Art Thread: morna finally succumbs

[morna]

I'm not even sure I know how to do this but here goes...


Kool! I should add that this is a drawing (duh) It's old now '96 I think. It is hanging in our living room ('cause I really like it) It's quite large about 40 x 26". Didn't scan very well compressed charcoal and conte - black and that terracotta colour and yellow ??? I don't remember what that was now...some chalky stuff. Anyway there it is!

[JohnThompson]

Lovely! Ethereal and spooky....

More, more!

[Otto66]

Thank you, morna. Medium and size please.

[morna]

see edit...

[Tad]

Well, that's got a creepy feel that puts it right on topic with all the horror stuff we talk here. Now picture that winged thing with on of Rick's zombies... :D

Time to rediscover sketching and load us up!

[hellboyone]

Agreed. Time to sketch again. This sucker's moody and has great balance. I bet it's the centerpiece of whatever room it's in.

R.

[icbm1987]

Cool...

It's weird in that spooky "I want to see more" way.

icbm1987

[E. Spears]

Very cool, Morna! I like it a lot.
[Jedi Mind Trick]you WILL post more art.[/Jedi Mind Trick]

-Robert

[petriacce]

Morna,

I like your posted art. The elements in the piece are a bit creepy in an inquisitive way. It makes me want to get closer to see if I can see anything else, but I'm afraid the bug-thing is gonna try to lay eggs in me. :(

I like the use of minimal color.

[morna]

Hey thanks guys! I wish you could see the real thing. There's a lot you can't see because either the scan sux or the photo does. I really got into mark-making for it's own sake up in Atlin ( there's an excellent art school up there where I occasionally go to recharge creative batteries) I really don't draw. I have sketchbooks full of beautiful clean white paper that I hate to mess up. That two weeks in Atlin was really the most drawing I've ever done - weird eh? I guess I do most of my work in my head.

I promise I'll post some more soon. I might have a couple more from the same series kickin around... all my stuff's on slides and I have to scan the slides in and the image suffers...it's ok for getting an idea but ........

[Jelly Meets Jam]

I really like it too. Post a picture of it hanging in the room.

[morna]

here's a detail of one of the painted pieces... :)

[Jelly Meets Jam]

wow. i really like your work.

[morna]

Yaay thanks!

[Lobster Johnson]

cool art :D your use of contrast(?)rocks.

[Maija]

Aaaahhh, at last... and yet just an appetizer!

I really gotta go to Victoria so I can see the glass stuff in person. Glass is so lively in a way that defies still photography. Plus hot glass studios are (ironically?) a cool place to hang out.

[morna]

Another detail this one's from a large plate...

[morna]

One more I had around.. This one's in a gallery in Tacoma

[kid cthulhu]

Nice, Morna!

Great colors. Can't wait to see more!

[morna]

Thanks KC!
Yet another of the big plates and a fresh process shot from today - the piece looks good so far but I have to wait 'till Sunday to actually see it. The painted part is mostly reds and the rim is turquoise.

[Lobster Johnson]

I want to be a glassblower... damn it, it's just SO COOL! :D i am staying up too late... i feel tired... glassblowers rock... yeah...

[morna]

It IS the coolest thing on earth! It just takes twenty years to learn it. (just kidding.. it only takes twenty years to get good - not that I'm good.. I'm above adequate!) Careful tho' it's very addictive.

Just as an aside ... Jay, who's front and centre in the process shot was in an episode of the x files. They picked him over Gary because he's a babe and they told poor Gare that he was too old. I have yet to see that episode... oddly

[Tad]

Which episode? My daughter and I are currently working our way through the series in order.

[morna]

I'm not sure absolutely but I think it was called The Gargoyle - no idea on the number... I will e-mail Jay - he probably knows.

[morna]

What a guy !
Quoting Jay's reply:


Hi Ho,

How come no one told me I made that face? Yikes, good thing I'm married. The title of the episode is "Grotesque" Ep #3X14. Hope that does the trick .

Take care,

Jay

[JohnThompson]

Morna, my wife's dream is to someday be a glassblower. In the meantime she's opted for stained glass, but your work is an inspiration! So beautiful! Keep on rocking the molten silicon!

[hellboyone]

This posting art thing's addictive, ain't it? I'm so glad you've finally decided to join up, Morna. Your work is stunning.

R.

[morna]

This posting art thing's addictive, ain't it? I'm so glad you've finally decided to join up, Morna. Your work is stunning.

R.

You said it Rick! Just try and stop me now.. mmuaaaahhhhaaaa ! Thanks you guys it's so damn heartwarming to get all this support. I don't get a whole lot here my peers are inured to the stuff and 98% of the public really doesn't "get" it. It's sure nice when someone DOES tho'.

Love ya ...ya sweetys :)

Ps John... beware glassblowing is dangerously addictive and highly expensive but I think you both should take a get-your-feet-wet introductory course - I have a sense that you'd be good at it! (what with that seven foot something body of yours)

[kid cthulhu]

I've got a few friends who blow glass, but they mostly make "vases".

Um, yeah sure... :)

[morna]

Hmmmm are these "vases" kinda open at both ends...?

[Hellsaint]

Woh! I missed all these neat stuff?! Are they for sale?

[morna]

Um ...one of them is still available - far as I know

[Hellsaint]

Gah! *slumps head on table* Dang it. But the pieces, as the public says, are really good. Post more pics! More! :)

[morna]

I have, for your delectation, a detail of the first drawing. You can see a bit better at this scale. I will stick on a couple more of the wasps. These were done on newsprint and have yellowed considerably... but not quite as much as the scan would have you believe. Oh well.


edit: I should say that the whole idea with this wasp thing was to explore expressive mark making. Line quality is a big deal for me. I'm trying to convey tension, weight, and even mood with line. A good challenge... easier on paper than with the glass paint.

[Hellmistress]

Morna - your stuff is astounding. Do you have a website to promote your work? If not, you should. It would also be cool to see a piece from 'cradle to grave' as it were, from first conceptual work to the finished piece. I'm always fascinated with how things are perceived and created, as I'm not the most creative person on the planet and I'm always amazed at how imaginative you artistic folks are.

HM

[morna]

Sorry, no I don't have my own website. The studio I co-own has. (starfishglass.bc.ca) It's a bit out of date... I have physical examples of the whole process but never photographed it. You'll just have to come to Victoria and I'll show ya!

[Otto66]

You heard her folks. Party at morna's. :)

[morna]

Yeah........... but seriously guys ( which I always mean in the non-gender-specific way) If you ever find yourself in Victoria, come and see me. Everybody at the studio knows about my "Hellboy thing" so tell someone you're one of my Hellboy friends and they'll get me (unless I have my hands full of hot glass) and I'll give you the grand tour. We can have coffee....or?

I swear I saw rhboyd up in the gallery Friday, while I was making the piece in the process shot a few posts earlier.

[fitzroy]

We can have coffee....or?


Or what?

*smirk*

[morna]

Or what?

*smirk*
Um.... a BEER??? (smiley)

[Maija]

Glassblowers ARE so cool. A glass studio is the coolest/hottest place to hang out. Everybody's laid back because you have to be because it's so freaking hot (though you have to be on your toes with hot glass around). It's amazing to watch talented glassblowers coerce molten glass into fantastic shapes (unlike me who worked really hard just to coerce the glass to not fall off the punt (?) between the furnace and the marver (? trying to recall all my glass terms)).

Thanks for sharing the drawings too. I can see the reflections of the lines you put into your glass work.

[morna]

I was waiting for things to settle down, but it doesn't look like they're going to so ...

