ART always takes me down the unexpected road and surprises me with discovery of a new creative passion.   What started as a small experiment in air dry clay mold making, quickly exploded into a happy obsession.  I fell into a creative whirlwind of little clay faces and miscellaneous clay shard pieces impressed with designs gleaned from objects around my house.  I love it when the door of imagination flies open and you realize there are no boundaries – creativity is truly endless.

Taking my love of painting into the mixed media realm, found objects, feathers, shells, beads, fabric, along with the clay shards  are all incorporated onto a painted background that enhances the art piece.  Starting small, (2×2 Clay Shard Vignette below),

Clay Vignette

I have expanded up into bigger pieces and bolder presentations, such as this Quan Yin, Goddess of Compassion, on painted canvas.  Feathers, shells, little star fish and crystal beads are all incorporated to create a sense of cosmic airiness and earthly connections.

Quan Yin, Goddess of Compassion

There was, and still is, a lot to learn–what works, what doesn’t.  Each piece teaches me something new.  I start with a general idea, then listen while I work.  The piece will intuitively inform me of how it wants to emerge.  When I ignore my inner muse, the piece just doesn’t come together–as what happened in the beginning with the piece shown below.  I started to lay it out — but it just didn’t “feel” right.

Clay Shard – piece in progress

I left it for a while, resisting the temptation to toss it.  I experimented with additions and different presentations, until it all fell together into a unique presentation:  “Angel Among the Tulips” .   The background fabric gives it the warmth I felt was missing.  Enhancing the frame edge with the same metallic blue as used in this piece further tied it all together.   Be patient, don’t give up, listen to your inner muse, keep creating until it feels successful in representing your creative spirit!

Angel Among the Tulips

Copyright, Maria Doglio © 2014

Special thanks to Lyn Belisle for her “Making Faces” workshop:  www.lynbelisle.com  and Kate Langlois, who pointed me in her direction via Roses on My Table:  www.katelangloisart.com; rosesonmytable.ning.com