Big Burtha Sculpture Lead To My Music Series Featuring Big Burtha Dancing Spirit

                                                                        "Big Burtha"      
           

Several weeks ago I created this fabulous female sculpture that a dear friend immediately named "Big Burtha".  At first I thought that may not be "politically correct" but she, the sculpture, insisted that was her name and so she is without a doubt "Big Burtha"!

The day that she was announced on my website, a collector of mine contacted me inquiring about purchasing "Big Burtha".  My dilemma is shipping her cost-effectively to insure her safety. Presently I am selling my sculptures out of my studio for this reason. (If anyone knows of an economical shipping method for delicate sculptures, please contact me.)  Anyway, this joyous sculpture greets me every day and just brings love and smiles to all that see her.  But I digress....as I was contemplating the many ideas that were floating around in my brain for my next painting, there was a collision of music and wonderful "Burtha".  Now that's interesting, I thought....hmmmm...old sheet music....where would I get some? 

The next day I was speaking with my sister and mentioned that I was looking for old sheet music.  Immediately she reminded me that she had our old piano bench that is loaded with all our old sheet music from our childhood lessons along with music from my aunts and mother taking lessons.  Bingo!  She sent me a package of random sheets and upon it's arrival I was spellbound.

The music was fantastic!  Old, torn, yellowed, some had hand written notes on them...just great...and my brain was quickly perculating with ideas of how to incorporate these sheets into some artwork.  Hmmmm....what would make this interesting but yet not turn it into a craft project??  And than my sight landed on "Big Burtha" and she just smiled back at me :}

"Invitation To Dance"

Enter my new series entitled "The Music Series". 

It begins with a painting entitled "Invitation To Dance" incorporating sheet music in the painting entitled "Invitation To The Dance".  This painting made me smile the entire time it was being created and recieved great response from viewers. (Thank you.)

"Dance"

The second painting "Dance" has sheet music of a Sonata by Beethover (his sketch is also in the painting). 

As I was painting this joyous acrylic..."Big Burtha" was nudging me to look at her from across the room, and when I did it was obvious that she belonged in this painting.  Creating a painted image of "Burtha" was so much fun and the final outcome was also very well recieved.

Now when you look at the sculpture of "Big Burtha" she has a very large presence and that presence was about to take off in 2 more paintings that were created simultaneously.

"Spirit Of Dance" and "London Bridge Is Falling" were created this week and I am very pleased with the response they are also gathering.

"Spirit Of Dance"

"London Bridge Is Falling"

"London Bridge Is Falling" features, who else....Burtha, being a strong woman as she is keeping the blocks from the bridge from totally collapsing.  Just as all the strong women in this world keep themselves "together".  The music featured in this painting is "London Bridge", of course!  Upon looking at the painting closely, you will see that the small piece of music that is under her foot reads "my fair lady"...because although Burtha is strong...she is always a lady!

In "Spirit Of Dance" Burtha is taking her final bow after her performance of dancing to "Water Sprites", and is perched on the highest part of the stage, which reads..."Paino Music in Sheet Form, 25 cents Each".  I researched was a "water sprite" was and found out that it is a spirit based in mythology that can do many different things :}  Perfect for "Big Burtha"!

I hope you enjoyed reading about Burtha's recent advertures in my studio.  All of these wonderful paintings are posted on my website where you can learn more and view under magnification.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Have a blessed day...and remember to dance as if no one was looking :}

Amy

http://www.amytuso.com/

P.S.  Look for my artwork in the August edition of Phoenix Home & Garden.



"Reflections", "Treasure", "Inside" ~ The truth of creating, living and struggling ~ Amy Tuso

"Reflections"

36"x36"x1.5"

Texture and Layers of Acrylic and Glazes

HOT OFF MY EASEL

"Treasure"

36"x36"x1.5"

Thick Pulls of Oil ~ Detailed Mosaics

HOT OFF MY EASEL

"Inside"

12"x16"x1.5"

Texture, Acrylic Pours, Knife Work

HOT OFF MY EASEL

Life has been busy for me...just as it is for you.  Since my last posting, I've had minor surgery and many doctor visits...all with good outcomes  Prayers answered.  And then there is the usual business of just living...cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands and watching over momma.  Throw in the business end of running a studio/gallery, research, appointments, office time, planning and the most important part of an art business....creating!

