Artistic Flair

New & Upcoming Artist

2009-12-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

I always knew my nephew, Mike DiSalvo, was into art at a very early age. What I didn't know was the amazing talent that he has. I was simply BLOWN away with his drawings and paintings that I saw for the first time this year. Now, you may be thinking I am biased, him being my nephew and all...... well, take a look for yourself:

With his busy schedule, I was able to catch-up with 19-yr. old Mike DiSalvo for a brief interview (via facebook, of course!).

1. Describe a typical day in the life of Mike DiSalvo.
A typical day for me starts early, I never really sleep in. When I'm not working or in class, I like to watch movies and hangout with my friends.

2. When did you start painting?
I started painting in early September of this year. I have always enjoyed drawing and decided to try painting and now I love it.

3. What drew you to this medium versus any others?
Painting has always interested me, but what really pushed me into trying it was visiting the Art Institute of Chicago Museum. I was blown away by all the paintings from great artist like Bazille, Monet, and Van Gogh. Van Gogh's self portrait is the greatest piece of art I have ever seen.

4. What inspires you and who are your influences?
Music and movies inspire me the most. If I like a bands music I'll put their songs on a loop and listen to it for hours while I paint something involving the band. I love to draw and paint peoples faces the most. I'm not sure why, but I just enjoy creating all the details in the face.

5. What do you do in your spare time besides paint?
In my spare time I love watching movies. I also enjoying hanging out with my friends and keeping active by playing different sports with them.

6. What are your favorite movies, music and food?
I love all different types of movies, but some of my favorites are Casino Royale, Desperado, Die Hard, The Professional, and Lost in Translation. My favorite bands are Muse, Coldplay, Mute Math, and U2. I pretty much like every food and love trying new ones, but by far my favorite is spicy chinese stir fry.

7. What are your plans with your artwork and where do you think it will take you?
Right now I'm going to Columbus State Community College for Audio/Video Production. I am hoping to someday become a movie director. Painting is just a hobby for me, but I would love to continue painting forever.

8. If you could have lunch with & pick the brain of any artist, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
If I could have lunch with any artist ever it would have to be with Salvado Dali. His paintings are so different and out of this world. They are almost like dreams or nightmares. I would like to try and understand how he came up with such unique ideas.

pictures above:
1. Bono
2. Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button)
3. Heath Ledger (The Joker)
4. Daniel Craig
5. Muse
6. Jean Reno (Leon - The Professional) (Mike's first painting)

Biased???? I think not!

New Listings

2009-12-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

So I've had a busy November and December with craft shows, custom orders and new listings in my etsy shop. Needless to say, I've neglected my blog. So...... without further ado, here are a few pics of what I've been working on:

My Little Goth Girl

Snowmen and Gingerbread men

New Monster Magnets

Ninja Love Earrings

Taking pet rocks to a whole new level!

2009-11-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

So after my son made loads of pet rocks last month and all the great feedback everyone was giving him, I decided to search for pet rocks on etsy (just to see if anyone did this). Well...................... take a look - you won't believe your eyes! Make sure to click on the pictures and see these fabulous rocks up close and personal.

From RockArtiste's etsy shop:

From CynthiaKayoDesigns' etsy shop:

From MelanieKay's etsy shop:

From Gardenstones' etsy shop:

I especially liked how this artist used the cracks and crevices to compliment her designs! Very clever!

Which NOW leads you to the rock I painted. My son found this rock over the summer and I kept saying how it looked like a converse shoe. After much shameless begging, he let me paint it. Not quite like the artists above, but, none the less, fun!

monster pins

2009-10-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

My little monster pins that I made for my son's class Halloween party. We had a Monster Mash - good times!

Woo Hoo!!!

2009-10-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

Click on any picture above for more info.......................

Hope to see you there!

Pet Rocks Galore

2009-10-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, my son is gearing up with me for my upcoming art shows. We did this a couple years ago and he really had fun with it (and made a bit 'o money too, I might add!). For the last few months, he has been painting rocks and then I glue the "googly" eyes on them to make "pet rocks". He usually paints about 6-8 at a time before it gets old, so he has been working hard on these for a while now! He also makes up names that I print on little strips of paper, so that when someone buys a rock, they can pick a name for it too. The names are seriously the best - here are some (remember, HE came up with these!):

Obi One Baloney
Storm Pooper
R2 Poo Poo
Melon Head
Captain Underpants
Chowder
Fancy Pants
Brutus
Gizmo
Puppy Face
Little Miss Sunshine (I told him to have some girl names too!!)

btw- he has a name for almost every Star Wars character like the ones above. The last shows I took these to, they sold out and my son was starting to make more money than me!

