Tides of cheer, from Mermaid Tears

Tides of cheer, from Mermaid Tears

While these are very stressful times, here at Mermaid Tears By MB, I'd like to remind you that nothing is more calming than the beautiful Ocean. It reminds us to breath and count our many blessings.

I look to the sea for inspiration and I love to share my own love of the beach and all things Mermaid in my artwork. I try to create an underwater scene with a story and movement in each of my frames. I make mermaids and other Sea creatures out of clay as the main focus of my stories. I use locally found sea glass that I have gathered myself while taking in our beautiful coastline. I also fill them with many Beautiful shells from here in RI and from my travels especially to Costa Rica! Making my artwork is wonderful therapy for my mind and soul, as is also the gatherings of the beach treasures I find along the way. Let me share my love of the Ocean with you!

I am the sole artist and handle every aspect of the process including the shipping. Please know that you can shop safely online from the sanctuary of your own home. Custom orders are my thing so let me create the perfect scene for you! Stay safe and healthy my friends and hope to see you all at the outside fairs and festivals.

Smiles,

Mary Beth Dugan Mermaid Tears By MB

Shop glowing summer inspired Mermaid Tears work:

www.etsy.com/shop/MermaidTearsByMB

Follow her creative ventures:

www.facebook.com/mermaidtearsbymb

www.instagram.com/Mermaid0102

TUTORIAL: How to Paint Flowers Using Underglaze Pottery

TUTORIAL

How to Paint Flowers Using Underglaze Pottery

By: Red Chair Studio Clay

Are you potters, ceramic artists and painters, looking for something new to try?! Red Chair Studio Clay shares the steps in painting beautiful flower scenes using underglaze pottery.

Materials needed:

-bisque fires pottery
-white underglaze
-underglaze in a variety of colors
-pencil
-inspiration pics
-paint brushes
-plastic plate or palette
-water
-sponge
-fine line applicators

Tutorial designed and photos shot by: Red Chair Studio Clay

Shop lovely pottery by Christine of Red Chair Studio Clay from the comfort of your own home!

www.redchairstudioclay.com

Free Coloring Page Download By: Sarah Bertochi

Free Coloring Download

By: Sarah Bertochi

Enjoy this FREE coloring page download.

This design is from a series of drawings I created for my “On the Pond” coloring book (yet to be released) This book has been a work in progress for about 4 years - whenever time allows and inspiration strikes, I will sketch and add an illustration to the growing collection. My intention was to “one day” offer this series of drawings as a completed adult coloring book.

The COVID-19 virus has produced unprecedented isolation from one another. This is necessary but none less, the lack of other human contact has left a void in how we not only interact with each other but in how we fill our time. This “flattening of the curve” has left most of us with ample time on our hands.

The act of coloring can be calming and a great distraction to the hours spent tapping, swiping and scrolling our screens. Take this opportunity to unwind and be more mindful - perhaps it will offer some relief to what our world is currently dealing with.

While this is a small thing to help ease the stress and/or boredom, I am glad to be able to offer it. Please stay safe.

All the best - Sarah

More from Sarah:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

TUTORIAL: Make a Pipa Knot

TUTORIAL

Pipa Knot

By: Language of Knots

Even with social distancing Language of Knots shares her calming energy through her natural ability to teach and create! Try the Pipa Knot using Christine’s tutorial!

Materials needed:

7-10 feet of top, any kind!
(Standard clothesline role works great)

Scissors

Hot Glue Gun

Tutorial designed and video shot by: Language of Knots

Shop beautiful macrame by Christine of Language of Knots from the comfort of your own home!

etsy.com/shop/languageofknots

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo By: Ocean State Pepper Co.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

by: Ocean State Pepper Co.

using their: Bayou Phantom Cajun Seasoning

About Ocean State Pepper Co.:

With a shared passion for food, taste and creative flavors, power couple Katie and Dave created Ocean State Pepper Co. in 2017. Ocean State Pepper Co. offers handcrafted spices, rubs and drink mixes. Working out of a certified kitchen, everything is produced in small batches, bottled, capped and labeled by Katie and Dave. You can order this creole inspired seasoning from the comfort of your home on their website, www.rhodypepper.com and try your hand at this yummy dish! They also suggest using the Bayou Phantom for blackened fish, paella, a sprinkle on corn and much more. Ocean State Pepper Co. sent us this recipe so that we can get creative in the kitchen! Join us and post your tasty creation!

---

Their Recipe:

Show off your creole skills with this delicious chicken and sausage gumbo. Wonderful flavors of Louisiana simmered to create a hearty stew which can make a proper meal for any event. The key to this recipe is...patience. Build your flavors, take your time. True New Orleans style cooking is all about balance and levels of nuance that lead to what I consider some of the warmest, welcoming flavors around. This is a great way for Bayou Phantom to show it's stuff. It was made for this kind of meal. Don't let the process intimidate you, get comfortable, gather your ingredients, and cook. It doesn't need to be difficult to taste good.

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into cubes

1 lb kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices

Oil, as needed

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups okra, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 celery ribs, sliced

2 quarts chicken stock

1 can diced tomatoes (14oz)

3 clove garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

1-1 1/2 tablespoons Bayou Phantom Cajun Seasoning

Chopped scallions, for garnish

Cooked white rice for service



Preparation:

Cook sausage with about a tablespoon of oil in a dutch oven over medium heat about 5 minutes or until browned, stirring constantly. Remove from pan and reserve. Add chicken to the pot and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and save with the sausage. Sauté okra along with celery, onion, and pepper in drippings until tender, add 2 tbsp of butter to the pan and then add flour and stirring frequently cook over medium heat for 20-25 minutes or until roux is dark brown. Gradually add the chicken stock and tomatoes, then bring entire mixture to a simmer. Add chicken, garlic, sausage, bay leaf, and bayou phantom to the mix. Allow to simmer another 20 minutes, then taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Serve over hot cooked rice.

In the Field with Jamie

Field Interview: Jamie Beaudry,

Salty Water Studios

Today's interview is with  Jamie of Salty Water Studios. After interviewing Jamie, it is clear that she embraces all feelings, scents, sounds and sights of the sea. Her work reflects the magic of treasure hunting on the beach in an organic and artistic way. See Jamie’s work in person THIS SUNDAY, March 8th with Field of Artisans x Whalers Brewing Company, 11:30-4:30.

1.  Your work reflects the treasures you used to find on the beach as a child.  What are some of your favorite finds? What made them magical and inspirational?

I have always been inspired to make art out of my beach finds. I walk the beach on Prudence Island in front of my grandfather's house and find sea glass, crabs, dead horseshoe crabs, fish bones, animal bones, starfish, shells, buoys….You never know what you might find. I would collect them and bring them back to the house and make things with them. I’d glue them to driftwood, and paint the shells and starfish. I loved finding the horseshoe crabs, and fish bones because they were more rare to find and it seemed magical that those weird things were once alive and moving around in the water.

2.  Your wind chimes are made up of multiple pieces that are connected by rope to form a shape.  Do you plan the shape (mermaid, fish etc) ahead of time and then cut into pieces or do you make small pieces and then see how they will fit together?

I plan the shapes ahead of time. I roll out a thick slab of clay to start, then I draw the whole entire mermaid, fish, lobster, etc. and from there I cut parts of them into pieces, poke holes down the center and carve the details.

3.  I love how your colors shimmer in the sun, just like the sea.  Do you have to use a special type of glazing technique to achieve this effect?  What is your go to color palette and shimmer color?

Some of the glazes I use are actually called shimmer glazes. They have shimmery/glittery specks in the glaze itself. So once the piece is fired, it will shimmer in the sunlight. I tend to choose colors that reflect the ocean, or have a beachy feel. Sometimes I also choose colors that you might find on a sunken pirate ship. Depends on the vibe of the piece I'm creating. My favorite shimmer glaze is the sapphire blue!

4.  The horseshoe crabs you create are so realistic (of course with a little magic).  Do you have real skeletons that you use to model your pieces in ceramics?

2 horseshoe crab sculptures I made from photo references and memory.  I recently made a basic mold of my own sculptures to get the general shell form. Once the shell is hard enough to pop out of the mold,  I carve and add the details, and create the tail separately. This way I can keep the size and proportions consistent since it is a complex form to create.

 5.  What made you decide to turn your inspirations into a business?

I have always loved to create art and give it to family and friends as gifts for special occasions. There were always little art fairs on the Island so I figured I should sell some of my art there since everyone loves receiving it as gifts. And it has grown ever since. I started making fish bones first for my grandfather's porch on Prudence Island and everyone started wanting them. Then I started making mermaids by request and they became very popular too.

