as 'stocking fillers'.

I have unsuccessfully tried to find some more suitable GITD polymer clay locally, as there is no time to order it from overseas and get more made before Christmas. So, I have been experimenting with making my own.

Thanks to Ginger Davis Allman of www.thebluebottletree.com for her article about DIY glow-in-the-dark polymer clay. Luckily I had a small quantity of the GITD powder, which when mixed with translucent polymer clay makes it glow in the dark. It is actually brighter and longer lasting than the manufacturers versions of GITD polymer clay.

So this weekend, I am making a second batch of GITD Swirl-StoNZ, which will all go to the gallery shop at the Estuary Art Centre on Tuesday morning. I will definitely be ordering some more of this GITD powder, so I can make my own GITD polymer clay for use in the future.

Some publicity in the local newspaper

Look who is on page 26 of Hibiscus Matters (local community newspaper) this week.

Christmas Art Markets coming up

I will be there launching Swirl-StoNZ by Claire (plus a few other things) - refer to my previous post for details.

A big 'swirly' weekend coming up

I was so disappointed last month when the Labour Day Art & Craft Market at Mission Bay was cancelled, due to the weather, as I had been working for months on the launch of ‘Swirl-StoNZ by Claire’ at this event.

However, a little bit of patience has paid off. I now have a three day event coming up, where I can introduce Swirl-StoNZ to the public. My display will be inside (so no weather issues) and I will be able to demonstrate as well as sell.

Come to the Christmas Art Markets at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa (north of Auckland) where I will be selling Swirl-StoNZ made into jewellery and other small gifts, as well as for ‘calming stones’. You can also watch me make them.

Dates and times as follows:

Friday 1 December, 4.00-8.30pm - Christmas Art Market to coincide with the opening night of the Cash and Carry Art Sale (I will also have four mosaic pieces in this exhibition).

Saturday 2 December, 11.00-3.30pm* - Swirl-StoNZ table will be manned although the Christmas Art market is not officially open today.

Sunday 3 December, 11.00-3.30pm* - Christmas Art Market

*I will be doing Swirl-StoNZ demos on the hour during Saturday and Sunday.

Launch of Project Swirl-StoNZ - POSTPONED

It is with regret that I have taken the decision not to attend the market tomorrow, due to the weather forecast, as I was relying on cover from being under the trees (as I do not have a gazebo I can put up on my own). I was hoping to launch my latest creative venture: Swirl-StoNZ by Claire, including demonstrating how I make them, but cannot do this if there is any chance of water coming contact with the polymer clay when I am working with it. The weather forecast does not look good, at least a 90% chance of rain!

It is a big disappointment, after all these months of preparation, as I was really looking forward to this event. Now I will have to find another opportunity to launch my Swirl-StoNZ. It is likely to be at the Christmas Market at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa on Sunday 3 December (preview on the evening of 1 December) - see the 'EVENTS' tab for more information.

Another two out of three!

Contemplation - SOLD

Found out today that I have now sold two of my three entries in the Annual Members Awards exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa.

Earlier in the month my first Swirl-StoNZ necklace and earrings set sold at the exhibition and now my sculptural piece, titled 'Contemplation', has sold. Both purchasers have taken the items, so they are no longer in the exhibition, which means I am unlikely to get the People's Choice vote for either of these two entries.

My 'Poppy' mosaic picture is the remaining entry. The exhibition finishes next Sunday, 3 September 2017.

Opening night of the Estuary Arts Annual Members Awards - exhibition

A general shot on the opening night

My three entries: Poppy (picture), Swirl-StoNZ (necklace & earrings set)
and Contemplation (sculpture)

See the following posts for more details on each of my entries.