My latest.............

2009-10-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

A few buildings in downtown Columbus.................

Contest

2009-09-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

I just happened to stop by one of my favorite bead stores, Pink Flamingo Beads, that I probably haven't been to in well over a year - had to get some wood beads for my son as we were making hemp bracelets. As I was checking out, the gal at the counter had told me about this contest they were having. They had a big basket full of plastic shapes, different sizes and colors. You had to incorporate one of the pieces into a design that could be worn. I was intrigued as I saw a two-color half-moon that I knew I had scrap glass at home of the same color. I made the fused glass pendant hanging from the half-moon plastic piece and viola:

So.....here's where my Columbus peeps can help me out. Starting this week, they will have all the entries displayed in their store. If by chance you are in the Powell area - stop in and vote for me - please! They are also having a 10-year anniversary event going on September 23rd where again, you can see all the entries. Here's a flyer of what's going on during their event: -click on the flyer for larger view-
:)

Now, these ladies at Pink Flamingo are serious beaders and my entry may very well be blown away by the beaders - but, it was fun and I don't think I've ever competed in a contest making jewelry! I'd love to hear your thoughts - leave a comment on my blog and when the contest is over (I think at the end of the month) I'll randomly pick someone to win this necklace! Just mention in the comment how much you love it and love me and that will score extra bonus points! Because really, a little boost to our ego (ass-kissing) is what we all want, right? LOL!

busy, busy, busy.......

2009-09-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Lots of things happening at once. Here's the lowdown:

My 2 latest listings in my etsy shop:

Yin Yang Guitar and Let It Breathe

I LOVE, love, love the way this turned out!

Gearing up for 2 shows.

Independents' Day and C-Note Art Show

And my biggest surprise of all............
STAY TUNED - I'll be posting it next week. HINTS: it involves summer, a picture, a painting, a contest and the fabulous artist Christy DeKoning

Ah-ha moment

2009-09-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

So, my son is HUGE into playing with legos and the other day as I was building something with him, I just happened to think "I should make a little lego man out of my fused glass." My son was all excited and made up the lego man and I used that for my model. Of course after I made it, my son wanted it for himself, so I ended up making him a smaller version that was about 3 inches tall and not framed. He carries it around everywhere with him and actually fell asleep with it in his hand the other night. How funny is that?! What can I say...my son has great taste! :)

Urban Scrawl III

2009-08-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday marked the 3rd year of Urban Scrawl in Columbus, OH.

Urban Scrawl = art, crafts, skateboarding, breakdancing, vegan hot dogs, Hip Hop, graffiti, and artists coming together with a common goal - to create a vibrant Franklinton.

Franklinton—long considered one of the most depressed areas of central Columbus—is beginning to show signs of life and color. And Urban Scrawl is a driving force behind that effort.

Murals and artwork from past Urban Scrawls have been hung on buildings around Franklinton, said Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski, Urban Scrawl founder and president of the Franklinton Arts District. The artwork creates an aesthetic counterpoint to the neighborhood’s blight, Rutkowski said.

“It adds color where there wasn’t any,” said Jim Sweeney, Executive Director of the Franklinton Development Association. “It’s amazing to see the changes. Hats off to Urban Scrawl.”
-Columbus Underground

The artists who participated in this were AMAZING. Here are just a few of the pieces that were being worked on throughout the day.

Yummy!

2009-08-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to announce that I will have one of my fused glass art pieces hung at the the upcoming exhibition Yummy! an explosion of art & food from August 14th - September 13th.

Yummy! is an art exhibition which explores eating, drinking, cooking, dining, and everything related to food. Work created by over 35 artists from Columbus & beyond will be displayed.

The opening party for Yummy! is this Friday, August 14th, from 6pm to midnight at The Matchbox Gallery @ Junctionview Studios, 889 Williams Ave., Grandview Heights, OH. There will be refreshments, music and more. Junctionview Studios has teamed up with the folks at Pecha-Kucha Night Columbus to have Pecha-Kucha Night Volume 10 coincide with the opening of Yummy!