6.  Are you professionally trained in this technique?  Or is this skill something you've developed on your own?

 I Graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in Art Education with a concentration in ceramics. Since I graduated in 2010, ceramics has still been a passion of mine. I also teach high school ceramics, so clay is my life!

7.  Do you have a personal favorite piece that you have in your home that you could never sell?

 I actually don’t, my mom thinks it's funny because I never hang up my own art in my home. I like to collect work by other artists. I do love to decorate the house and porch on Prudence Island. Since my grandfather passed away I bring stuff that I think he would love! I enjoy giving my art to those I love. It gives me a chance to see and enjoy my work at other people's homes.

8.  What are some examples of custom work that you offer?

I get asked to make a lot of different things. One of my most popular personalized items are fish bones for wedding gifts. I carve the wedding date on one side of the fish head and the last name on the other. I have also done couples initials in the fish heads to hang in new homes, baby names inside a shell a mermaid is holding, and baby names carved into mini fish heads to give as Christmas presents or baby shower gifts. I have also done a sea turtle family with all family members' initials carved into each shell. People will contact me with different ideas for custom work and we work together to create their vision.

9.  Any secret beach hunting places you want to share (don't reveal your top secret one ;)?

Not really any secret ones, I mostly walk the beaches on Prudence Island because I’m there a lot and it's my favorite place!

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?

That’s a really tough question… It would be cool to work with my friend Cara Boudreau on a piece together. Maybe a big wall design or installation. She is an amazing painter and artist. We could create a cool ocean inspired installation together to go in a home or business, like a ocean front hotel, around a fireplace, or anywhere!

 

See more of Jamie's work through her Instagram!

In the Field with Stacey

Field Interview: Stacey Messier

Today's interview is with geometric abstract artist Stacey Messier.  After interviewing Stacey it's clear that her daily life and creative work are tightly intertwined.  Her abstract imagery is full of depth and representation.  She sees emotions, interactions, and sounds in shapes, translating to vibrant and eye catching work. 

1.  You describe your work as geometric illustrations of a feeling or statement.  Do you find that you often respond to visuals over audio or kinesthesia (doing) when learning/creating/working?

I find that kinesthesia follows me when I'm NOT trying to learn new things, but rather in moments when I'm purely allowed to absorb the content. When I read a book for pleasure, you'll see me seated with pen in-hand, underlining, scribbling ideas in the margins, and dog-earing pages. When I learn, I prefer to read first, look at pictures second, and watch or listen last. But, in a former part of my life, I was a singer and co-writer within various music projects. Studying voice and discovering what it means to write meaningful lyrics has always led me to be pulled in by words and phrases that evoke a distinct emotion or visual. Beauty, severity, ambiguity – these concepts ring true in how they feel on the tongue as well as the images they may conjure. 

2. What feelings or statements translate to your favorite images?  Do you find that more passionate feelings translate to intricate or simpler illustrations? 

It's not the most passionate, the strongest or most colored feelings that translate to new work. Rather, it's quite often smart mash-ups of clever words that yield some of the best imagery for my paintings. For example, currently, I'm reading a book on the science of persuasion. In one chapter, the author speaks to how much, we, the public, hate laugh tracks, and yet they work every damn time. He refers to this as "technically augmented mirth." It's so complex! And engaging! What an incredibly deft piece of vocabularian art. In my mind, I can see small grouped shapes resembling crowds, I see larger rectangles referencing the laugh track and then us, the audience, on the other side of the TV... Let's see how it shakes out in sketches.

3.  Your color palette is so eye catching and cohesive across all your work.  Do you use the same palette all the time or does it vary while staying complimentary?

My color palette has followed me around for many, many years. There's something so satisfying about working with "gem tones," hues that sing in deep, warm notes in the proverbial cool air. This palette has also been heavily influenced by a love of midcentury shades combined with those we find around us today. Peacock feathers, chartreuse stirred into a cocktail, your grandmother's shag carpet in the basement. 

The other key behind the consistency of my color palette? The climate we live in today is filled with such social smog; I need colors that make me happy when I make work. I have no interest in making statements in color that match the fear around us. I create to stay balanced so that when I escape the news, I truly feel like I've left for a vibrant place I'm pleased to come back to, again and again. 