My mind has been "percolating" lately.  It's almost as if its' stretching out there with the "what-if's"...what if we try this, what if we do that, what if we venture out of our comfort zone, what if we push our creativity...and than...............crash.  Shut down.  Need to rest and recover from all the "what-iffing". 

There is no fighting the creative need for recovery...you just have to let it recover on it's own and let the "percolating" finishing the cycle.

Just as my body was crying out from all the extra demands, my mind and soul demanded that they be allowed to regroup, rest, rejuvenate.  Voila...pieces are falling into place and creativity is busting loose!

There are many exciting things in store for AT Studio on the near horizon.  In asking for His guidance and that He walk along side of me leading me to my lessons, teaching me my lessons and most importantly helping me learn my lessons...I can see the pathway and am grateful.

This article appeared in my email today and I found it to be affirmation for me and all of us who work from home...because, although we are "home"....we truly are working the hardest we ever have.

Connecting With Your Inner Despot
by Carolyn Henderson


This article is by Carolyn Henderson, the managing half of Steve Henderson Fine Art. She is a Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews and her freelance writing appears in regional newspapers, online magazines, and her humor blog, Middle-Aged Plague.


This is not a sentiment that sells greeting cards, but sometimes, you've just gotta get away from the people you love.

And if you're trying to paint, or sculpt, or write, or in some other way create an artwork that you plan to market, this is seriously, seriously necessary.


As I keyboard this, I am in the public library, surrounded by computer-using patrons ranging from the 11-year-old boy who is saving the galaxy from zombies (homework, obviously), to the under-twenty couple draped over one another in a single chair, to the irritated woman who is either working on her overdue taxes or trying to figure out her shipping options at Amazon. Of course, she's also squeezed right next to the two people who function as one.

Lest you think that I am distracted, be aware that I do not know any of these humanoids personally (for which I am profoundly grateful), and none of them is going to ask me 1) what we're eating for dinner, 2) who is responsible for making it tonight, 3) which animal ate a hole in the sock, 4) why the mail hasn't come yet, 5) who left the milk on the counter, or 6) how long it's been since the dog's been put out. Neither will any of them exclaim that the cat is using the plant pot, or slam the door on the way out, on the way in, and on the way out again.

Yes, I work at home.

So do you, I imagine, if you paint or sculpt, and whether or not it's your day job, you probably have stories of your own.

Now frequently our household loved ones are our best supporters, our cheering section, our sounding boards, our confidantes, and our sturdy shoulders against to lean, but at the same time, simply by virtue of their breathing the same air with us, they can also be . . .


Bothersome.

So every so often, I get away from them.


As a rule, I like being in the hub of things, preferring not to isolate myself from humanity and the dog kingdom, and I'm pretty good at looking people in the eye while maintaining 60 words per minute, but some days I've had enough, and I find that retreating to a public arena allows me an altered working environment and fresh distractions than what I am accustomed to.


I guess you'd say that I write, en plein aire.


Face it, reality is, unless you isolate yourself in a separate building, without phone, without windows, and with a crocodile-infested moat in front of the door, you will be unable to count on blocks and chunks of pristinely quiet uninterrupted time. So Gauguin ran off to Tahiti to get away from it all; he still dealt with . . . um . . . distractions. Someone will call; someone will burst into your inner sanctum; someone will hover outside the door at the edge of your peripheral vision.


How much this happens, however, can be controlled without running off to Tahiti, as long as you assert your right to connect with your inner dictator:


1) Accept that you are an artist, and that you need time and space to create. Once you have gotten this through your own brain, drive it into the brains of the people around you. Tell them, point blank, when you want to be left alone, and for how long. Then pray.


2) If you are trying to make money or a potential living by your art, be extra firm, just like tofu. Although it takes awhile to turn a profit, it won't get done if you don't have a product. Believe in yourself and in what you're doing, and others will follow. But they won't lead the way.

3) Carve out your space. It may not be a separate barn studio, complete with locking doors, like the Norwegian Artist enjoys. (He also deals with goats peering through the window as he works.) It may be a desk in the piano room, eight feet from the front door (Home Office Space -- the Final Frontier). The key thing is that it is YOURS. If you have small children, YOURS may have to be packed away in a cardboard box at the end of every session, but don't feel guilty that you're staking a claim. Just make sure to store it out of reach.


4) Be realistic. If you share living space with anyone other than a goldfish, you will be interrupted. Discuss with the people in your life your expectations and theirs, and communicate. Be willing to give -- and take.


