New Work Fall 2012

 When it rains it pours and I have been busy busy busy getting my studio up and running! Now that I am home more often caring for my beautiful baby girl I have delved into my work with renewed vigor. My goals are to get my studio established in my community, create a website, and create new work for upcoming shows (I have one in may 2013) and festivals. Right now I am working on prototypes for some new designs. The following are my works in progress.

Crystal Lake Ginger Troll

 As a result of my recent public art initiative, I was commissioned to paint a mural that overlooks the Crystal Lake Apartments playground in South town Corvallis. I worked with the home owner on theme ideas and we came up with a troll peeking over the fence. In the spring I plan on adding a soccer ball flying through the air on the other side of the roof and the trolls eyes looking at it. It will be fun for the kids to see the trolls eyes move and will make the mural interactive and fun. Hooray for public art!

Public Art for Hire!

I have always had a huge interest in public art and have recently decided to offer my artistic services to my community. I am interested in creating art in visible spaces that will help to energize the south town area. I am available to paint outdoor murals big and small for anyone interested, preferably but not limited to an area visible to the public for passer by's to enjoy. Beautiful public spaces serve to inspire, promote health, happiness and well being.

Mural on the side of my shed overlooking my garden

I am open to creating my own original artwork for homeowners to choose from, work with home owners on designing original artwork that reflect a theme or idea or create artwork to specifications such as a photograph. I am asking to be paid for my time (and any materials I need to get) and my pricing will depend on the magnitude of the project. I do not have an hourly rate. I am flexible and open to negotiating partial trade or Corvallis hours, so feel free to inquire. Please contact me at dianabaz@gmail.com if you are interested.

Clay and Light; A Winning Combination

 I recently finished a figure sculpture in which I added a solar powered light to illuminate the inside. I built the figure out of recycled clay during a demonstration on figure building for my adult sculpture class at the OSU Craft Center last year. The form was designed with the intention of adding a light inside at some point. With the help of my husband and our tech savvy neighbor we cut out a wooden sheet of 1/4 inch plywood for the base and were able to attach a small solar panel to the back of the sculpture using 5 minute epoxy, running the wires up the hollow inside and into the head of the figure, and placing an on/off switch just inside the square cut-out on the right breast. I free handed the skeleton ribs for the inside with ink on heavy paper and cut the anatomical heart out of an anatomy book and glued them inside. The paper with the ribs on it is concealing the wires running down the back of the sculpture. I ended up selling this piece and it was given as a wedding gift.

Sculpture with red solar powered light illuminating hand drawn ribs and skeleton inside as well as a copy of an anatomical heart.

Tile Project

 I am currently working on a bathroom tile project to be installed above my shower. Here is a run down of the process that I used for constructing and adhering my tiles.

Muddy Creek Charter School Sign

I am currently working on a commissioned sign for Muddy Creek Charter School, a local Elementary School in Corvallis. This school incorporates place-based learning in their curriculum with a heavy emphasis on environment. I designed the imagery for the sign to reflect the environment surrounding the school and particular to the Willamette Valley. In the center of the design is the immediate landscape of the area surrounding the school with Mary's Peak in the horizon and Muddy Creek flowing through. I included some native plant and animal species including the Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and the Camas flower. The sign is bordered by colorful sunflower petals and a rainbow that will give the building a sunshiny feel during the long Oregon rainy season.  I will continue to update as the sign progresses so stay tuned!

This project is being sponsored by the Corvallis Arts Center. Thank you!

Projecting my image onto 2, 8' x 4' medium density sign boards so I can trace the outline. Picture taken at the Corvallis Arts Center.

  

Cutting around the edge of the design.

Adding a base layer of color at my home studio in Corvallis. I will be changing the colors quite a bit as the painting progresses. I am not pleased with the existing sherbert colors in the rainbow (i.e. rainbow sherbert, haha). The sign will be mounted flat with the two pieces flush, I just have the bottom of the sign sitting this way so I can work on it more easily.

Almost done, just some outlining and a few more details to go. I will coat it with exterior varnish to protect it from the elements. 

Completed Mural

detail

 detail

 Completed sign installed. 6' x 8'