Here's a recent piece - obviously NOT professionally photographed that actually is about hellboy (my hellboy obsession) the references are well hidden because everyone knows about me and hellboy. It's called "Thank God No One Can Read My Mind" It's huge - 25" the biggest yet and I really love it. (The actual colours are in between the two but closer to the darker one)

[Jelly Meets Jam]

wow. geat work.

[petriacce]

I was waiting for things to settle down, but it doesn't look like they're going to so ...

Here's a recent piece - obviously NOT professionally photographed that actually is about hellboy (my hellboy obsession) the references are well hidden because everyone knows about me and hellboy. It's called "Thank God No One Can Read My Mind" It's huge - 25" the biggest yet and I really love it. (The actual colours are in between the two but closer to the darker one)Very nice morna. Conqueror Worm? or Conqueror Pillbug?

[E. Spears]

I really like the "state of mind" one. it's my favorite.

-Robert

[TheCableGuy001]

Whoa! That is some very nice work! :)

[Gene Poonyo]

Since I do not know anything about glassblowing I can't make any comments on your work other than that I am really intrigued and awed by the design aspects and craftsmanship involved in creating those pieces. I really like the color pallet that you have chosen. Great work!!!

[Tad]

Okay, I'll bite. How does your artistic process that take a concrete specific such as "Hellboy" and turn it into an abstract expression?

[morna]

ok..

JMJ ... Thanks!
Petriacce ... Thanks! and um neither (see "Tad..." below)
Robert ... Thanks! I always liked that one too! Reminds me a bit of that old Startrek with that planet swallowing entity.
Cableguy ...Thanks!
Gene ... Thanks! and this work isn't really about glassblowing - it just happens to be the medium I am working in and I'm most comfortable with after all these years. Also I have to admit it distinguishes me from the herd a bit too. your comments are completely valid and most welcome.

Tad ... In the world of my art it's all about me. My work is about my life. The things I'm passionate about always show up whether consciously put there or not. So to translate Hellboy into an abstract I am refering to my feelings about hellboy. So ... not to actually read the piece - 'cause I will never do that again (what a disaster) but each of the shapes or figures has a meaning that can be modified by colour or placement. One of the figures is me and the rest is the complicated morass of feelings I had on the day I painted the piece.

(paraphrased from my artist's statement) This cryptic visual language allows me to approch any subject matter - no matter how personal - without exposing myself too much.

Thanks for asking :o (sorry waaaaay too much information)

Ps I am writing this on my new laptop whose name is Hellboy woo hoo!

[Gene Poonyo]

Ps I am writing this on my new laptop whose name is Hellboy woo hoo!
And I thought I had a thing for Hellboy and anything Mignola. Hope you are enjoying your 'Hellboy,' Morna...

[Maija]

At first I thought this is the one you were working on in the July 30 process picture... but it's almost a mirror image. I imagine the drawings don't shift much when you reheat them-- just distort somewhat?

It's a really nice piece. Wow... 25"?! How do you even lift it when it's still on the punty? How do you get it in and out of the glory hole without knocking it? I assume you work quickly to flatten it out so it doesn't have to go back in.

[morna]

Hey Ruta! Actually the July 30 piece - which turned out really well - is a much simpler painting. I'll try to get a quick shot of it today. The painting can distort if you're not careful - it's always more pronounced toward the outside edge. I leave these quite thick so as not to blow out the painting which is more disastrous than distortion. They weigh about twenty pounds (!) What can I say..I have stupidly big arms for a girl. (More height would really help tho' I'm only 5'2"...sigh.) Jay has been doing most of the heavy lifting on these but I do the final spin out always - cause we are really maxing out the large gloryhole which is 14 inches and if I screw up I can live with that but I don't want to put that responsibility on anyone else. (plus it's fun, in a nerve-wracking way) So far I've only had one minor fixable run-in with the edge of the 'hole. So ya you are right about it all happening at the last moment and there's no chance of reheating it once it's spun out. A real crowd pleaser! We almost always get a round of applause after one of those. We have one planned for today! Wish me luck! :)

[JohnThompson]

Wish me luck! :)
Luck!
:D

[morna]

Thanks John. It's a mercifully cool and rainy day - perfect glassblowing weather!

a request from JMJ:

[Otto66]

Luck!
:D

WHO IS THIS GUY? :confused:

[JohnThompson]

WHO IS THIS GUY? :confused:
Just your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Ham?

Sorry, don't understand what you mean. Should I deny the wish of luck to one who requests it? Or, are you underwhelmed by my lack of something witty to say?

I wanted to make a comment about the "glory hole", but thought I better not.

[Myron L]

Someone apparently fed on GREEN corn...not really sure...kinda reminds me of a cousin I once had...or something...hmm...

[Otto66]

Just your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Ham?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I wanted to make a comment about the "glory hole", but thought I better not.
Yes. So much self editing. It was a tuff one to pass up. Guess I'll
just punish myself by going out, drinking my fill and charm some
sweet thing to come back to my place for bedroom rodeo. ;)
I'm not on yer Ignore List, am I, JT? :(

[Jelly Meets Jam]

Thanks John. It's a mercifully cool and rainy day - perfect glassblowing weather!

a request from JMJ:

Cool thanks.

[Tad]

Tad ... In the world of my art it's all about me. My work is about my life. The things I'm passionate about always show up whether consciously put there or not. So to translate Hellboy into an abstract I am refering to my feelings about hellboy. So ... not to actually read the piece - 'cause I will never do that again (what a disaster) but each of the shapes or figures has a meaning that can be modified by colour or placement. One of the figures is me and the rest is the complicated morass of feelings I had on the day I painted the piece.

(paraphrased from my artist's statement) This cryptic visual language allows me to approch any subject matter - no matter how personal - without exposing myself too much.

Ps I am writing this on my new laptop whose name is Hellboy woo hoo!

Not too much information at all. Just what I was curious about. Okay, maybe the "woo hoo!" was a little too much. What did you have to do to him to get him to make that sound?

[Otto66]

Not too much information at all. Just what I was curious about. Okay, maybe the "woo hoo!" was a little too much. What did you have to do to him to get him to make that sound?

See, JT. If we were crude little cads, we'd use those
words to answer Tad's question. :D

[Maija]

I wanted to make a comment about the "glory hole", but thought I better not.

Wise, since glassblowers have heard the comments oh, say, a bajillion times. :rolleyes:

A chickadee is a type of tit.

[Ken O]

A chickadee is a type of tit.


hahahhaha
Tit

[JohnThompson]

Originally posted by Otto66
I'm not on yer Ignore List, am I, JT? :(
NOBODY is on my "Ignore List", but its cool what you can get people to believe just by typing crap on a message board.

Its not my responsibility to keep anyone in line but myself. If somebody posts purposely negative, disrespectful crap, I can ignore 'em the old fashioned way, by not responding to 'em.

I respect that everybody has a different opinion about something, and even if I'm opposed to their viewpoint I generally like to read their comments if they're written in a thoughtful or humorous manner. Just posting that something sucks, with no further explanation, is a waste of time though.

If someone who frequently posts in that manner were to take this opportunity to change one's behavior for the better, rather than wallow in self-pity, why that would be the :)Most Bestest :)utcome:) I could imagine!

Now I'm done.

[morna]

Luck!
:D

Hey thanks JT it seems to have worked! Now I have what's known as annealer fever. That means I can't wait for Sunday so I can see this piece.

I am very happy to see some off topic things going on on this thread. Thanks guys... now I feel like I belong! ;)

aaaand.... Thanks for the restraint on the "glory hole" cracks they are getting VERY old.

Ya Tad you're right the woo hoo was totally redundant oh well I'm too happy to worry about it cause I now have ORIGINAL Cortes's to add to my ORIGINAL Fitz's Happy happy............

