Posts by Bridgette
New Contributing writer to Best of Artists and Artisans online Magazine
I am now the new contributing writer to Best of Artists and Artisans online website. Please check out the bio on the front page and my new article “Getting Past Ourselves to Live our Dreams”
The Speaking Engagement AAt ECVA
The Episcopal Church in Visual Art kick off event was wonderful! Even though I was a little hesitant about speaking. The rest of the speakers were either ministers, worked in a position of ministry in the dioceses or created liturgical art. I wasn’t sure my work was “spiritual” enough to be included, My sculpting is realistic and people understand the concept but, sculpting the deceased is a bit strange, as is the book I am completing, “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased—A Sculptor’s Journey” describes. When asked to talk about how my faith influences my artwork and my artwork influences my ministry my work is not as blatantly spiritual as liturgical art. Of course the God’s Word Collectible sculpture series that I created and sell on the Internet is blatantly spiritual. But the interesting way God has healed and helped through the ministry of my sculpting the deceased might not be so apparent. Writing the book over the last two years has been a fascinating journey into the process of creating posthumous sculpture, an intimate look at myself as an artist and the spiritual gifts that allow me to do this work with such emotion and passion, as well as the healing that God initiates in my clients. I only wish I would have had more time to share my research behind the science of the emotion felt in the art and the science behind what some refer to as psychic, or my research on the scientific documented steps of the creative process and how it compares to what others describe when they have a spiritual experience, but there was only so much time to talk. I am sure those in the audience that listened to my topic would agree, the artwork is just as deep, meaningful and healing as the liturgical work. It was also good to be reassured that ECVA is for all artists and writers, not just those who create liturgical artwork! It comes down to the Great Creator. He has inspired us all.
Thanks to the members of ECVA-Texas for offering me the opportunity to share and for indulging me as they listened to my woes of finding publishers for my books. I was thrilled to be able to share the children’s book that I recently wrote for my daughter who graduated from college this spring. It was inspired by, of course the Holy Spirit, but also Dr. Suess’ book “Oh the places you’ll go”. My daughter was concerned that she might not pick the correct path and wanted to be in God’s Will. I do hope that one day parents will be giving “God’s Will and God’s Way” to their children as they graduate from high school and college. I did fail to mention that I was reading it for the artists in the audience as well. As my lecture stated, growing up creative and trying to figure out how God wants you to utilize these gifts is not easy. Each of us wants to honor God with our gifts and sometimes you just don’t know how to find God’s will in your life.
I wish I could share the entire book, I cannot, but I would like to share these small excerpts.
There is really no map that defines all the places.
Keep God in your heart, you proceed in His graces.
Sometime it starts with just a small inkling
Of what you might like and what you are thinking.
Take one small step; find a place to advance,
Sometimes you just have to take a small chance.
Other times you’ll think, “I’m proceeding to there.”
Your goal will be firm and your destiny clear.
You’ll think that you are headed from point A to point B
How surprised you will be when you end up at V.
And you’ll say, “Why did I think B was for me?”
And you’ll marvel at the way God took you to V.
Of course there is much more to the book that describes God’s will in our life, but I would like to close with this other excerpt.
God’s will and God’s way, I’m sure you’ll agree,
Will fill your heart up and set your soul free.
Acknowledge his presence in all that you do,
You will find where you walk, God walks that way too.
Excerpts from the children’s book “God’s Will and God’s Way” © 2007 Bridgette Mongeon
(This book is unpublished, publishers inquiries welcome)
Please do not use without permission
Photographs by Georgina Langoria
A Wonderful New Printer!
The internet is a wonderful resource for getting people to see your artwork, but having printed samples is also a vital marketing tool for an artist. I had been searching for a good and reasonable printer. At first I came upon vista print, but read so many things about their billing more to accounts than was necessary that I decided to stay clear of them. It was also important that I keep my printing here in the United States. I spent weeks evaluating different printers. I even signed up for one of those pages were other bid on your printing. I had so many bids coming in it was difficult to keep them all straight. Jenny Gilchrest (jenny@colorprintingcentral.com) at Color Printing Central Jenny e mailed me with an advertisement on the bottom of her contact email about business cards, “buy two get the third free.” So I created three different business card designs and got 3,000 business cards for around$100. Great deal! My husband says I’ll never use 3,000 business cards. He may be correct, but I’ll look forward to proving him wrong. I also had a postcard printed about my marketing workshop. There is much more printing that needs to be done for marketing and the office, but I know that I have found a printer that I am satisfied with and that I can recommend to other artists. Great job Color Printing central!
I Love My New Chair!
I bought this new chair to place in my office. We found it at a used office supply store here in Houston. I know it is just an office chair, but I really like it. This is the chair that many sit in when they come to meet with me in my office.
I Will Be Speaking October 6th at The ECVA
It is for the Episcopal Church in Visual Arts.
I am one of 5 speakers, free lunch is provided with RSVP.
A Wonderful New Photographer and Press Release
I have a wonderful new photographer her name is Georgina Longoria. We are working on some editorial pictures and other creative endeavors together. A few of the photographs that she has taken for me. These were taken in the cemetery.
Best of Artist and Artisans- Article
“As a figurative sculptor I am entranced with the human form, male, female, young or old.”