5) Shoot the phone. Honestly, why do so many people choose to carry one of these things around with them everywhere?
----------------------------------------------
This article appears courtesy of FineArtViews by FASO Artist Websites,
a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).
This article originally appeared at:
http://faso.com/fineartviews/31163/connecting-with-your-inner-despot
For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://faso.com/art-marketing-newsletter
-----------------------------------------------

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to stop by and see what I've been up to...blessings, light and most of all...love..........Amy

Patagonia Village

"Patagonia"

30"x10"x1.5"

Multiple Layers of Acrylic & Glaze

Textured Acrylic

Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

A short while ago, I created "Patagonia" and it had been on display in my gallery.  I had the pleasure of sharing a visit with a collector who fell in love with this highly textured, acrylic painting.  (Click here to view the textural details.)  He commented that he loved the layers of colors mixed with the texture and found "surprises" within the painting when viewing it. 

He took it home to see how it would look next to his hutch, as well as to share with his wife, on loan.  A few days later, he came back delighted with this piece of art and asked if I could create a companion piece to hang on the opposite side of their hutch...of course, I was more than happy to do this for them.  And so, I created a few sketches of other parts of my imagined Patagonia Village.  

The day that I started to paint the companion piece, while looking at my chosen sketch, I had the inspiration to make this artwork interchangeable on either edge of the original "Patagonia" .  In other words, I thought that perhaps the day may come that my collector would like to display other artwork along side of his hutch and this would give them other options for displaying "Patagonia Village" while creating a larger painting as a dyptichon.

"Patagonia II"

30"x10"x1.5"

Multiple Layers of Acrylic & Glaze

Textured Acrylic 

Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

Looking at "Patagonia II" you find yourself within an opitical illusion as both side edges are continuations of both side edges of "Patagonia" with the twist that they line up flipped from side-to-side along the original painting as shown below.

"Patagonia Village"

30"x20"x1.5"

In this view, the small building joins in the middle to create the continuation of it.

"Patagonia Village"

30"x20"x1.5"

In this view the tall building joins together creating the center continuation of it.

Very fun to create, loads of "surprises" as my collector says within the texture and layers of colors with the added bonus of changing a single 30"x10"x1.5" painting into a 30"x20"x1.5" dyptichon.

I hope this day brings you multiple options for joy and many blessings...Amy



"Orangecicle", "Hidden", "Drawing Class", "Sasha" ~ New Art, Learning and Corrections ~ Amy Tuso

"Orangecicle"

36"x18"x1.5"

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Textured, Layered, Acrylic & Glaze

*Signature on back of Canvas*

"Hidden"

21"x18"x1.5"

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Texture, Glaze, Collage

*Signature on back of Canvas*

(* The reason for my signing the back of the canvas on all abstracts is to bring my collectors into the creative process allowing their vision to dictate how they hang and view their new artwork and offering the option to "change-it-up" from time-to-time by rotating the painting for a new look. )

~

I've been attending Scottsdale Artists' School on a scholarship (thank you so very much!) taking a drawing class under the direction of Larry Charles. 

As a self-taught artist, this challenging class is my very first professional drawing class and I am enjoying the experience immensely.  Larry is a wonderful teacher and pushes his students to gain a new way of "seeing", "understanding" and moving forward.

The class has a diverse group of 15 people, which makes for a very interesting growth period as we look at each others' work and learn from our struggles!

The following are some of my drawing assignments.  In looking at them retrospectively, growth is apparent (at least to me :}).  Take a peek and feel my own struggles with creating a drawing with nothing more than a pencil and eraser....yikes.......

Listening to Larry and actually understanding what he is presenting lead me to re-visit "Sasha" and make a few very important changes.  Maybe you can see them, maybe not...

"Sasha"

48"x30"x1.5"

Oil

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available Here

As spring is arriving, new growth is happening.  Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Have a blessed day filled with beauty...Amy



Although I've not been blogging...creating has been hopping!

"Saturday Shopping"

15.5"x6"x6"

Paperclay Sculpture

This month has proven to be challenging with both Jack and I ping-ponging nasty colds and flu back and forth.  Add into the mix of my mother recovering from a bad fall injuring her knee requiring several various doctor visits, as well as being her advocate at the assisted living facility where she currently resides. 

And so...my art has once again become my refuge!

