Steph Mader

Steph's Open Studio 2019

8/29/2019

I just wrapped up another open studio, as part of the Whidbey Working Artists Studio Tour.

It's more like a two-day party, really. My studio was jammed with new friends and old. I am grateful to have such curious visitors, it makes the experience much more fun. Visitors even jumped in and tried pulling stringers in the torch. Very brave (pyromaniacs).

I made eight small landscapes just for the tour. They looked so nice once they were in their maple frames.

As always, the lead-up to the tour was a marathon cleaning spree, outside and in. I never did manage to sweep the floor but I put shiny things at waist level so nobody would notice. Sometimes you need to think outside the box.

Thanks to everyone who visited - and for those who couldn't make it, I hope to see you next year -

Steph

Steph Mader Solo Show at Rob Schouten Gallery

7/24/2019

I'm delighted to report that I have a solo show at the Rob Schouten Gallery running the month of July. Rob hangs a beautiful show and I am so pleased. The opening was lots of fun - crowded and festive as always. I miss talking with folks about glass, so the opening was a real treat. I feel like the new work represents a change for me, a little more moody and atmospheric than before.

Thanks so much to everyone who showed up to support me. And thanks to my new patrons - I hope we will keep in touch. I'm happy to see the pieces go to new homes.

Steph

Glass Workshops for 2019

2/9/2019

Well, brrrrrr! We're having a little "snow event" here in Washington State. I'm scrunch-scrunching back and forth to the studio this week. The upside is that I can't go anywhere for a few days and have time to plan workshops for this spring.

The other benefit is that snow makes everything look lovely, even the piles of workshop overflow in the yard. Buckets, wire, barrels and miscellaneous piles of art junk all look beautiful. It's the one time of the year I can imagine I'm a tidy person.

In the spring I'll have to order a dump truck load of talcum powder, I guess.

Think warm thoughts - 2019 Workshops are coming together

I'm in the mood to teach something new this year. I've been experimenting in the studio, putting new workshops together and feeling inspired! I'm writing descriptions and making samples to photograph so final details should be ready later this month.

Here's what's in the works for spring.

   Advanced Landscape Workshop - Independent projects for former students, five days.
   Tentative dates March 22-24 and 30-31
   You'll complete your own design with lots of instructor support before & during the workshop.

   Sand Casting in the Kiln - April 27-28
   You don't need a hot shop; we'll make sand impressions and cast them right in the kiln.

   Glass Garden Art - May 18-19 and 25
   Make a variety of outdoor glass garden art, just in time for spring!

   Botanical Casting - June 22, 23, 29
   Cast perfect replicas of flowers, stems and branches in glass.

I think that's a good start. I can't wait to see the studio filled with creative frenzy, It's one of my favorite things.

Hello, Holidays!

11/20/2018

Well, this will get you in a festive mood. There's a Holiday Exhibition at the Schack Art Center in Everett, Washington. Can I just say? Handmade Heaven.

Those are my bowls on the right-hand pedestals. This gallery does it right. The Northwest Pastel Society has a lovely show on the wall, and the rest of the space is filled with glass, ceramics and jewelry. Ahhhhhh. Sparkly.

Remember, if you buy handmade for the artsy ones on your list, your name moves over into the NICE column. Just sayin'.

So, build up your strength with turkey, and venture out to see this show!

Wishing you and yours the happiest holiday season.
Steph

The Other Side of Studio Work

11/2/2018

Just thought I'd give you a peek into the other not so glamorous side of glass work. Today I wrapped up a long stint of sculpture-base-making (finally). Boy, just when you are kicking back, sipping your coffee, admiring your new work, thinking you're all done... dang.

But this nice simple design comes to the rescue. It's from Paul Tarlow's book on stand ideas for glass. It's an easy way to make a good, modern base for sculpture.