Created for Best of Artists and Artisans web site
By Bridgette Mongeon © 2007
Recently the editors of this column wrote me concerned that people were shying away from sending in nudes to the Best of Artists and Artisans art competitions. Are nudes a controversial subject to submit? As an artist I would certainly have to evaluate each competition carefully, before entering a nude. I posted this same topic on the sculpture community forum and received some enlightening responses.
Here are some of my own experiences with nude/naked art.
The human form is an important element of focus for any artist. My husband, who is also an artist, and I are always telling art students, “Draw from life, and make sure you can draw the human form.”
Working with nude models and creating paintings and sculptures of nudes are all part of the learning process. There was a time when there were more nudes in my repertoire of art. Although I rarely sculpt a nude these days, it is not because I have outgrown them. It is because of my very busy schedule, working with a live model would be a luxury; working from a live nude model would be a way to relax. All my work is through commission and I keep very busy doing just that. Unless someone commissioned me to create a nude, and I have had a few of those, then you won’t see many nudes coming out of my studio.
By far the piece that gets the most attention and always initiates comments from those who enter my studio is “Ethel” – a nude. It is also one of my favorites, and if I crave to do other nudes, it is because I have fallen in love with “Ethel” and want to see more of her, no pun intended. The Ethel sculpture startles individuals, but at the same time seems to make them secure within their own body.
Before the time of digital cameras, I would take pictures of the nude model, with their permission of course, and when they were not at the studio I could continue to work on the sculpture. There was a time when I was banned from coming to the local pharmacy photographic processing center, until they learned more about what I do, but even then they suggested I take these “type” of photographs to a professional lab.
The most controversial of nudes is the child nude. During the creation of “Le petit pollison,” individuals were concerned that you could tell the sex of the baby. It infuriated me that I should change my art to appease what others thought, but in the end I compromised by pushing down the child’s rear end.
I love sculpting children. I long to study that tiny little form, watch the process of the growth of the skull and bones, and yes I desire to sculpt nude children. To be perfectly honest I long to sculpt every human form. I’d love to find another Ethel, and would also love to sculpt a very old person as a nude. The thought of it immediately brings to mind the science behind what I am doing, how does the muscle and skeleton change over the years? But more than that, what emotion is exhibited from each form? The young child with his/her plump cheeks and swayed back, rear end sticking out and chin down initiates a feeling of innocence. On the contrary the frail form of the elderly, stature bent over with time, skin hanging, exhibits the ravages of life and in that wisdom. As a figurative sculptor I am entranced with the human form, male, female, young or old. When that longing is transmitted to the clay, accompanied by the emotion and the artistic passion, it can become an award-winning piece of art, one that, with the proper competition, could be submitted to without hesitation!
Welcome to The Studio Layne
Introducing my newest apprentice. This is Layne she is a senior at Lamar High School. She is also on the teen council at the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston (CAM). That brings back memories. My daughter was on that council when she was in high school. I believe it was the first Teen council. It is a great opportunity for an artist. They put together events and host a youth art show. It is quite a feather in your cap to be able to say that you showed at CAM. My daughter Chris was on Teen council in 2000. In those two years the council hosted two shows. Faux, Foe, Pho and Lather Rinse and Repeat. Someday I must post the funny story that goes with Christina’s artwork.
When I asked Layne, why she wanted to work in the studio she said, “Good opportunity to expose myself to a different type of art, one that I have never done.”
Some exposure. Her first night I showed her how to scrape clay off of the floor. Yes, a mundane task, but it must be done regularly or clay gets tracked into my home. And there can come a point when you can’t walk in the studio because your feet stick. While I showed her how, she helped prepare some sculptures to leave the studio, and mounted a bronze on a wooden base.
All apprentices come in and clean up the mess I made the night before. I work diligently to get things ready for them to work on. Right now it is the life size sculpture of Dick Hathaway. That will be “our” project for the fall/winter. I try to be neat about it, but I guess the creative process takes over.
The clay that I work with is used over and over, so we are always cutting the clay off of the previous sculpture to be melted down, and once cut off we go through each piece to make sure it is clean enough to be put in the pot.
Once all of the mundane chores are done, Layne sets into sculpting the clay satchel that Bryan was working on. I could tell she enjoyed working in the clay, though the tools take some time to get used to.
Welcome Layne!
Bronzes come back to the studio
I picked up the two bronzes from the foundry. next week they go home to their owners.
Back to Dick Hathaway
The life size sculpture of Dick Hathaway has been brought back to the center of the studio. He will be getting my full attention, or as full as it can be with other things needing to be done in the office and studio. Unfortunately we have had a few very hot days here and with the stress of moving the piece a few things have broken off of Dick Hathaway. It could be a devastating thing; however, I know the pieces, elbow, leg, hand will go back on. The silly thing is that no sooner do we put them back on and finish Dick, then they will have to come back off. I hesitated in cutting this piece up for mold, because the T.W. Woods Gallery in Vermont is still trying to get the balance to cast him. And once I cut the sculpture apart and create molds and wax, it will not go back together again until it is in bronze. I will miss having Dick Hathaway around, but it is time. time to get him ready to go back to his Green Mountain state and to make room for more life-size pieces.