The paperclay sculpture entitled "Saturday Shopping" is heavily influenced by my childhood and growing up under the watchful eye of my Russian grandmother, Mary.  She and my grandfather had a chicken farm in southern New Jersey where I spent a vast amount of time while my parents were off playing.  Every Saturday morning she would put on her "good clothes" and off to town we would go to pick up the supplies needed for the upcoming week.  It was always a treat to climb in the back of her big black Buick and visit with her brother, Uncle Pete, whom we would meet in front of the Jewish deli where more delights awaited!  Ah, memories...so sweet and full of love.

~

It was during my childhood that the cartoon "Bullwinkle" was a huge hit on black and white TV...again the joy of watching cartoons was an early Saturday morning ritual that would spark my imagination with happy fantasies. 

And so, while I have been trying to "escape" from the demands of adulthood while creating... "Bullwinkle" came to mind and developed from a mound of clay into this really charming, whimsical paperclay sculpture.

"Bullwinkle"

13.5"x14"x7.5"

Paperclay Sculpture

~

A dear friend of mind had mentioned how much she like my original "Love Bowl".  She recently had a major milestone marked in her life and I felt she could use some extra love surrounding her.  I packed up my prize- winning (February Contemporary Fine Art International) sculpture, and it is happily residing with her on the east coast. 

This development lead to the creation/birth of "Love Bowl II" which is a larger version, but equally overflowing with love, light and joy.

"Love Bowl II"

4.5"x4.5"

Paperclay Sculpture

~

Living in Fountain Hills, Arizona I am surrounded with desert beauty!  The following 2 oil paintings, "Butterfly Cactus" and "3's Company" are from my imagination mixed with some realism. 

Color, lots of colors, mixed, mingled, complimenting, juxtaposing create these 2 beauties.  Viewing them in person is really an experience, as the camera just can't seem to capture all of the variants in each stroke.

If you would like to view any of my pieces under magnification, just click on the highlighted titles which will take you to their pages on my website where you can play with various sizes of magnifying.

"Butterfly Cactus"

36"x18"x1.5"

Oil

"3's Company"

36"x18"x1.5"

Oil

~

And so you can see, even though I haven't been blogging...my studio is bustling along and allowing me a gentle refuge for this thing we call life.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by here and my website. Wishing you good health, peace, light and love for you and your loved ones.........Amy

Jack and Amy Tuso~AT Studio Greening of Downtown Leaf Plaque

"Jack and Amy Tuso~AT Studio Plaque"

This sculpture in Fountain Hills Park is quickly filling up with donation plaques for the "Greening Of Downtown" project.  Our leaf was added a few weeks ago...top right corner spot.

The day that I stopped to read the plaques, specifically looking if ours had been added, the wind chime enclosed in the center of the sculpture started to lightly chime...almost as if telling me "I'm here!".

Normally at this time of the morning I would be walking around the park...but BRRRRRRR!  Our current temperature is 29 degrees with wind chills of 16 degrees.

Just before Jack was getting ready to leave the house, our power went out...not something that normally happens here in sunny, warm, power lines buried under ground Fountain Hills!  The house was suddenly pitch black and weird.

I have to laugh at Jack and myself...we lived on the southern coast of NJ most of our lives and were used to bad weather, howling winds, pounding rains...days of rains, ice, snow and yes, extended power outages.

We definitely have become desert lizards....skittish ones at that! 

The cold temperature, mixed with the high winds has me wishing I wasn't going out today...jeez!  I mean good grief...the skies are blue, the sun is shining, the power is back on and the temperature for the day will reach mid 40's. Get a grip!  And so, I'm off to pull up my big girl pants and head out for a day of painting with two of my best girlfriends...I'll just be wearing several, maybe 3-4 layers of clothes to keep my lizard thermostat moderated..............

I will be posting the oil painting that I'm presently creating on my website within the week. If you would like to automatically be notified with a link to view it, please go to my website and click on the link at the bottom of any of the pages to be "Notify Me Of New Art By This Artist" and enter your information.

Have a great day, stay warm and feel the inner heat of love...Blessings...Amy

The Love Bowl

"The Love Bowl"

PaperClay Sculpture

Perfect Affordable Valentine's Day Gift

I just learned that I won 2nd place in the Contemporary Fine Art International January's art contest...gotta luv surprises!

Check out all the winners by following this link http://www.contemporaryfineartinternational.com/CFAI_Art_Challenge_Winner_Page.html

Wishing you a blessed day full of wonderful surprises...Amy

Morning Walk Around The Park

Greening of Downtown Project

Donors Commemorative Plaque Sculpture

I've often written about my morning meditative walk around the park in my town, Fountain Hills and thought you might like to see some of the beauty that surrounds me.