Here's how the project goes:

Realize you have to turn off the Perry Mason rerun, put on real clothes and get the heck to the studio if you're going to live up to your full potential and prove your grade school teachers wrong.
Buy beautiful clear fir 2x6 boards, each foot costing about the same as a good steak. Cut them to fit each landscape.
Trace the curve of the landscape onto a board and mark where the pegs will go that will hold the glass snug on the base. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Drill holes for the front pegs, Mark the back pegs (again) and drill holes for them.
Cut wooden pegs to fit in the holes.
Sand, sand, sand, sand.
Sand, sand, sand, sand.
Realize you should not have sanded in your glass studio, even if it was cold outside. Try not to think about the fact that you will have to dust everything in the studio. EVERYTHING. Wonder if wood dust will just burn off in the kiln anyway.
Drill pilot holes for the cute little feet.
Clean up the boards and stain them. Twice. Decide gray is ugly, try to cover it up with another color. Wonder what that weird sensation is in your sinuses.
Wax the bases and buff to a nice glow.
Hammer in the cute little feet.
Stain the pegs and glue them in. Cut plastic tubing and slide it over the pegs.
Whew, finally. Cross your fingers and hope the landscape will fit just snug enough to be secure.
Tell yourself you've earned another hour of watching Perry Mason reruns.

New Landscapes in the Studio

10/7/2018

This is the piece that was under construction during the August studio tour. It was helpful to have a piece in progress so visitors could see how the landscapes are put together. Studio visitors from Whidbey purchased it after it was done. Turns out they are just down the street, how great!

I have some other new landscapes done, too. I just have to complete the panels and bases and they are off to the galleries. More soon!

Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour August 25-26

8/21/2018

Dusting, sweeping, pruning, making! It's the last-minute rush getting ready for the Studio Tour this weekend, August 25-26, 2018.

To be honest, it's a little like deciding to have a big party and invite all your friends. It's exciting to think about seeing everyone. And it's a lot of work getting ready. And it's about the only time I ever clean. Don't judge me too harshly, I just have other priorities. Who wants to eat off the floor, anyway? Ick.

There are 51 studios to explore, spread over the length of the island (about 49 miles). So you can see as little or as much art as you like. Studios are open 9 to 5. All the galleries will be open, too. I have some nice pieces in the Rob Schouten Gallery in Langley.

If you are a real hard-core art visitor you can meet 76 artists, working in every medium you can imagine. And then you can have pie at Whidbey Pies in Greenbank. And then you can take a nap. Kind of like Art Thanksgiving.

You can poke around my studio, where I'll be showing the layered glass landscapes and other weird experimental work.

Gina Michel, another Whidbey glass artist, will be showing her work at my studio. Here's an example - so much fun!

Here's a link to the catalog. You can download and print it and you can also pick one up at the first studio you visit.

I hope I get to see some of you this weekend - indulge yourself!

Steph

Perfect Day, Perfect Island, Perfect Art!

6/17/2018

Whidbey Island Art in the Red Barn

My enthusiastic friend Gina Michel came up with the bright idea to put on an exhibition of local artists during the Whidbey Island Garden Tour. The Garden Tour proceeds provide funding to local groups, including the food bank and the veggie garden at the middle school. Over the past 22 years, the tour has raised more than $300,000 for charities. That's a group worth supporting.

Jean Brown's gardens were on the tour this year and it seemed like the perfect place to hold the show, especially because the barn holds a secret...

It holds a beautiful little gallery space!

The gallery sits right in the middle of the old hay loft, with the soaring ribs of the barn ceiling way, way above. So Whidbey Island.

The moody lighting in the dark barn makes you feel like you've entered another little world.

We had a steady stream of visitors all day. After a day of wandering in the beautiful outdoors, I'm sure it came as a complete surprise to wander into the barn and find a gallery full of art.

Here's a pic of the intrepid art promoter with a piece she made to help raise money for the garden tour charities.

Kudos to Gina for the great idea and big thanks to all the wonderful artists who brought in art for the day. I was delighted to be Gina's trusty side-kick.

Kiln Casting Workshop - testing, testing...

6/13/2018

I just finished teaching the first lost wax casting workshop since.. well, more years ago than I would like to disclose. Four kind people helped me dust off the old casting skills and turn them into a fun (and ambitious) workshop.

Look at these hard-working guinea pigs! A big thanks to Dale, Pat, Robin and Sharvari for their patience and enthusiasm. Look at the great work they did!

Open-face Kiln Casting Workshops

4/24/2018

This has been the season of kiln casting! I did two open-faced casting workshops this spring. It's so surprising to see the variety of work that comes out of the kiln.

Everyone did two projects. We started by making clay models, carving them and adding elements. We covered them with a plaster/sand investment mixture. We removed the clay, then we added glass powders, frit, twisted rods, dichro flakes, copper elements... just letting imagination run amok.

Casting is a lot of work but the payoff is that you learn tons of techniques and skills that go into making the work. That should provide all the skills you need to carry on with the work in your own studio. I hope participants keep sending me photos of new work!