The Art Fly

“OM”

Posted on by Norine

“OM” measures 18 x 18 x 2.5 inches. This mixed-media relief shows bamboo segments on painted poplar blocks. The background pattern was created by using these segments to stamp an imprint onto the panel. When a bamboo pole is sliced lengthwise you can see these “M” shapes at the node area. The oval on upper left shows what the node area looks like when cutting it at an angle. These designs vary greatly between diameters. I create many “blocks / stamps” from these sections and use them to print with, or as sculptural objects in my work. I’ll write more about this later.

 

 

“Voyage”

Posted on by Norine

“VOYAGE” is a relief mosaic consisting of a tooled bamboo column mounted on a saw-textured poplar plank, surrounded by waves of stacked plywood. Each piece was hand-finished, painted, then edged in copper mica, or covered in copper leaf. Very tedious detailing! The bamboo column is secured with copper wire in three places.

This mosaic measures 28.5 x 24 x 3.75 inches.

“Oceanic”

Posted on by Norine

Oceanic is a recently completed relief mosaic consisting of poplar, tooled bamboo (with leather detail), saw-textured plywood, verdigris copper, and acrylic paint glazes.  It measures 29 x 24 x 2 inches.  This work was SOLD in the 2024 “Works in Wood” exhibition held at New Hope Arts, in New Hope, PA.  The photos below show Oceanic in full view and a detail view.

                                

                                                                                     

InGrained Invitational

Posted on by Norine

Before more time flies by, I wanted to post something from an invitational show that I was very excited to be a part of earlier in the year.  So, here are photos from InGrained, an Exhibition of Pennsylvania Furniture, Sculpture and Woodturning.  This show was curated by well-known woodworker Mark Sfirri, and held at the Wayne Art Center in Pennsylvania.  

The photo below shows my four wall-mounted relief mosaics in wood / bamboo.  The first two are wood.  They are from left: Umbra, Forest Wrap, Offerings, and The Dream Keeper. 

“Seeds of Change”

Posted on by Norine

“Seeds of Change” measures 27.5 x 26 x 2 inches, and consists of poplar, pine, cedar, birch, and acrylic paint. This wood relief mosaic is currently on display in the national juried Works in Wood exhibition at New Hope Arts in New Hope, PA. I incised lines and textures into the wood by using various metal files, a bandsaw, and table saw. I’m very grateful to have received a Juror’s Award for this work. This is a detail from “Seeds of Change”…

“Chant at Sundown”

Posted on by Norine


Chant at Sundown is a bamboo & wood relief mosaic measuring 30 x 16.5 x 2 inches.  The tooled central column and the adjoining oval segments are bamboo pieces in relief, while some of the dark tesserae show oval designs that are actually imprints of bamboo. These are made by dipping a segment of bamboo in paint and then stamping it onto a surface. Other tesserae in this composition are incised with a hand saw.

“Harmony in Black and Light”

Posted on by Norine

It has been a year of creative momentum for me. Ideas have been overflowing and expanding in my studio/hermitage! I’m thankful every day that I can tune out the world for a while, and joyfully work on my Art, be it an evolving wood or bamboo relief panel, a still life painting, or a meditative drawing in silverpoint. 

Harmony in Black and Light is one of my newest wood-relief panels, measuring 30 x 15 x 1.5 inches.  It marks the beginning of a new direction that I will be exploring, using blocks of solid wood, and common plywood that is incised and dyed, and stacked. I’m excited by the creative potential that has emerged with this. Every panel begins as a challenge and ends as a surprise ~ but that’s really what I’m after ~

Harmony in Black and Light is currently on display in the national juried “Works in Wood” show at New Hope Arts, in New Hope, PA. This highly anticipated annual show (which began in 1999), runs until January 9, 2022.

Wishing anyone who is reading this Happiness & Joy as this year winds down – and a new one dawns ~