[Otto66]

And I thought I had a thing for Hellboy and anything Mignola. Hope you are enjoying your 'Hellboy,' Morna...
G-Man? Someone is looking for you. :rolleyes:
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/www/parishilton59.jpg

[Otto66]

NOBODY is on my "Ignore List", but its cool what you can get people to believe just by typing crap on a message board.

Its not my responsibility to keep anyone in line but myself. If somebody posts purposely negative, disrespectful crap, I can ignore 'em the old fashioned way, by not responding to 'em.

I respect that everybody has a different opinion about something, and even if I'm opposed to their viewpoint I generally like to read their comments if they're written in a thoughtful or humorous manner. Just posting that something sucks, with no further explanation, is a waste of time though.

If someone who frequently posts in that manner were to take this opportunity to change one's behavior for the better, rather than wallow in self-pity, why that would be the :)Most Bestest :)utcome:) I could imagine!

Now I'm done.
Huh, your post SUCKS!. ;)

morna? You wanted your thread to go OT? Huh.

[JohnThompson]

Huh, your post SUCKS!. ;)
Niiiiice. And to think, I put you on my "Buddy List".:rolleyes:

[Otto66]

So far, on this thread, you have posted 2 very un-John_Thompson-ish
posts. Change in the meds? Or did you get morna glass to? :rolleyes:

[JohnThompson]

So far, on this thread, you have posted 2 very un-John_Thompson-ish
posts. Change in the meds? Or did you get morna glass to? :rolleyes:
Me? Get glass? I only wish! I think Morna is burdened enough sending glass to people, without wasting it on someone who has to fight the urge to say "glory hole".:rolleyes:

As far as weird posts, I'm okay with that. I've been operating under a severe lack of sleep this week. At least I'm keeping up with the meds, or I'd be worse.

[Otto66]

Mmmm...meds. And ya ain't foll'n nobody. Ya ain't got
no damn Buddy List. What ya think'n? I'm a maroon? :p

[JohnThompson]

Mmmm...meds. And ya ain't foll'n nobody. Ya ain't got
no damn Buddy List. What ya think'n? I'm a maroon? :p
Really, I do have a "Buddy List". And you're one of my buddys. 'Cause there wasn't an option for a "Suck-Muffin List".

[Otto66]

O.K. Thats played. Lets move on. KEVIN! :p

[morna]

Me? Get glass? I only wish! I think Morna is burdened enough sending glass to people, without wasting it on someone who has to fight the urge to say "glory hole".:rolleyes:

As far as weird posts, I'm okay with that. I've been operating under a severe lack of sleep this week. At least I'm keeping up with the meds, or I'd be worse.
aww..... JT

if you want glass all you have to send me one of your drawings... what could be easier

[morna]

morna? You wanted your thread to go OT? Huh.

You have no idea how much pleasure this gives me...................(Muaaahhaaa)

[Otto66]

aww..... JT
if you want glass all you have to send me one of your drawings... what could be easier
Johnny? One of your sketches for glass? Sounds too good to be true.
'Course, there may be a mind control chip in the glass that makes you
do a sketch a week to send to morna.
FOR THE REST OF YER LIFE! :eek:

You have no idea how much pleasure this gives me...................(Muaaahhaaa)
Yes. Well. Giving pleasure is what I do. :evilsmile

[morna]

Yes. Well. Giving pleasure is what I do. :evilsmile

Ya ..........I've been hearing about your basement!

[Otto66]

Ya ..........I've been hearing about your basement!
Don't believe everthing Zefo writes. :D
(note to self: No internet for Zefo.)

[JohnThompson]

aww..... JT

if you want glass all you have to send me one of your drawings... what could be easier
Really?! Any requests? I'd love to trade, and by the way, my wife (a stained glass artist) loves your work too!

[morna]

Kool (arrrr) Look for PM

[fitzroy]

'Course, there may be a mind control chip in the glass that makes you
do a sketch a week to send to morna.
FOR THE REST OF YER LIFE! :eek:

EEEP!
I'm scared :D

[Otto66]

EEEP!
I'm scared :D
You laugh now. But MCCs also effect yer "stuff". ;)

(note: this post has been edited so as not to offend.)

[morna]

Ya so.... don't you have an uncontrollable urge to send me that zombie drawing???

What the hell's wrong with that thing

[fitzroy]

That's uncanny

Wish I could give you a peak at what I'm drawing now, must send to Morna, AAAAAAARGHHHHHH!!!!!!

[jinnaboy]

I'm so damn late into this thread,

wasps, along with slugs and snails, freaks the big jebus out of me.

awesome freaky abstract art, morna. awesome !!!

[morna]

hey thanks man! I like your stuff too - nice 'n loose!

I used to live near Sydney... does Turramurra sound familiar... went to Warawee school I think it was private - we had to wear uniforms! eeeew

I have dug up a couple more images to post - later!

[Lobster Johnson]

so pretty! i love abstarct stuff, and this rocks.

[Athena]

Morna,
Lovin' your work, lady.

Otto: Frankly, I'm disgusted. "bedroom rodeo?" Honestly. None of that, please, we're british.

Although I'm sure I've got a cowgirl outfit somewhere, but it's not as good as Rutas.'

[jinnaboy]

ah....yes, Turramurra. i know quite a few people who lives thar. nice and bushy....the way i likes it. i on the other hand, being a newly migrated ethnic minority. lives in Parramatta. only the richest and most powerful of us can move to the North, on a great white ship.....with Bilbo......

[Hellsaint]

Woh! sounds like an exodus or something :eek:

[morna]

Ok ... as promised a couple of detail shots from a piece called "Between you and Me" (another big plate this one's at Traver in Seattle - I think)

sorry I don't seem to have scanned the overall piece just the two details .. oh well

[Petersen]

Beautiful work Morna..the colors glow!

I like the cassette crossbones too!

[Otto66]

Otto: Frankly, I'm disgusted. "bedroom rodeo?" Honestly. None of that, please, we're british.

Guess the British version would be "Bend it like Beckem". :D

[morna]

LJ: Thank-you!

Athena: yaay thanks.. I have a photo for you - but the other computer "Abe" is not doing the internet thing tonight and that's where all the images are. I will post in the Octopus thread asap ;)

Jin: you mean north...like Canada....? I dunno I was a little kid. One of my most vivid memories of Aus. was throwing hamburger meat for the Kookaburras (sp) to catch in mid air and catchin' it from my mom for throwing dinner out the window. Kookaburras rock!

Petersen: :)

Otto: i don't get it

[Otto66]

Otto: i don't get it
Hmmm... tell yer partner, "More foreplay!", other than that,
I'll have to PM you. :D

[Otto66]

Over 12 hours and no response? :evilsmile

[jinnaboy]

Jin: you mean north...like Canada....? I dunno I was a little kid. One of my most vivid memories of Aus. was throwing hamburger meat for the Kookaburras (sp) to catch in mid air and catchin' it from my mom for throwing dinner out the window. Kookaburras rock!

hahah, i meant the northern suburbs like Chatswood and Hornsby.

[jinnaboy]

when we were travellin on holiday 2 years ago to Queensland, a Kookabura flew right into our windshield when we were at 120 km/h. SMACK!!!! and then a little bit of squuueeerrrch....squuerrch..... from scraping it off with a little sand shovel for the beach. :D :D

[morna]

that's nice... from the guy who was disturbed by an innocent little picture of wolverine gnawing on Hellboy's leg. :evilsmile
Yes I am ignoring you Otto

[jinnaboy]

oh well, nature took its course between a pajero and a kukkaburra. what can i say?

