Tag: made in Maine

Another Fork In The Road

Posted on by Ntang

I have loved the last 10 years being an artist in co-ops. The time I’ve spent with other talented people working on the same goal has been enjoyable and fulfilling, and sometimes frustrating. But everything has its season and it’s time for me to move on to something else. I’m not gonna stop creating glass work, but I am going to stop production work… Which is basically creating the things that sell the best over and over again. I will create what I want to create when I want to. I will be working on my GlassOrchids.Art website to add my products for sale since they won’t be available in the co-ops next year.

What I plan on doing with this newfound time is semi retiring, at least, as much as a Type A personality can retire… I plan to focus most of my time on painting. I’m working on creating a new space for my painting studio. In addition, I’ll be spending time doing some things that I love like gardening, making cheese and wine, baking bread, preserving food, and in general, organizing my house, and going through my belongings, in a sort of a Swedish death cleaning mode.  Basically getting rid of all the things we’ve collected over the years so that my child will not have to do so once I am no longer here. We own too many things and it’s heavy.

Not that I’m planning on going anywhere anytime soon but tomorrow is not guaranteed. This lack of a guarantee is why I’m retiring now and focusing on the things that bring me joy. Life is too short to put all things off till tomorrow…. If I don’t do them now than when will I?

Here are some pictures of my new painting studio as it’s progressing. It’s in the old milking shed attached to our barn, and attached to my glass studio, which is in the barn. It was a gallery for my work for a few years and then it was a storage space all of my display stuff for the cooperatives, so it’s been sitting there, full of crap being unused for the most part for a number of years. It’s a big job getting it ready and cleaning it out.  I think it’s almost ready. Now I just have to move all the things from my painting area upstairs in the house outside across the yard and into the News painting studio. That’s a big job onto itself, and when I hope to get done within the next month or so. Keep following my page to see is a progress along my journey.

 

Requiem

Requiem

Posted on by Ntang

My mother passed several years ago, although it seems like yesterday….. I made this piece in memory of her. It’s a faux encaustic, mixed media piece.  It’s a little dark, but then so was my life when it was created.

The process was very interesting as I added elements and built up layers upon layers, like year upon year, memory upon memory.

It, of course, is not for sale, but I wanted to share it with you nonetheless.

~Nan

Verona Rising – Acrylic painting on canvas – Maine

Verona Rising – Acrylic painting on canvas – Maine

Posted on by Ntang

The painting is acrylic on canvas and was painted in Maine.  A few weeks ago I went out fishing with my husband out of Bucksport, Maine. We went very early and the sunrise was beautiful. I took some photos, and am using one of these to create this painting entitled “Verona Rising”. We were off Verona Island, Maine,  at the time. It’s not quite finished but this is the process and progress so far.

 

 

 

 

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: