We were so lucky with the weather, which had been rainy all week. It could not have been better on the day for this event. There were lots of visitors, soaking up the wonderful atmosphere in the grounds of Bushlands. Art, music, wine, food, and sales - what a perfect day!
This was my set up
and me
 |
| This photo is courtesy of the Arts Collective Whangamata |
Today, it is a year since my mother passed, so I thought it fitting to present the mosaic that I did in remembrance of her. It was the first piece of mosaic art created in my studio since I became a full-time artist back in July of this year.
It is titled “She loved yellow
flowers” because when my husband met my mother for the first time, he gave
her a bouquet of yellow flowers. I remember my mother saying that yellow
flowers were her favourite. Now, whenever I look at this mosaic or any other
yellow flowers, it always makes me think fondly of her.
Since leaving my job at the end of June, I have spent the last four months considering, researching and trial designing many different and varied creative ideas.
For various reasons, either in terms of design/manufacture or selling (all major markets in the region have closed down due to Covid 19 restrictions), I am no further forward. I have even considered changing medium but I keep coming back to polymer clay mosaics. I think this is because it is where my enjoyment, satisfaction and skill lies. So, now I am finally settled on my way forward, I will try and develop my mosaics to be more profitable.
In the New Year, I will re-brand my website, simply as Claire Fairweather – Mosaic Art and Design. I will create the ‘mosaic art’ that I so love to do, and the ‘design’ allows me the freedom to include other designed items, whether they include mosaic or not.
The Labour Day market was cancelled, due to Covid 19 restrictions, so I was really hoping that the Anniversary Weekend market in January would go ahead. So, I was absolutely gutted to receive the news that all markets are cancelled for the foreseeable future.
I have spent a lot of time and money over the last couple of months, creating a new display for my Swirl-StoNZ, specifically for this and other such indoor markets. It looks like I am going to have to re-think things, so my display is suitable for outdoors, as the small local Whangamata Sunday Market is the only market that is continuing at this current time.
Here is my recently completed piece, titled Alphabet Orb. I will try taking a video of it on my electric turntable, when it is quiet, and add that later.
 |
| Alphabet Orb - front and back shots 15cm (6 inches) diametre |
So disappointed, but not surprised due to Covid 19, to learn that the Zealand Mosaic Art National Exhibition to be held in Orewa (Auckland) this October/November has been cancelled. It will be re-arranged next year in Whanganui (not so easy for me to get to). Instead, there will be an online competition in November, so I will enter the piece I had created for the exhibition. I will post photographs once the competition has been judged.
The 30 June 2021 was a momentous day for me - my last day of guaranteed financial income. After working part-time for the last ten years, as an accounts assistant for an engineering company, I have finally taken the plunge and terminated my contract. So, today is the first day of my new life as a full-time artist/creative. While a little daunting, I am really excited to start following my true vocation.
 |
| Daybreak in Paradise |
My method of sand painting is to coat a bare canvas with glue and cover with an even layer of fine coloured sand. This is sealed with several layers of acrylic medium, to keep the sand in place, and then over painted with acrylic colour washes, so the sand texture still shows through. For effect, I have included fine glitter for sparkle over the blue sea and used a gloss finish on this and the wet sand areas.