[morna]

Ya I know about nature ... It's just that I have a soft spot for the Kookaburras :)

Anyway ... Here's an oldie I found. It's the first incalmo painted piece we ever made. Back when Starfish was new (seven years ago) This one sold in Portland for the most money I ever dared to charge for one of my pieces. $1500.00 us!

I still really like it. It's called "Four years Later" about 23 inches

[morna]

um... I'm feeling a bit shakey with all the strife around here... all I can think to do is post a couple of pretty pictures and hope things smooth out I should give a bit of background on the core series but ... later

[Maija]

Wow, that second one is so cool. Is it thick clear glass with the image painted on the outside? Because it looks like the image is refracting inside the rim of the bowl. It took me a few minutes to get my brain around what was going on optically.

[morna]

Wow, that second one is so cool. Is it thick clear glass with the image painted on the outside? Because it looks like the image is refracting inside the rim of the bowl. It took me a few minutes to get my brain around what was going on optically.

Ooo Kaaaay... 'didn't get away with that for long.

Yup it's monstrously thick glass but the painting is suspended in the glass. I wasn't going to post these yet 'cause I don't have any good overall shots of this work and you kinda need that to get what's going on... what can I say ...I was desperate.

These are super thick hemispheres of glass - about 9 or 10 inches diameter. They weigh from 25 to 35 pounds. (it takes three of us to carry one of these puppies when they're on the pipe) (That's the finished weight so double or so on the pipe.) We have actually enlarged the furnace door so we can go even bigger - insane? why yes!

I have a LOT to say about this work - it's my best work and the closest to my heart as far as the imagery that gets into them. I am proud of these. i will say more when I can get some images together to show you guys. And really.. thanks for your interest. :)

[Myron L]

um... I'm feeling a bit shakey with all the strife around here... all I can think to do is post a couple of pretty pictures and hope things smooth out I should give a bit of background on the core series but ... later


Such talented work ! I am envious of your abilities...well done

[morna]

Ok There was only one place for this bit of news... Yesterday I sold one of my recent painted plates - which is news in itself, but the kool thing is it was my most hellboyish piece to date. It had Hellboy's eye in it and it was called "I have my Obsessions" yaaay I wish I had a photograph of it. and now it's gone. sigh

HEY the guy had a brand new dig. camera and wanted a picture of the artist with the new acquisition... I bet he could e-mail me a copy! Better than nothing!

Thanks PsychoFyre!

[E. Spears]

Congratulations on selling one of your peices!
I once sold something of mine for lunch money. That was cool :D.

-ERS

[hellboyone]

Congratulations, Morna. :)

R.

[Tad]

Congrats, Morna. I would've thought you'd snap pictures of everything as soon as they're done. By all means, get the pic. (The personal touch may lead to another sale!)

[petriacce]

Yup it's monstrously thick glass but the painting is suspended in the glass.Wow, that blows my mind. So how in the world is that accomplished?

Congrats on selling a piece. I'm no artist but that sure seems like a great moment by having someone love your work so much that they will pay you for it. That's awesome. Is it still hard to part with a piece even though you're getting paid for it?

[morna]

aww...you guys are so sweet! I have to say that I always experience a few moments of amazement whenever one of the major pieces goes. That someone loves my work enough to fork over that kind of dough is such a HUGE compliment. I hope I never loose that sense of wonder about it.

It IS very hard to part with some of them. A gallery (Rubaiyat in Calgary) recently bought four pieces, and I am still feeling squishy about the two vases. Even though they'd been around for ever (made in 2002) it's a bit of a stab to see them go. And I was fairly convinced that one of them was going in the next RICK CORTES auction (if they'd accept it)... I just asumed they'd never sell. I do get far too attached to my pieces... it's 'cause I put so much of my guts into them - heart and soul and let's face it they will persist far longer than I will. I know it's trite to compare them to children but it's kinda true.

I am working up to a better explanation of the core series so your questions on that topic will be answered in the fullness of time. :)

Tad: Yes I definitely should photograph every piece... oh well :rolleyes:

[Ose]

I don't think I've ever said anything in this thread, but I will do so now. I adore anything unique done in glass, and you do absolutely gorgeous stuff morna. Hand-crafted glass is just one of those things that amaze me, and you just bring that up to another level with these. Congrats on the latest piece sold - you deserve it!

[Maija]

Morna, let me know when your pieces get to Rubaiyat so I can go and see your work up close!

And congratulations on the sale! It's great to have that kind of affirmation of your work-- that someone would like it enough that they would want it in their home to look at all the time.

[morna]

Thanks guys!

Ose: Thanks... I can't wait to see your sammy costume finished.

Ruta: Will do. I will be interested to see if the two vases actually make it into the gallery. The owner was quite smitten and I suspect she's going to keep them.

[morna]

Well this isn't what you might think... but I thought some of you guys might enjoy this. I had to do a bunch of these little drawings on little sake cups (or shot glasses or tiny vases - whatever) and vases for a Halloween display.

I had fun with skulls! They started to get pretty wacky! :)

[E. Spears]

Those are really great, Morna! I like the skull with the caption "Grrr" :D.
Your graveyard glass piece in the "build a better graveyard" thread is wonderful, as well. Don't know if I mentioned that yet.

-ERS

[Maija]

Hahahaha!! Those are awesome! I like the "Grrrrr" skull too. And the blank thought bubble one too. Those will make a great Hallowe'en display!

[morna]

Thanks a big bunch guys. I kinda fell in love with them too... I might have to keep one ... or two... if they don't sell.

Any hoo .. I managed to squeeze some painting time in today - only a couple of hours but it felt really good. I worked on one of the Grave yard pieces and have a good bite out of the colouring. Forgive the re-posts but I thought it might be interesting to see the line drawing and the colour starting to be applied from more or less the same angle.

[Ose]

Those skull glasses are adorable! They're giving me the urge to draw some skeletal looking critter though :p

[petriacce]

The graveyard pieces are coming along nicely Morna. You have learned the sacred art of "The Tease" very well. ;)

It'll be fun to go back through the pictures at the end to review the full process.

[Maija]

Man, there's an incredible amount of labour that goes into these things. So you get the painting all finished, and then you still have to heat it up and blow it out and hope that it makes it? Yikes!

It's funny, glass oughta be a stressful medium to work in, but glass folk are some of the most laid back folk I know. I had some good naps on the couch between turns at the glory hole during glass studio. It's hard to be wound up when you're working in front of a hot furnace.

Will the finished piece be a plate or bowl?

[morna]

Got some more done on the two graveyard pieces. The little one, which is now finished being painted, will be a bowl. The larger one will be a big plate.

The paint has to be slapped on quite thick 'cause it gets stretched quite a bit as it's blown out. You can see the distinct difference between the inside and the outside. The reverse painting is a bit tricky. You have to know what you're going to do with an area - once the paint touches the blank there's no changing it - except for a bit of smudging/blending. The outside will never be seen so I don't bother to make it pretty. Both drawings are slightly abstracted landscapes, but I thought, as an excersize I would paint (colour) one more or less straight and the other totally abstract. We'll see how this works out. I may be able to do a bit more today. If the stars all align and I don't have too many orders in the way, I may be able to blow the little guy out on Friday.



ps ruta: the pieces will be at Rubaiyat by now! :)

[morna]

Sorry no pictures... I just wanted to announce that (only one month later) I have FINALLY finished the second graveyard blank so after a bit of drying they will both be ready to blow out. I WILL do at least one of 'em on Friday - mark my words...hear me and obey all you random factors. I will hope for both but one FOR SURE! So images Sunday

as it is written, so let it be done ahmen ......... dammit!