4.  Your process is multifaceted and with many steps!  How long does the average piece take you? What mediums do you use in one piece?

Small pieces (4" - 6") can take anywhere from 12 to 20 hours. Larger pieces can take a couple of months. The bigger the canvas, the longer it takes. That said, I would MUCH rather paint large than small! But I waiver between loving the portability of the "compact" and being able to use my whole body when I paint large. In terms of mediums, I paint with acrylics. I have a few glazes and thinning techniques I use, but they are quite sparse. If I can find a mason jar, water, and some paint, I'm ready to get started. 

5.  I love how you pair your illustrations with found and vintage objects like cork or bingo cards.  Is there a relation between the statement and the canvas?  Or is paired based on solely aesthetics?

You are correct; often the found materials drive the direction of the paintings. In formal art training, one often begins with traditional materials like canvas, linen, and wood. But much of my inspiration stems from street artists to Marcel Duchamp – how might a found object lead to a new body of work? Currently I'm working on a large body of work based on the poetry of Luke Bradford. The poems inside his latest release (Abacus) are so intensely cinematic! I had picked up a handful of vintage film canisters waiting for the right project, and now, there are three pieces under way thanks to this glorious combination. 

6.  Are you professionally trained in this technique?  Or is this skill something you've developed on your own?

My degree is in painting, and yet I spent most of my career as a graphic designer. So, the answer to your question is "both," because the skills I was able to hone in college led to feeling like a true craftsman. The design career, however, was built on creating logos, illustrations, and other marketing materials which really pushed my creative problem solving. I was constantly constrained by having to embrace the abstract requests of, say, a healthcare company, who wants their website redesign to make their patients feel more secure  – but in a sophisticated place of care. How does one create a virtual environment that makes new and current customers feel a specific way? Now, these thought experiments drive my thought process whenever I discover a new set of words that inspire a new idea for a painting. 

7.  Is there a favorite piece that you personally use in your home?  What do you use it for?

The painting that is highly coveted and rarely allowed to leave the house is the very first piece I ever created in what is now my geometric abstract style. We were living in Boston and had just moved into a new apartment in Jamaica Plain. "JP", it's filled to the brim with color and funky houses. I was really inspired by my surroundings when simultaneously, we had a need for some sort of art to be placed above my husband's midcentury radio console. Usually I would never make the time to actually make something, but this was different. I created three studies in different styles and the geometric version won us both over. "Morse Frequencies" is now the first painting visitors see when they walk into our living room in our home in Exeter, RI. 

8.  Do you create stickers or apparel of your illustrations?  If not, do you plan to?

I have a Society6.com shop where many of my originals have been translated into a digital format that allows me to offer apparel as well other home goods, including stickers! The incredible thing about Society6 is that it's always amazing to see who has purchased a comforter of one of your paintings. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Stay warm and cozy my friends. 

9.  With your multi-stepped process, you've mentioned that you're always looking for ways to work more efficiently so you can have more creative freedom.  What would your advice be to a fellow artist who wants to work more efficiently but is wary of adding shortcuts or lessening the one of a kind quality behind their work?

Oh my, what a wonderful question. First, I'd say, take a step back. Ask yourself, "How might I remove any barriers or things that keep me from truly creating the most meaningful work?" For me, I recognized that I was constantly hand-mixing the same tones over and over again. Clearly my color palette wasn't going to change for a while, therefore I moved to pre-mixing my palette into larger air-tight containers. Second, I started to work on 4-5 small pieces at a time. I loved being able to rotate them in and out, but hated how much I was sitting (sitting is the new smoking, right?). In response to this, I built a cork-board lazy-susan so that I could stand, pin smaller works to said board and rotate them around while painting.  

10.  Dream collaboration?  Can be a specific person, general person, company, etc.  What would you create together?

Oof. My dream collaboration would be to create the album art for Bonobo and hopefully feed that into some of the digital animations he uses when playing live. It would be MIND BLOWING to sketch while they're still finishing up the next album, pull in lyrics and sounds for inspiration, and do a live show / gallery pop-up combo in the same night. Lordy. I might need a paper bag to breathe in just thinking about this.

 

See more of Stacey's work through her Instagram!