Turn Over A New Leaf! :o)
… Cement leaf sculptures created by individually casting fresh leaves and blossoms taken from the artist's own garden, handpainted and handmade from the ground up!
How Art Begins With Nature...
I began this journey as a "maniac" gardener (attended the first Master Gardener classes ever offered in my area), but with an artistic background pretty much from birth, my father being a very talented oil painter, and I watched and learned from him and accompanied him on countless visits to the Toledo Museum of Art. Having designed and created beadwork and jewelry for many years, I had always enjoyed it but it seemed to be missing something, which I did not realize at the time was the fact that it did not involve any of my love of plants and the outdoors!
...The Next Step...
One day, in late 2005, I was spending my day set up at a local hospital Christmas craft show with my jewelry, not doing too well, as usual - in my area, most art/craft shows have many more jewelers than customers.
But, I had just cast a half dozen leaves that fall, no color, just the raw cement leaves, like the one pictured here, and decided at the last minute to take them along. Well, my jewelry didn't move, but the customers almost fought over those leaves (and were asking for more)! That was my wake up call!
...The New Beginning...
The next spring, I began going to farmers markets in my area with only 10 or 20 unpainted leaves and, while I did not make a lot of money, I got very positive feedback from everyone who saw them. My husband wanted to see more color in them, but when I added dye to the cement, he still thought I should paint them. I finally tried it (just to pacify him!), and realized that I had found an unrealized talent! Things progressed rapidly after that, and I have since developed a technique that really became my own.
...And Where I Am Now!
I am happy to say that, all in all, I have had very good success so far. I have pieces at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor, Ohio, as well as several other various shops in my area, most notably at George Carruth's Garden Smiles in Waterville, Ohio, where I am one of the few LOCAL artists whose work can be found there! I have pieces all across the country, and hopefully will be able to participate in some of the larger art shows in 2010! I will post locations of upcoming events as soon as they are confirmed.
Around Town...
A larger Rhubarb leaf sculpture at a local art auction to benefit one of the area hospitals. It brought a very good bid, I was really proud of that!
...And Around The Area...
My Burdock leaf sculpture was an award winner in The Lake Erie Center's (Oregon, Ohio)"Art On Maumee Bay" art contest!
Contact me! nancis_creative_castings@yahoo.com 419-708-8414
...And just let me know if you would like to be added to Nanci's Creative Castings Newsletter ~ In addition to info about upcoming events, there are awesome Garden Tips and Art/Nature quotes included!
Upcoming Events
*May 29/30*Flower Day Weekend @ Toledo Farmer's Market
*confirmed*
June 12 * Art In The Garden / Sylvania , Oh.
* confirmed*
*June 19* "In Another Garden" Garden Tour~ This year in Perrysburg, Oh.
*confirmed*
NancisCreativeCastings.blogspot.com and
NanciWorld.blogspot.com
Please see more of my newer pieces on the Gallery page!