OT- ceramics

Hey - you guys don't get out much :D. This is what I do for a living but you have to find people willing to spend to make it a living. Lots of VERY talented arts right here in FL!
 
Here is something I did for another reefer friend. We exchanged his expertise for mine and we were both very happy.

http://reefdiversity.com/DIYPage/DIY_HTML/DIYGlassCanopyCovers.htm

I also have a general art web site:

http://www.undergroundartstudio.com/

I love doing birds (Painting and clay) I'm just now getting into glass fish in a larger scale. Lots of fun and a lot more affordable :D. I also started creating pump covers, rocks etc out of clay. Like the Tunze covers at a fraction of the cost. I'm testing everything in a separate tank now (pH, etc) and they have been promoted to my tank. I just want to make sure nothing is going to harm the livestock.
 
Oh and just to let you know Dale Chihuly is the designer not the creator of his pieces. He has a team that actually does all his work for him. I still love his work but being a artist it's kind of like putting your name of someone else's work (in a way). Design is only one part of creating art putting it together is the hard part. He makes lots of $ doing what he does and he knows how to market - that is great. Look at St Pete - they bought into his work and I hope they don't end up losing their shirts because of it. I'm part of the museum and art center in St Pete- lots of unhappy people about this. I'm mainly a glass artist so I think it's a good thing, others don't feel that way.
 
That's some cool stuff.

ReefArtist I especially like what you were able to do with the tank canopies thats really amazing stuff!
 
Oh thank you chrisstie. I wanted to do something very different and he really liked it - that's the most important part of my art - making people happy.
 
Its funny I just noticed in the text under your icon it says you were an engineer for a while and now an artist :)

I am going to be getting my BS in comp engineering in a year and have been just dabbling in a little bit of painting without any instruction at all and find it very fun. My grandmother used to do these beautiful water color herons but she passed before I was old enough to really appreciate them and ask her for lessons.

I think it is something I will still try to learn over time, though. Right now my curiosity is in oils.

Would you mind sharing how it is you got started in glass? I've seen glass blowers at work and could watch them work all day but would have no idea how to even try anything like that (probably catch myself on fire!)
 
Oh you sound just like me. I've always had my hands in art and I really think it made me a much better engineer. I could think out side the box and could always come up with solutions to complex problems - art gives you that.

Glass for me just happened, I saw something I liked and said "I can do that". I set out to find out how and just started to do it. I always believe I can do anything until I prove to myself I can't. That is good to a point and most of the time I know when I'm in to deep :D. I guess I just believe in myself and in others - we can do anything if we are willing to work hard enough and want it bad enough. I actually do fusible glass art - kiln work. I would do glass blowing but you can't have a studio in your home.
 
I presume having a glass studio at home would be a risk the fire marshall and code enforces aren't willing to take :) haha

Thank you so much for sharing- that has pretty much been my attitude so far.. I set out to do some painting around the same time my dad set out to teach himself to play the banjo. While my family chides him for his poor choice in instrument (especially my mom since she has to LIVE with him while he plays it) we both generally think and work the same way. You really only know you can't do something if you try a LOT and keep failing. then its a sign :) hahaha

The only downfall is having a great ignorance you need to fill up with learning -for example i've never actually heard of the term "fusible glass art" but you know later in the day when I have some free time google and I will be all over that :)

Eventually if I feel confident enough I'd like to start to put together a little portfolio or something and have enough pieces I could go to a little art fair and try to sell. That's a loooong ways down the road but it would be the coolest thing to do to just meet people and talk about what you like to do :)
 
Gorgeous panels!!! On my new tank I'm going to have stained glass panels placed in my canopy...very similiar to what you did. I thought the light shining through them would look amazing. Yes, I know Chihuly has people do a lot of his work, but I still find the designs and the finished product amazing!
 
chrisstie- I think you have art in your blood. Keep your dreams and you know they will come true.

Me No Nemo - the stained glass panels are a great idea. The light shining through the glass is amazing. I really don't think it's to much either. It brings focus to the tank and your eyes just follow downward to the tank - beautiful! Doing a complete living room design around your tank - now that is a "living" room - LOL.
 
Me No Nemo - I see you're doing a 300g in wall, do you have a build thread? The reason I'm asking is that I'm doing a 280G in wall with a book case all around it. All the equipment is going to be in my garage. I'm just now getting my list started and ideas on paper. I always like to hear and see other ideas.
 
Well, we've been up, down and all around and haven't even gotten the wall finished yet. We took out an entire wall of windows and put in a stained glass window that will be over the tank. My idea was to match the canopy to the window. But, now we are back and forth and hanging the lights instead. Looks like we'll be planning them together!!
 
Ohhhhh - that's to bad, it would be about the only way I could afford even one of his little (2"x 2") pieces :D.

I'm very luck that I have the opportunity to see his work most every day. Where I take sculpture classes they always have his work on display. This in the future, is where he will be working out of (St Petersburg). I think we will be seeing some great local art work from his influences - hope so.

Once they get the building finished - I'll invite you all to come over and I'll show you around.
 
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