If you're unfamiliar with Pecha-Kucha, (Japanese for "the sound of conversation"), it's a forum for creative people to share information about the work they do. Each presenter is allowed 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds each - giving 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up. This keeps presentations concise, the interest level up, and gives more people the chance to show. Pecha-Kucha Nights happen all over the world, from Amsterdam to Hong Kong to LA to Chattanooga!

My submission - "Just Breathe":

If you can't make it to opening night, feel free to stop by the gallery during their regular hours:
Fri.: 1 - 5pm
Sat. & Sun.: 12 - 5pm

Etsy Inspired Challenge

2009-08-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

I am BLOWN-AWAY from all the creativity of these gals who created cards that were inspired from one of my fused glass art pieces. Here are just a few:

From my Boots were made for walking....

Ashley created this:

From my Cherries Jubilee pendant

De created this:

AND Ryann created this:

From my Breakfast at Tiffany's piece

Jacquie created this:

From my Birds of a Feather piece

Lee created this:

And these are just a few of the great creations.

The winner of this challenge goes to Cathy, who was inspired by:
my Dichroic Fused Glass Puzzle Piece Pin and my Abstract Piano piece

Here is what she created:

Congratulations Cathy - a rockin' fused glass pendant is on the way! Also, thanks to EVERYONE who participated in this challenge. You are very talented women who inspire me!

Heart Hugs & Give-away

2009-07-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

I am honored to be featured on Heart Hugs Designs blog - a blog that is home of the Etsy Inspired Challenge. Ashley, a SAHM to two sweet adorable boys came up with this blog and is a crafter herself. She says, "I love all things handmade and try to show off the wonderful things I find. That's why I came up with the EtsyInspired Challenge, to show off the amazing handmade things you can find."

So, check out her post this week. I'll be giving away one of my FABulous fused glass guitar pendants. Click here to find out the rules of this challenge, and YOU may be sporting one of my necklaces! Good luck!

Tweet Tweet

2009-07-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

My newest creation. Twitter much???

Gift for baby

2009-07-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

I was recently looking through my photo album of my fused glass art when I came upon this piece. I had blogged about it last year, but wanted to revisit it again.

This was made for my nephew for his baptism last year. Now, my brother is currently a police officer in Mechanicsburg, Ohio and is also certified as a paramedic and firefighter. His wife is also a certified EMT. Thus, the idea of this fused glass picture for the baby. With parents like this, there's no doubt for a future in public service for this little guy!

Fused Glass Night Lights

2009-07-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Adding my fused glass night lights to my stash that I'm taking to the show tomorrow.

If you're in the area, stop on by! Here's more info about the show:
http://www.columbusarts.com/details.php?id=61948&type=e

Gearing up for Grandview Show

2009-07-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

I just got done with a batch of ceramic pendants for my upcoming show on Saturday. I like to step away from the glass and go back to my roots (ceramics) every so often. I also don't post my jewelry enough. The majority of my jewelry is taken to my art shows and not sold in my Etsy shop.

Also, some of my best sellers are my photo image glass pendants. But, the most popular of these pendants, of course, is my Twilight pendant. I took the cover of all 4 books and combined them into one picture. If you're a fan, you'll like this!

I also started selling these Twilight metal bookmarks that have a tiny framed picture dangling from the metal bookmark. I like these because I have a front and back to them. And of course, I have a swarovski crystal heart hanging from the bottom of the framed picture.

Here's the front and back (the back is my little spin on the Twilight series):

So, want to come and see my things in person? Here's the low-down about the show this weekend.

Lazy Daze of Summer Festival
Lawn and streets surrounding the Granview Library
1685 W. First Ave
Grandview, Ohio
Sat. July 18th (11:00am - 6pm)

There's No Place Like Home

2009-07-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

While watching The Wizard of Oz on TV last week with my son, I was inspired to create this fused glass piece.

LOVE the Dorothy shoes - so sparkly - every girl should have a pair! And here are some fun facts about these famous ruby slippers:

* In L. Frank Baum's original story, Dorothy's slippers are silver-not ruby as they are in the 1939 MGM film. This is one big difference between the books and MGM's movie. In the movie the slippers are ruby red. In the book they are silver.

* As with all films, major characters have stand-ins, and so did Dorothy's shoes. As many as seven pairs were manufactured, with at least four surviving the 1934 classic film's wardrobe department.

