One Artist's Journey

This is the Redlands Art Association's Art Gallery on State Street in Redlands, California.

I joined the Redlands Art Association last week. They have a member show every 5 or 6 weeks. Today we submitted art to hang. It isn’t a juried show, so it doesn’t really go on the list, but my art is going to hang in public. Woohoo.

This is how it works at our gallery: We can submit two hanging pieces. They should both hang. We pay $5 for that and sign up to sit in the gallery for two 3 1/2 hour shifts. I will need to come earlier next time because most of the morning shifts were already taken.

I need to get some “table pieces” done for the next show. Those are glass and ceramic pieces, glazed tiles, gourd art, etc. You can submit 10 of those for the same price.

Abstract #6" - 12" x 12" Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas board - $150

I went “down the hill” today to visit my friend Barry. I walked into the furniture store he works at and met the owner’s wife.

I introduced myself and she said, “Oh, you’re Shaun, the ceramist!”

“Wow. I am known!,” I thought.

Anyway, she works in glass and needs some molds made. I haven’t made any glass molds before, but I am sure I can.

We talked about glass and how she works with it. It is all new to me, but I think it would be a blast to do some glass work.

What she does is layers the glass with clear glass and colored pieces. She sets it on the mold (of a bowl or plate) and heats it until the glass fuses and slumps into the mold.

It is pretty cool.

She said I was welcome to use her kiln any time!!! I might just get back into ceramics. I will probably trade a glass mold for kiln time.

I prefer a wood burning kiln, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

Before I left, I mentioned that I am also a painter. She offered to let me put my work up on the walls of their furniture store! Wow, a place to exhibit. Cool. They show by appointment only, so there isn’t a lot of traffic, but one store can open the doors to more.