[morna]

Ok I feel guilty not posting any pictures so I went digging and found this one. Another plate - actually a favorite of mine called Processing. It was in the gallery for all of twenty minutes and got sold. I had one hour to get a photo and pack it up. Can you say post partum depression......

sorry about the home made photo.. colour's a bit off - lacking in the green range - oh well at least I have one!

[jinnaboy]

morna, you've made me took notice of the beauty of these plates and stuff....now i always nag my ma why dont we have fancy chinas all the time.
and she'd say 'you dont like these?? HERE' and throw them like frisbies at me (did i spell frisbies right? i wouldnt know because its not too much of an australian thing i gues, or maybe it is but i wouldnt knw because i'm actually more malaysian and i dont go to the beach that much or have a dog, am i talkin funny? must be those pills. yeah, those pills arron from class gave me, arron is cool, he know natalie imbruglia's sister and she's like totally hotter than natalie but she's not that famous but its better cause i you can like so totally go up and talk to her in parties and stuf and she'd like actually talk back yeah.....where was i. oh, the frisbies...)

i think i'll stop now, bye bye

[morna]

what the...! Dude are you OK ?

[petriacce]

I second that. I don't recommend taking random pills given to you by anybody.
:confused: :confused:

[hellboyone]

Still enjoying all the pics, Morna. More, more!

R.

[morna]

Oh yaaay thanks for saying that Rick!

[jinnaboy]

ooooh......yyyeahhh........

http://www.funmdse.com/store/media/10081m.jpg

[Jan Bentzen]

Morna - Beautiful colours.

- Jan :)

[petriacce]

Ok I feel guilty not posting any pictures so I went digging and found this one. Another plate - actually a favorite of mine called Processing. It was in the gallery for all of twenty minutes and got sold. I had one hour to get a photo and pack it up. Can you say post partum depression......

sorry about the home made photo.. colour's a bit off - lacking in the green range - oh well at least I have one!Morna those are beautiful. I love the vibrant colors with the bits of black. I can see why they are "flying off the shelves". I'm so excited to see your graveyard pieces.

[Maija]

Morna, that's beautiful.

Have you ever thought of spinning one of these out completely flat so it could be leaded into a window pane or is the glass too thick? I like the way light passes through it.

[morna]

Morna, that's beautiful.

Have you ever thought of spinning one of these out completely flat so it could be leaded into a window pane or is the glass too thick? I like the way light passes through it.

Thanks ruta! ... actually they're completely opaque. Any perceived light effects are just paint. I sometimes play with "light" as a device to create the perception of depth...or to make the details richer. Ya they are too thick to be leaded in as well. But thanks!!

pets: Thanks man! I'm getting pumped for friday I am going to attempt both pieces. Chiropractor appointment booked! Gary took a shot of the other blank so I may's well post it too!

Jan: Thanks! Really glad you like 'em!

Jin: :confused:

.

[morna]

ok here we go... The gang and I had some success blowing out the two grave yard pieces today. Gary and I have been going nuts with the digi cam and we have about three hundred shots of process stuff in the studio between these two and his Johann, ASOH and RHOD - one of which has already shown up on the exchange. (I'm working on him for an art thread)

This first one is blank 1 which became a bowl. I got Jay to do the form on it cause I've had some technical diffiulties with them. Damn kids! ... he made an almost flawless bowl - sigh. I am pumped to see it on Sunday when it comes out but so far it looks awesome!

[Tad]

That's just amazing. I've thrown plenty of pots on a wheel but spinning a bowl from a blob of glass still amazes me. And the bowl looks properly spooky. Definitely see a graveyard interest.

[Hellsaint]

Morna, those glass are great! How long do you take do finish one?

[morna]

Tad...... you have to come up to Victoria. I will put a blob of hot glass in your hands and .. no wait ...nevermind

Annealer fever ! Tomorrow I get to get my paws on that new stuff! I will post a picture or two of the pieces at room temp. The flash seems to have cut through a lot of the infrared flare and brought out pretty true colours - tho' we'll see tomorrow.

I don't have time nor energy to wade through all the images but I will post one of the plate now for your delectation.

OK maybe more than one. This is the "moment of truth" when it either spins out or it doesn't = thankfully it did!

[Tad]

Whoa, picture number 4 looked scary. I thought you had chronicled a disaster. Still amazing.

[Ose]

I love seeing the pictures of these being made. You glass people never cease to amaze me. Both of the graveyard pieces turned out gorgeous too!

[petriacce]

Beeeuuutiful Morna. Wow! That piece is huge. I was thinking they would be around 40 cm or so but this piece looks much bigger.

[morna]

sorry hellsaint - I missed you there. These take quite a while all together - I think I said a couple of weeks start to finished piece if all the forces align. The blowing takes about two - two and a half hours and it all comes down to the five or ten seconds at the end.

Tad: it was a nail biter! I really wasn't sure this one would go...but it did and I really love it. I started out with clay - throwing's the only thing that's even remotely like glassblowing. Glass is WAAAY more compelling though.

Ose: Thanks! We have shots of the whole 2 1/2 hour process but there are waay too many to post. I may try to on an abreviated process sequence if anyone's interested. I'm very happy with both of them too!

pets: Thanks! The plate is about 60 cm. that's 24" - pretty big! Here are a couple of shots of it from today
(check out the socks in the first pic - just like the PJs on little HB by conundrum )

[Tad]

Hey, shouldn't that be in the cemetary thread? :p

[petriacce]

Hey, shouldn't that be in the cemetary thread? :pNo, it should be in my living room. :D

Wow, it looks even better "cooled down". <---right term?

Cute socks...and I know you're capable of a nice smile too. :D

[JohnThompson]

Damn, Morna! That's one seriously amazing plate! You have my address, right???

Oh, and would it kill you to smile? :D ;)

[Petersen]

Morna,
beautiful work
I asked Julia if she wants to take a trip to BC and see some glassblowing ;)

And yes...smile some eh?

[morna]

Hey I thought I WAS smiling. Ok take this!

[petriacce]

:eek: My eyes! I'm blind! The reflected light from those pearly whites. It's like looking into the sun.

:cool: <-- ah, much better.

[morna]

pets: heh heh..and.. cooled down = correct terminology!

JT: glad you like it. I think it's a good piece too.

Petersen: Thanks! You are welcome to come and visit anytime!

People have bugged me all my life to SMILE - even when I AM smiling.. oh well I guess I just have one of those kinds of faces. :confused:

Found a slightly different version of the plate. Colours aren't quite right in any of the shots. The rim is quite a custardy kind of yellow not so harsh as it appears.

[Maija]

HOLY CRAP!! That's amazing, Morna, both in design and size! I can see how you would be nervous about it working out. If it flopped in on itself it would be a tragedy indeed. The bowl is really lovely too.

I love watching hot glass being worked. Hopefully someday soon I'll visit Starfish and see you and Gary in action.

[Petersen]

I'm a little late in posting these, but we just got a digital camera of our very own!!!!!

These are a few of the Morna pieces I have been blessed with

Thanks again Morna, they are proudly displayed on or near the mantel (depending on the current rotation)

[morna]

Oh yaay you got a camera! I predict that you are going to love it. G and I got one last September and we've been going nuts with it. Tons of fun!

ps Glad you're liking the glass! We're loving our "Petersens"!

[Conundrum]

WOW! I can't believe I haven't seen this stuff 'til now. I must have had my head up my <explitive deleted>! Wonderful, wonderful stuff. VERY inspiring too... The skully sake sets were my favorite (not too obvious) and I love those socks too!

[morna]

Well welcome to my humble little thread! Glad you like it!

This reminds me that I promised ages ago to post some core stuff. (that's what - a fragment of - Petersen posted)

'Guess I'll start on that ... soon!