*The most expensive "ruby slippers" however, were not actually slippers but stiletto high heels, designed by Stuart Weitzman as a tribute to the Wizard of Oz. The pair of high stepping shoes were made from spun platinum thread, and used nearly 700 round and oval rubies on the network of elegant straps. The total weight of the gems was 100 carats, hiking the shoes estimated value to $1.6 million dollars. It took over 700 hours to produce the shoe. In 2003, the shoes went on display briefly at Harrod's Department store in London, England, before being whisked off to a vault with round the clock guards, as they awaited a buyer.

*In anticipation of the 70th anniversary DVD release of "The Wizard of Oz" on Sept. 29, Warner Bros. Consumer Products in partnership with Crystallized-Swarovski Elements, have invited the world's top shoe designers to reinterpret Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers for modern times. Contemporary works of art from the likes of fashion masterminds A. Testoni, Abaete, Alberta Ferretti Betsey Johnson, Botkier, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner, Manolo Blahnik, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Roger Vivier, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Tibi, and Tuleh will compose The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection.

For more info on my fused glass piece, it is listed in my etsy shop - click here.

2009-07-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

Made the Front Page of Etsy!

2009-07-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

A Tribute

2009-06-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

I have created a special one-of-a-kind fused glass art piece in memory of Michael Jackson, detailing his jacket in sequins and listing his albums and songs in the background. (click on picture for more detail)

We have lost a true icon. No matter what your stance on Michael Jackson as a person or his personal choices, there is no denying his impact on music and pop culture. He redefined Pop Music forever and brought people and cultures together that others have tried to do for centuries.

I'll never forget in 7th grade sitting in my basement with the headphones on and listening to his album "Thriller" over and over again trying to memorize each and every word of his songs. (Oh.....and of course drooling over the album cover!)

Whats your favorite Michael memory?

R.I.P. MJ (1958-2009)

For more info on this fused glass piece, click here.

New City Scene

2009-06-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite pieces I created was my very first city scene. I used an array of vibrant colored glass to create the buildings. This piece was made in 3 parts, over the course of 2 weeks, and then put together to be framed. I love the abstract look - just simple and colorful:

After I made this, I decided to get more intricate and re-create some famous city scenes:

Well, I decided this time it was back to the basics and made another abstract city scene - this one is done in with cool autumn colors. I love the way it turned out and if you'd like more information on this piece, please check it out in my etsy shop.

Cheers!

Pizza Clock Update

2009-06-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

Back in February of this year, I had a custom request from a gal in Atlanta, Georgia, who requested a custom ceramic "pizza" clock for a new restaurant that her and her husband were opening up. It was to be called Mia's Pizza and Eats, after their 8-month-old daughter. I ended up blogging about the entire process of making the clock and felt like I really got to know them as I kept in close touch throughout the process and as they embarked on their journey of opening this restaurant.

Now, let me back up a little. The original request was sent with this picture of a clock that she saw and wanted one to be made similar, but with a few variations.

With her instructions, I set out to come up with the perfect pizza clock for her. A basic recap of the entire process I blogged about can be found here.

And viola......the custom ceramic pizza clock:

Mia's Pizza and Eats officially opened its doors on April 8th and I was truly amazed at all the hard work they put into this restaurant. For more detailed info about their journey, check out Mia's Pizza and Eats blog.

And lookie.....here's the clock!

So...if you are in the Atlanta, Georgia area - you MUST, must, must stop in and get some pizza!

Oh, and of course we can't forget little Mia!

Granville Art Show

2009-06-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Granville Art Affair was quite a success. It was their first year doing a fine arts show on the Great Lawn of the Bryn Du Mansion. First year shows are always up in the air - you never know quite what the outcome will be - it could be really good or bomb. Well, with the great turn-out and feedback by the public they received during the show, they plan on making it a 2-day show next year and are planning on adding wine tasting. Yum!

The grounds of this historic mansion are breath-taking. A little history:

The Bryn Du Mansion and grounds comprise a fifty-two acre estate in Granville, Ohio. The property is managed by a commission established by the Village of Granville with a mission of historic preservation and to provide program and event facilities for the benefit of the community.

Along with the art show, a polo match took place. I had never seen one in person and it was actually quite cool! The picture of the polo players below was not taken by me - this was a previous year's picture of a match there. Unfortunately, since I was by myself at this show (no booth-mate) I couldn't leave my booth and take lots of pictures. Hopefully from the couple I did take, you can get the idea of how beautiful it is there. For more info and pictures of the mansion, click here for their website.