Most of you know that Fountain Hills is in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona approximately 30 miles northeast of Phoenix.  What may surprise some is the vast amount of greenery we live among.  I've have been asked in the past if our landscape only consists of barren sand, rocks and cacti...and as you see from this photo, the answer is a huge no.

Currently Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association is spearheading a project called "Greening of Downtown" which is a private/public cooperative securing donations and grants that are paying for desert-adapted trees, low-water landscape gardens and native species of wildflower gardens along with park benches. 

This mornings' walk was on brisk side...for a desert lizard as myself...I think it was in the mid 50's...enough to make my eyes tear and nose run from the cold.  (Do I hear some snickering?)  Anyway, the lake is full of visiting geese, coots, pinhead ducks along with our regular mallards and herons.  The turtles that live in the lake have not made themselves known and are staying deep within the water for warmth.

Our other "snowbirds" (human winter visitors) are also enjoying the park for their early morning walks and are easily identifiable because they are wearing shorts with light jackets or sweatshirts.  Us Arizonians are bundled up, wearing gloves and hats...burrrr:}

As the rest of the US is experiencing snow, freezing rain...all is wonderful here with the expected high of 72 this afternoon...still on the chilly side, but no complaints!

Hope you have a blessed day and please take a few moments to enjoy my artwork by clicking here.

http://www.amytuso.com/

"Pairing" Mixed Media Textured Acrylic Color Blends Thought Provoking Abstract by Daily Painter Amy Tuso

"Pairing"

36"x36"x1.5"

Mixed Media

Loads of Texture

Beautiful Color Blends

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I completed this beautiful painting a few days ago and absolutely love the completed piece.

Click here to view under magnification and see the multiple color blends.

Creating art is such a magical experience for me.  Instinct takes over as I reach for colors and tools.  As I step back from my work to see where I am and where I am going, inspiration comes rapidly and I find myself back in the magical place of creating.

The color scheme of "Pairing" is unique for me.  Although this piece has softer blends than my normal palette, I appreciate the pop of colors emerging throughout the piece.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my newest creation.

Have a blessed day...Amy

"Gathering" Spiritual Angels Emerging From Pulled Layered Oil Abstract Painting by Fountain Hills, AZ Artist~Amy Tuso

"Gathering"

Pulled Oil

This "pulled oil" painting is going to be auctioned at "AAHA!" which stands for "An Auction Of Heirlooms & Art" held by Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, March 5, 2011.

AAHA! features both silent and live auctions of collectible art, antiques and art-related items to raise money for Hospice of the Valley end-of-life care programs and services.  This year's event will be held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

AAHA! draws over 300 guests and begins with a cocktail reception where guests browse the "art gallery" of silent auction items.  A live auction and sit-down dinner and entertainment follow.

A fellow artist brought AAHA! to my attention as she has a warm spot in her heart for Hospice, just as I do.  Both of us have experienced the wonderful services of Hospice through our respective fathers end-of-life journeys.

I cannot say enough about Hospice and the Earth Angels that work with this outstanding organization!  Hospice treated my father with dignity, respect, compassion along with coordinating his health care and pain management superbly.  Our Earth Angel became one of our family members and extended her respect and compassion to my mother and sisters, as well as myself.

I am so pleased to be able to contribute my painting "Gathering" for their fundraiser.

Should you be considering making a tax-deductible gift, please consider your local Hospice as a possibility and if you are in the Phoenix area there are tickets available to attend this wonderful function at the Biltmore.

God bless Hospice.  God bless you.

"Sasha" Palette Knife Oil Nude On Abstract Copper Background Modern Figurative Painting by Amy Tuso

"Sasha"

48"x30"x1.5"

Gallery Wrapped

To learn more and view under magnification click here.

"Sasha" whispered her name to me as I was working on her facial features...and it just fit!

This painting is unique for me as it is the first time I was guided to use a palette knife while working on a human body.  As I was applying the oil with the knife and scraping the canvas the layering effect that was created astounded me.  Click here to view it under magnification.

The only brush work is in her facial, hair and necklace detailing.

It was extremely difficult to capture the true tones through the camera.  If you live in the Scottsdale area and would like to view "Sasha" in person, contact me to set up an appointment for a studio visit.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day....Amy