[yukon]

wow what beautiful work! GLass is such an amazing medium I wish I knew more about the whole process. I'm a graduate of Parsons school of design and while I was still there I watched them mercilessly remove the glass department from my school,(along with a whole buch of other mediums they considered "archaic" BASTARDS! Ceramics was also eliminated, and they even went so far as to try to remove printmaking,but the students went Crazy!) sorry I'll stop ranting, I just wanted to say how amazing your work looks and how much I applaud anyone working in the older mediums. (personally I'm an oil painter, and while I was in school I always felt pressure to get out of the medium and be an "installation sculptor" as thats all the rave in NYC). question for you, is it true it takes a huge amount of physical strength to work in glass? really great looking work! can't wait to see more!

[Petersen]

I feel you Yukon. I have a printmaking degree. While both of the scholls I went to had good printmaking facilities, neither offered lithography while I was there. The when thinking about Grad school, Cranbrook (in Michigan) was a consideration, but my Wife knew the 'printmaking' professor there who had decided that traditonal printmaking was dead and the idea of producing an artistic image that could be reprouced by it's own medium could be done with video. So the printmaking dept. became the avant guard video instalation dept. needless to say, I never bothered to apply.

[yukon]

As far as I know lithography is still offered at Parsons, however during the years I was there the school was going through a major overhaul due to a bunch of factors ( including 911 which led to a huge amount of dropouts and devastated the school financially) anyway parsons was definately trying to become more " contemporary" and was harming itself in the process. WHen I got in it was virtually impossible to get in, and staying was even harder ( 40% freshmen dropout rate, because of the intensity and difficulty of the first year) My friend works in admissions and not only are they weeding out old mediums, they are also dramatically lowering their standards for admissions. Its sad, really sad. sorry for hijacking the thread...

[morna]

no worries yukon. ya I am hearing about a lot of degradation in schools of all art forms and it's so depressing. Our culture is already functionally art-illiterate and this kind of thinking is just going to get us more strip malls and pathetic cake-top architecture. People seem to care less and less about beauty and the joys of just plain good design. sigh ...rant mode off

[morna]

Ok Apparently I have to just start this thing or I'll never get to it! The core series is my favorite of all my work - so far. I've mentioned that there's a lot going on with these pieces but I will just spew it out as it comes.


First two images: Here is a new one I started this week - yaay! First one this year - not yaay.

Next two images: Profile of one... our one at home sitting

[hellboyone]

Beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful.

R.

[morna]

Thanks Rick!

I am starting a process documentation for the series so I can show you guys too!
Some vital stats on the core pieces:

They weigh between 20 and 35 pounds - finished (!!) (Probably fiftyish on the pipe)
They take a 90 hour annealing cycle - twice (!!)
They take three people to lift and move them around when we're making them
Most of them hit three sides of the furnace door going out - meaning we're truly maxing out the size of what you can pull from the furnace. (big deal! -no really!)
It takes about three weeks to make one. if all the stars align
They are the vehicle for the most personal paintings I do.

Apropos of the last couple of posts on the Beksinski thread... These things are (now conscious and deliberate) bids for imortality ... in the absence of procreation I create.

:o

[Tad]

What a super cool piece. Really, really neat.

[E. Spears]

that peice looks huge. and amazing. The stuff you guys make is so amazing, completely beyond anything i could do! Sweetness.

-ers

[morna]

Not that big really, but very dense. They are about eight or nine inches in diameter but capacity is only like a cup or two. This one here is 8.5 inches. It's called "The Well"

[Hellsaint]

Just wow! Very striking visuals and trendy, Nice one morna :)

[petriacce]

Ok Apparently I have to just start this thing or I'll never get to it! The core series is my favorite of all my work - so far. I've mentioned that there's a lot going on with these pieces but I will just spew it out as it comes.


First two images: Here is a new one I started this week - yaay! First one this year - not yaay.

Next two images: Profile of one... our one at home sittingThose look great. I'd like to hold them. It's amazing how much detail and depth these pieces have when you just keep looking. I love the explosion of color in the middle of the black(?).

I stare at the pieces I have from you and Gary all of the time and see more patterns and detail. It's fun to see the differences between regular room lights and sunlight. The full spectrum light really makes the glass come alive.

[morna]

Thanks guys! I am having my weekend right now so all I have are a couple of pro shots of existing pieces two are of the one we have at home - The Well. The other is the title piece from my recent(ish) solo show Heart and Soul.

The blank shown above - about six posts ago - (working title is Plus-Minus) is now almost totally painted..I rocked on Sunday! I'll get a snap of it to post. I'm excited, it went really well. Lots of reds in this new one too. The next step will be reheating, picking up and blowing. I'm not sure when - I need a lot of variables to be working before we can do one of these... like two almost full tanks of glass one regular temp and the other one quite cold, the one with the larger door has to be the hot one, I need the whole team Jay Andy Mark and Jill and the whole studio, I need to be able to tie up an annealer for 5 days. (a normal cycle is 12 hours) I'm probably forgetting stuff.

...more as I think of it

[Maija]

These are really gorgeous. I love the distortion and refraction that happens through the thick glass and the vivid colours. Have you played with putting water in the middle to mess more with the refraction?

[morna]

Thanks rutes! I have a couple of shots of the core blank all painted up and ready to go (aside from two small areas I haven't decided about) Unfortunately I have to wait about five weeks before I can pick it up and blow it out. Pressure on number two annealer with Lisa's show coming up in May and she needs it for fusing .
:(

I will try to get a shot of "The Well" with water in it in the next little while

[morna]

well I finally finished a piece. (it's a plate) First of the year. I forgot to send an image home so I'll have to show you tomorrow - but it's a beaut! :D

Phew ... the ice has broken!

[morna]

well here it is!
enjoy
tell me what ya think!

[Petersen]

Ponography!!!

I know what those shapes are doing to one another you filthy artist!!!

But really, very nice Morna, I like that the colors are soothing and that the blue dominates. Typicly your shapes are larger in the composition, this seems more resreved in a nice 'less is more' way

[morna]

heh heh


Thanks David. I think I might be figuring out this form. I am really liking this piece - it fascinates me. The reserved colouration is very appropriate considering the subject... cool, calm, excessively subdued... but still alive and the interaction between the figures (I don't mean figures in the *body* sense) is working well. I do love the glossy black - black glass is soooo sexy. yup it's a good one!

yaaay

I really wish I didn't commit it to a gallery as soon as it's coldworked. :(

[Tad]

It's my cartoon background but I think the big yellow guy is gonna eat the little red guy. SWIM, LITTLE RED! SWIM!!!!

Story to be continued on the next plate?

Looks good, morna. It's a very nice piece.

Despite its inherent violence.

[morna]

Thanks Tad. Though, I shudder to imagine what you guys are seeing in this piece that I'm not!
Story to be continued on the next plate?
( not that story! )

People do sometimes venture to say that they look Cartoony ... but I have no idea what they're talking about ;)

[Jan Bentzen]

Morna - great work. I like the colours a lot. You and Gary are my favorite glass artists. ;)

- Jan

[Maija]

That's gorgeous! Kind of a Klee/Kandinsky vibe but much more organic. I love the glowing pink of the upper figure. I agree with Petersen in that I like the free expanse of blue.

And black glass is indeed sexy.

The figures look familiar. Any connection?
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5657

[morna]

That's gorgeous! Kind of a Klee/Kandinsky vibe but much more organic. And black glass is indeed sexy. I loved Klee growing up... many people have compared the paintings to Miro and Kandinsky but I think Klee is probably more accurate



The figures look familiar. Any connection?
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5657
Totally! I think one of those shapes is the current form of "me" there's actually two more of these - one met with disaster and the other one is "out there" somewhere


thanks for the kind words everyone... means a lot to me today! - sigh

[morna]

...or glass is a cruel mistress!

