Video For the Web? Coming Soon
I have been busy trying to locate all of the television footage that has been created on my work and then have it digitized for the web. HUGE learning process for me. I hope to have them displayed soon. In the meantime I keep wishing I had video clips of my research for the book that I have finished “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased- A Sculptor’s Journey.” I thought there would be some interest in the subject. I sent out many press releases about it. We will see, if not I think I just might look at creating my own videos. In my spare time.
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.
Sculpting the Face of Professor Hathaway
As I mention so many times in my new book “Bringing to Life the spirit of the Deceased—A Sculptor’s Journey”, the essence of the individual comes from the face. Of course many have “felt” Dick even though his face was not complete. When presenting the pictures of him a year ago at the TW Wood Gallery I had roughed in Dick’s face as well as his body. Many looking at it ‘felt” Dick Hathaway. The glasses I placed on Dick’s face were his glasses that were sent by his daughter. They were however covered with clear acetate to protect the lenses. I had not yet sculpted the eyes
Now I have removed the head and have been focusing on the face of Dick Hathaway. This has been a very difficult task. When you look at someone who has glasses on their eyes have shrunken because of the glass. If you are looking at them from a ¾ view you might even notice that the side of their face, through the glass, is smaller than their actual face. All of these things are things to consider when sculpting the face of Richard Hathaway. There will be no glass, and so I must give the impression of what everyone sees with the glass, so that when they look at him they will say, “ah, yes that is the person I know.” And this will create an emotional bond with the piece. The scientific process of empathy that I describe in my book will take place.
I have removed the glass from the frames and have been working on the eyes. All the while I keep wondering, “Where are you?” I feel I am getting there, I am close.
Old or young? I ask myself as I move from photograph to photograph. There are a couple of very good younger photographs of his eyes and therefore I am leaning toward that. Hairline changes, jowls change. I hope to have the face complete this weekend and may try to reattach it to the body to finish the upper torso.
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.
Focusing on The Face!
I heard someone say that Dick said something like “My body is just something that I use to carry around my head.” well not right now. The head has been removed from the torso so that I can focus on the finishing of his face. How old are you? Maida wanted him younger and he definitely appears to be younger. How much younger I don’t know. Seems like some photographs have him in a much heavier period and then thinner again.
“Come out, come out where ever you are!” This sculpture is so different than the others I have worked on because once again I don’t really have a client. No one to say- I want it this way! So I probe to see what is coming out.
Nancy said she did not want Dick’s glasses back and that was so much help. I could pop the lenses out of the frame and work on his face. It is very difficult working on someone who has glasses. The illusion of how the eyes appear because of the glasses is what I am trying to get. Their is of course no glass in a bronze sculpture, just the frame. These glasses have been one of the most important things for me to have.
The Books in the Satchel
This week my new apprentice has worked diligently on the satchel. The question is what books are pouring out of the satchel. I have given this quite a bit of thought. Remember not all the titles can be seen.
If you are to look at the spine of each book this is what you see
A Book for You!
VERMONT
History
I toyed with the idea of actual books but I thought this is best. Dick would always have a book for you, no matter who you are. Anyone who has ever seen his office would know why.
I listen often to the video of Dick’s lecture on progressive education. It is all I have of him.
I find myself needing the stimulation of those who knew him. It is interesting how important that is for me to be able to pull that emotion into the piece. Charlotte, you helped with this before!
I also wish I had something for the satchel that represented his auctions. An auction ticket? Any suggestions? I still don’t know what the letter will say on the top of the satchel. I think it will be from all of us.
That’s the update for now.