Habitat for Humanity Door Auction

Habitat for Humanity Door Auction

Posted on by Ntang

This spring I participated in a fundraiser for our local Habitat for Humanity through the Bangor Restore. In this fundraiser, local artists select a door from the Restore and turn it into a piece of art. These doors are then raffled off to raise  money for the organization.

In painting this door I became obsessed with painting Koi ponds and have created a number of pieces in glass with this same theme.

My door is ready and installed at Mason’s brewery in Brewer,  Maine. For just $5 you can buy a raffle ticket, support this great organization, and possibly win this great piece!

Dave Shove and Tina Fife sponsored this door, transformed by artist Nancy Tang. It’s on display for you to see at Mason’s Brewing Company until July 11. Buy chances to win it for $5 each and see all the doors at www.habitatdoors.org.

koi pond door
Habitat for Humanity painted door
What a whirlwind!

What a whirlwind!

Posted on by Ntang

Tis the season in Maine where artists and craftspersons are run ragged. Time to set up all the artisan cooperatives, set up shows at galleries and begin doing outdoor shows. All that work to create and send out into the world in hopes of it finding new homes and bringing in income that we have not had over the winter months. For me, personally, the last few months have been crazy!! I’ve joined a number of new arts organizations, each of which has shows I needed to create work for and deliver. Then I’ve been central to setting up a new artisan cooperative in Belfast, Maine and that takes a lot of work.. finding artists to commit to participate, getting the space ready, having artists bring in stock, setting up the gallery, sending out press releases.. you name it! We had our grand opening last Friday and it was great!  I’ve had to set up my  own work in 7 galleries!

In addition, I’ve painted door for a Habitat for Humanity auction, created a new line of enamel & glass paintings and tried to do some glass casting with limited success.. ok total failure….

Now all the galleries are up and running, stocked and open! It’s time to work in most of them… this week I’ll work 2 days in Belfast, do a farmers market on Thursday, go to an opening in Rockland on Friday… I can’t look past that! And in all this I’m trying to get my garden/farm planted, weeded and ready to go for the season!! Oh, and make more stock for all those places!!! I figure I can rest… in November…..

Whew!!

Rejection

Rejection

Posted on by Ntang

So as an artist we have to harden ourselves to rejection. Rejection from galleries, from shows, from harsh words given by strangers.. it’s just a part of the world we choose to live in. Here’s the thing – every great artist suffered rejection from someone or some group.  The fauvists, which literally  means Wild Beasts, were rejected by the established artists.  Only yesterday my painting was rejected from a gallery in which I show my glass art and jewelry. It’s a cooperative gallery so normally one would think they would embrace new work by a member. But one would be wrong.

I was also rejected by another coop gallery today. They were very nice but felt my work was too similar to the work of another member. Here’s the thing – be nice, be graceful because you never know when there will be another opportunity there.

Was I angry? Was I hurt? Was I disappointed? Oh sure. We all have egos which bruise easily. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years so I’m no stranger to rejection. The thing to remember is rejection is just the opinion of others and sometimes that opinion has absolutely nothing to do with you.  They have too many painters, potters, jewelers.. w/e… they are predisposed to realism and  don’t like abstract art….there can be a million reasons you don’t get ‘in’ that have nothing to do with your work or yourself.  The important thing is to have faith in your own work because somewhere out there you have an audience that will love what you create. Do not give up. Do not listen to the nay sayers. Try to find the lesson in the rejection; maybe you  need better frames (although that’s a pretty shitty reason to reject the actual art), maybe you need to refine something.. w/e try to learn something. Create and carry on.  You will find your way. I know I will not give up painting and I will not give up trying to get it shown. Somewhere someone will love it. The more you get rejected the more you’ve tried! Keep trying!! Eventually you will find your home!

So stay strong people! Have faith in your own creations! I believe in you!

~Nan

Meadow Brook

Meadow Brook

Posted on by Ntang

I thought you might like to see the newest painting as I’m working on it. It may ultimately look almost nothing like this but I document the process along the way. This is a painting of the flooded and frozen Meadow Brook which borders my property. I was intrigued by the different colors created by the melting, refreezing & snowfall on the frozen brook. I’ll post the final version when completed.

And I think it’s finished; I have to let it sit a few days and mull it over.

In the Press!

In the Press!

Posted on by Ntang

Joining local arts associations/coop galleries has already paid off! I’m in two local shows this month; the first I posted about the other day and I won a second place ribbon.  The second opened last night at river arts and one of my pieces was selected for an article about the show. Please check out my Greenman and the article here: Village Soup Artists Choice.

Sea Bowl in Blue

Sea Bowl in Blue

Posted on by Ntang

A organic shaped bowl reminiscent of jellyfish, undulating sea growth or other sea life.

This piece was created by cutting and arranging bits of white glass carefully to maintain the ‘holes’ and unique shape. It was then fired up to 1500 degrees F.  After firing, powdered glass in blue was sifted upon the white and then the piece was again fired. Sometimes a third firing is required to add more powdered glass to achieve a deep color. After the second color is fired on the piece is fired yet again to give it the shape. Each firing takes 12 hours.

This ‘bowl’ comes with a stand for display but it can also be displayed on the wall with a plate hanger.

Goose River

Goose River

Posted on by Ntang

Goose River on a misty morning, Swanville, Maine. I love this spot along Swanville Road and pass it often. This particular spring morning the fog was thick and beautiful. I’ve tried to capture the feeling of gazing into the thick fog where everything is vague and all of a color.

Here are some images along the journey of this painting:

ResurgenSea

ResurgenSea

Posted on by Ntang

This piece was created from the broken bones of another wave which was destroyed at a show. It speaks to the unbreakable nature of both water and the human spirit, which flows around all obstacles wearing them down. Water is life.

Kiln fired glass in a metal stand.  100’s of pieces of cut glass are arranged like a crazy jigsaw puzzle to create this stunning art piece.

unfired glass art piece
Like a crazy jigsaw puzzle, 100’s of pieces of glass are arranged to create this piece.

 

Second Place Ribbon!

Second Place Ribbon!

Posted on by Ntang

My piece, “Sea Garden”, has taken second place in the ‘other’ category at the 2018 Bangor Art Society Member Show. This piece is inspired by sea weed/kelp beds under the sea. It’s about 12″ x 12″ and set in a black metal stand. Created using fusible glass and fired in the kiln up to 1500 degrees F. Fired multiple times for 12 hours each time until the desired effect is achieved.

Glass Artist & Painter

Glass Artist & Painter

Posted on by Ntang

I’ve been creating kiln fired glass work for about 24 years now, 16 of them in Maine. I create jewelry, accessories, dishes and glass art pieces. My studies (long ago) were in painting and sculpture, and I’ve found myself yearning to create more one of a kind pieces. Last year I decided to focus more on creating art and marketing it separately from my other work and this required me to approach new venues. With that goal in mind I also decided to create a new site dedicated to my art vs. my jewelry etc….

In late 2015 I joined the Bangor Art Society and entered my glass art pieces in a few exhibits and an auction. Hanging around these fine people somehow lit the desire to paint again. I haven’t painted in about 30 years but here I go again!

This  year, 2018, I’ve joined several arts organizations and will be participating in a number of exhibits with them. Check my ‘where to find me’ page for upcoming venues.

This site is a natural extension of this new direction….. I hope you will enjoy it..

~Love and Light, Nancy

PS: My dichroic glass jewelry can be found at Glass Orchids and my new market farm & lavender farm info can be found at WinterRose Farm.