Here's what I got to start my day with today. I don't know why this happened and I am quite devastated 1) 'cause it was the best piece I've done for a while and one of only three this year so far and 2) I have another one in te same kiln that didn't crack in two and I don't know if it's ok or not


arrrrrrgh

razza frazzin flarkin glass :( :(

[E. Spears]

oh, that makes me sad too! I'm really sorry that happened to you. I hate it when my stuff get's messed up by some accident, but I have no room to complain.

there's only one thing you can do now--make lots more.

-ers

[JohnThompson]

Ouch! Damn, that's too bad! Who did you and Gary piss off lately to bring on this kind of bad karma?

I hope its kiln mate made it through okay!

[Petersen]

Morna,
I think the fragments are VERY cool! make some lemonade out of these lemons...just say you planned that to happen

[Ken O]

I'm sorry you two are having such a run of bad glass luck. Even broken it does look rather neat.

[morna]

Thanks so much for the kind words - I do have a hard time with this type of thing. post partum - or more like crib death! sigh


Anyway.... here's my answer to the big blue challenge........... BIG BLUE BLOBS! I just finished them - with a WHOLE DAY to spare... Man I'm so on top of it! Actually I am really liking them now that they actually exist on the physical plane! Gary's gone snap happy so there are quite a few images


.

[morna]

some more ... there are five strands of blobs all told.

. :)

[petriacce]

Thanks so much for the kind words - I do have a hard time with this type of thing. post partum - or more like crib death! sigh


Anyway.... here's my answer to the big blue challenge........... BIG BLUE BLOBS! I just finished them - with a WHOLE DAY to spare... Man I'm so on top of it! Actually I am really liking them now that they actually exist on the physical plane! Gary's gone snap happy so there are quite a few images


.Those are pretty. It looks like you've been pelted by your own blue kryptonite meteor shower.

I like how they look matte/frosted instead of clear. Is that just the photos? I'd love to see BIG RED BLOBS too. Actually, I'd like to see A LOT OF COLOR BLOBS. They are cool.



.

[Ken O]

Those are cool. Do you ever make crappy little pieces just to throw at the wall? I bet it'd be theraputic.

[Petersen]

MORNA!!! I love the blobs!!! I know Julia will enjoy too, I'll share the photos with her later tonight.

They look like they are floating. Thier forms are very airy and in motion. Well done! keep these away from Gary's ass!

[fitzroy]

They're fantastic. And it seems that my cat Willow has moved in with you.

[Tad]

The blobs are great. It'd be cool to see an entire wall of them. I'd be paranoid about the line breaking though. It makes me nervous just to see this thread too close to Dr. Flem's "Which one would you drop?" post.

[morna]

I like how they look matte/frosted instead of clear. Is that just the photos?

thanks pets! They ARE frosted. That's what I'm doing in the photo where my arms are all a blur (bbb 005) oiling them to make them all nice again - sandblasting leaves the surface really dry and powdery and uneven looking.

T-wyrm: no I don't ever make stuff just to smash - it's too expensive but we sure get to smash a lot of unintentional crappy stuff!

Petersen: heh heh Gary's ass in being tightly monitored - especially around glass. Thanks, it was tricky to make these rather heavy and ponderous shapes look light. I'm quite happy with them I must say!

fitz: that's Loki he likes to "help" apparently the ends of the cable needed almost constant attention. He's a handsome cat - no white at all. (see picture)

Tad: heh heh Thanks! they're strung on 150lb test downrigger cable - the biggest blob is 13 lbs - should be OK. My only concern is if the cable gets abraded by the glass if they move around too much. If they are a surprize hit or something I may devise a gasket (probably tubing) for the holes the cable passes through.

[Ken O]

T-wyrm: no I don't ever make stuff just to smash - it's too expensive but we sure get to smash a lot of unintentional crappy stuff!


I find it hard to believe there is much crappy stuff coming out of that shop. The pictures you post are beautiful. So please don't take my destructive side as an insult. If I every got filthy rich I'd buy one of those minature cities and a Gamera suit to stomp around in.

[JohnThompson]

The blobs are great, and I especially like the ones with the wavy ridges. I love the color too. Looks like you've got another winner on your hands! Will you be selling them, or just showing them?

[morna]

Thanks JT. In the unlikely event that someone wants them - they can buy them to their hearts content. (it's a commercial gallery - they HAVE to be for sale!) !

I'll take the camera and post a shot of 'em in situ later.

[E. Spears]

those are mega sweet. they look especially amazing in the sun.

-ers

[Maija]

I'm so sorry to hear about (and see) your kiln disaster. The blue blobs are beautiful though. I'm glad to see that Loki is able to help.

As for making glass just to smash, the glass department at the Alberta College of Art & Design used to have a Glass Smash Pub fundraiser. The cafeteria/mall space where pubs were held was above the glass studio and there was an opening from the cafeteria that looked down into the corridor in front of the glass studio. Many glass objects were made of lumpy and wobbly proportions (mostly deliberate I believe, though I'm sure some were projects simply gone awry). The corridor below was closed off and objects like an anvil and a stump and other interesting targets were set up. The glass pieces were purchased just so you could throw them down into the corridor and smash them. I think it's Tequilawyrm's perfect party: beer + smashing stuff.

Sadly renovations were done to the college that included closing off that gap so the Glass Smash Pub has faded into the mists of time.

[Ken O]

I think it's Tequilawyrm's perfect party: beer + smashing stuff.


Damn, that would be so fun. :(

[morna]

we had a fundraiser for the national glass conference in Vancouver in I think '96 and we had a "SMASH" auction. kinda similar but we glued all kinds of rejects onto tempered glass sheets front and back and people paid (whatever) for a rock or a wonky paperweight to throw. It was amazing how long it took for the glass to break. People tried really hard and bought many rocks cause it looked lkie it should be so easy but the rocks just bounced off the tempered glass - until someone hit an edge and KABLOOEY!!!!... and the sound! Some couldn't stand it.

...and yes there was beer!

[gary bolt]

When we went to college (20 years ago!) we sometimes went behind the hot shop and threw glass against the wall of the ceramics studio. One of the best things to throw is a Christmas ball because they are sealed hot with the loop and have a vacuum inside. For a small object they make a huge sort of deep noise when the air rushes in (Like when you break a glass thermos liner).

[morna]

BTW the blobs look great in the gallery. People responded a lot to them. Here are a couple of shots

[Tad]

Cool! It's the blob wall I wanted to see. :D

[heavysoul]

Gorgeous work.

[kid cthulhu]

Nice!

They remind me of red blood cells. Only blue.

[E. Spears]

Very cool. They look really awesome when they're hanging together like that, like they're little blue critters chillin' with each other.

-ers

[morna]

hey! I won an award! Best in Show in this online exhibition. Too bad there wasn't too much competition. Oh well I'll take it!

http://www.postpicasso.com/artontheline/exhibit.asp?CurrentExhibitID=24

sweet

[Tad]

Congratulations, although I'm partial to Heart and Soul. All your entries were beautiful.

[morna]

Thanks Tad ... and you have good taste. Heart and Soul is one of my very best pieces ever. I would have kept it but some damn collector beat me to it! ... snooze ya loose!

[gary bolt]

Sweetcore!

[JohnThompson]

Congratulations Morna! I really like that cute li'l banana you put in your Variations bowl, but I'm kinda partial to Heart and Soul, too. Lovely work all around! I someday hope to see some of your work in person, that would be a real treat!

[Maija]

Congratulations, Morna! Although the competition might be limited, it is all very high quality. Yours is a very lovely piece. Mmmmmmmm, mellow yellow. It is my favourite of the three that are there. I like the large surface of texture and colour and the limited palette.

Your Celestial Sphere #5 is damned cool too, Gary.

[gary bolt]

Thanks Ruta. Glad you liked it.

[E. Spears]

woo! congratulations on that, Morna :D. It's an awesome peice, for serious. All of them are! Dig that banana. I think Heart and Soul is my favorite of your peices there, I love those colors.

I gotta agree with Ruta, Celestial Sphere #5 is damn awesome Sir Ed. My favorite I've seen from you, I think :).

-ers

[Conundrum]

Congrats, morna! It is WELL deserved.

[Petersen]

Very nice Morna!!!!! and I have to agree that Heart and Soul is an amazing piece. I love how it looks like it's glowing in the photo

Nice work of Gary's as well. You both blow many of those pieces out of the water.

[kid cthulhu]

Big congrats, Morna!

And I have to agree, Heart & Soul is a stunning piece.

[Jan Bentzen]

Way to go - Morna. You deserve it.

- Jan

[Gene Poonyo]

Congratuations!!! You do beautiful work, morna. Great JOB!

[morna]

Thanks s lot guys! We lost another core piece a couple of days ago - sigh kiln problems again this time instead of cracking the piece slumped all out of shape. I just about was ready to throw in the towell and I got the phone call about this award. Well timed karmic rescue. It turns out we may be able to heat the thing up again and attempt picking it up and re shape it.

I'll think about all that in about two weeks! We are off in an hour to Phoenix and Sedona and the Grand Canyon and LA and SDCC! Woo Hoo We'll take the laptop so we can post once in a while. bye!

[Gene Poonyo]

Have a safe and wonder trip. See you in SD!!!

[howyadoin]

Colour me impressed. This stuff is amazing.

[morna]

Thanks Howy!

Well I actually got a bit of painting done and I have a new piece to show you! I am totally in love with this one! I have been wanting to try this for ages and finally did (and of course, I wonder now, why it took me so long) It is a whole mini incalmo (black) between the painting bubble and the rim bubble and I really think it's worth the effort! - especially on pieces where I want a pale rim on a pale painting. muh! very sophisticated
( the colour's a bit off in this image now that I look at it. The rim is called weimaraner brown and it's that gorgeous silvery warm grey brown that the dogs are.. strangely the colours in the painting look ok...?)

tell me what you all think!

[Petersen]

very nice Morna!! I like the wide rim. and I can see how without the black, the rim would just be a long extension of the center painting

[Tad]

Very classy, Lady.

[Gene Poonyo]

Thanks Howy!

Well I actually got a bit of painting done and I have a new piece to show you! I am totally in love with this one! I have been wanting to try this for ages and finally did (and of course, I wonder now, why it took me so long) It is a whole mini incalmo (black) between the painting bubble and the rim bubble and I really think it's worth the effort! - especially on pieces where I want a pale rim on a pale painting. muh! very sophisticated
( the colour's a bit off in this image now that I look at it. The rim is called weimaraner brown and it's that gorgeous silvery warm grey brown that the dogs are.. strangely the colours in the painting look ok...?)

tell me what you all think!
I love Weimaraners and I love your plate too. Too cool for words!

[E. Spears]

i really like that new plate. really really nice.

-ers

[petriacce]

Morna, what can I say except another beautiful piece. I love the color of Weimerifiniminers...

[Conundrum]

Love it, morna. The small yellow object looks like a tiny creature curled up and reesting.

[kid cthulhu]

Beautiful pice, Morna, once again!

[Maija]

It's a beautiful piece, Morna. The contrasting black border heightens the glowing quality of the painting. The Wegman-coloured ;) rim brings out the subtle elements of blue and purple in the painting. Overall it the piece has a lovely, soft unity about it.

[howyadoin]

Thanks Howy!

Well I actually got a bit of painting done and I have a new piece to show you! I am totally in love with this one! I have been wanting to try this for ages and finally did (and of course, I wonder now, why it took me so long) It is a whole mini incalmo (black) between the painting bubble and the rim bubble and I really think it's worth the effort! - especially on pieces where I want a pale rim on a pale painting. muh! very sophisticated
( the colour's a bit off in this image now that I look at it. The rim is called weimaraner brown and it's that gorgeous silvery warm grey brown that the dogs are.. strangely the colours in the painting look ok...?)

tell me what you all think!That's stunning, morna. Cool beyond words.

Is the face in the yellow part intentional, or have I finally lost my mind?

[morna]

sorry about your mind howy.. it's unintentional

:)

[Neil Hill]

Great stuff, Morna! I didn't realize that you're artistic, but I can obviously see that now :)

[Petersen]

Just browsing the the Starfish site..
found these:

http://www.starfishglass.bc.ca/rev04_mornabio7.jpg

And thought they were great! Nice forms!

also noticed this award:
Best in show: Continuity: Glass in 2005. Post Picasso international online exhibit. 2005

congrats!!!!

[Lady Hellgirl]

Your glass pieces are absolutely beautiful morna!!!!

I love the color combinations in them. Great Work!

Congratulations on your best in show award too!

Thanks for posting picture Petersen!

[Petersen]

No problem..everyone should explore Morna & Gary's site:

http://www.starfishglass.bc.ca/

lots of cool photos or pieces and the process

[howyadoin]

Morna, I just got back from the Ian Tan Gallery.

And I'm damn near speechless. As cool as your stuff looks in the photos, it's waaaaay beyond that in real life. That piece from the Core series is practically alive.

[morna]

yaay you got there!

Too bad you missed this (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10310) piece which Ian recently sold which was from an excersize (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7306) we did here on the good ol' Hellboy forum - very on topic!

Thanks so much for the kind words! :)

[howyadoin]

Thanks so much for the kind words! :)Any time. I recognize genius wherever it happens.

[morna]

Guess what I'm making...!?

[howyadoin]

Guess what I'm making...!?"A bong?", he asked hopefully.

[Petersen]

a purple flask that reads "drink me" ??

[Maija]

!

MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE IN THE ASWAM VALLEY...




RUNG RUNG RUNG RUNG

[morna]

... generally considered to be the worst place on earth... rung rung


heh heh........ look for further updates in the exchange thread!

[Royal]

Sweet!


ten char.

[morna]

"A bong?", he asked hopefully.
dude - we serious glass artists don't DO that

... which is why we're still poor! :(

[Petersen]

I suspect that inside of glass item you will find three small buttons labeled 'A', 'B', and 'C'

[howyadoin]

dude - we serious glass artists don't DO that

... which is why we're still poor!Hey, I've seen the price of your plates.

While we're on the topic, I know we taked about shotglasses in the past. Would it be possible to make something that small in the style of those plates?

[morna]

oooh it's been a while... Thanks to all kinds of poking and prodding in the hellboy treefort I have a couple new pieces to show you guys. I took some none too good snaps yesterday - damn I miss that flash.

This first one - I just got a call from the studio - It just sold... minutes ago! yaay. I was experimenting with the juxtaposing two similar objects thing again and saw an image in a magazine of some inuit fish carvings and they inspired these. (so I guess this recognisable image thing really works - sigh)

ya sorry about the quality of these - the last one I tried to colour correct in photoshop and it looks the closest on this monitor. I hope I get another stab at shooting them before we have to ship this out

[Petersen]

I like the fish Morna! and congrats on the sale!

[morna]

thanks ! weird they actually look fine - colour wise over here on the laptop.. except for the one I tinkerd with.. it looks all washed out... grrr arrg