New mØsAi© workshop in the high desert… a®t, ßeauty, yOga..

A new workshop and a new look at RAVEN moSai©s Please click it and SEE more about a ßeaµtiƒul get-a-way to wOnder valley for yOga, mOsai©s and gOOd ƒood. Speaking of ƒood there has been a lot on my plate… HWY 62 Art Tours and new mosai©S, nEw pOst©ards, new photographs, new ceramics…  and I will be exhibiting at Casa Magazine on ƒirst Thursday in October in Santa ßarabara… and did I say mOsai© wOrkShop ?!?!? Makes my head spin. But I look ƒorward to seeing you all !!! somEpla©e and sOme†ime…

Mosaic Altars

Cactus Buddha Altar

A peek at the new mosaic altars I have been doing. To see more of the NEW altar mosaics …, go NOW ravenMosaics.
size 18″x25″ ©2009 pErryhOffman magentaRaven.com ™

Workshop and new mosaic tile work

First of all a huge THANK YOU to Diana from Native Tile for gifting me so many tiles… it’s an unfathomable gift to a mosaic artist. I have shared with my students and a few friends but will use the rest to finish my desert house and the beach/oak house as well. Thank you to husband for cooking the meals at the workshop.. yum yum !!

The workshop over the weekend was non-stop intensive with eager students and high energy. Walked in the park as the moon rose after a LONG day of working the pieces to completion. Cathy made a large piece to take home and grout and her friend Marsha did her first piece ever, taking it apart at dinner time and re-gluing some new pieces on to her creation. Emma Jane and Rich of IYSSB yoga studio, created their first ever table top… “gorgeous!” I say! Dana, local, framer from 29 Palms came back to participate in her second workshop, continues making amazing table tops and counters and frames everyone’s art in the desert!!! at Bowden Frame Shop on HWY 62

Pictures of the weekend and my finished piece back in Santa Barbara… couldn’t get pics of the finished work of the others as the morning ensued with grout and much frantic goings on in the bright, hot, sun. Waiting for pictures from Cathy and the rest of the bunch. Here’s mine for now and a few pics from the iPhone during creation mode…

my Ganesh incense alter

One of my buddha heads ended up in Cathy's piece, as she just HAD to have it!

Dana's work in progress.

Rich and Emma's table top in progress...

Rich "third eye wide open in a yoga pose / you show us how to focus so the lotus unfolds / in deep concentration with breath control / returning to the source now you feel the force flow / when Jiva meets Shiva opposites become whole / singing Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om /" - mc yogi

Mosaic Workshops in the desert

Come learn mosaics from a multi-media artist in an inspirational environment. A place of magic. Perry has been giving mosaic workshops for 5 years in the Mojave desert and Santa Barbara. He has been working in clay and tile and mosaics with his home for over 10 years now and it is a living evolving piece of work. Color and pattern take the eye on a visual adventure at Perry’s desert retreat. Inside/out.   You can also bring your own tent and camp on the land at the Tile House and still enjoy the civilized mosaic shower and hot tub.

We begin with dinner on Friday at 5 – followed by an introduction into the world of mosaics, the materials and tools then with goggles over eyes we proceed to BREAK tile… music on… QUESTions  !?!?!?
Get up early Saturday for breakfast and good strong coffee and continue projects. We break for a picnic lunch.  Saturday evening before sunset, if we’ve finished our piece, we head up to Joshua Tree for a short hike, return for dinner and a bonfire at the Tile House! We grout and finish our projects on Sunday, enjoy a last lunch together and you’re on the road by 2pm. All weekend workshops include meals and basic materials for a variety of projects.

Staying in Tile House, meals included and all materials is $350
Staying in your own tent meals and hot tub amenities included and all materials $250

Not staying with us? Not eating with us? JUST the WORKSHOP $150

$75 non-refundable deposit, (except towards another workshop date)

Number 9

Whew!!! The last few weeks have been incredibly non-stop. Beautiful, happy new year party in the desert with The Sibley’s rocking us into the new year with Sophia Loren and Rubber Soul Rock n Roll not to mention I Don’t Smile if I Don’t Want To. A small intimate ROCKING party. I cannot thank the Sibley’s enough for there energy and songs. Met new friends and made new connections. The desert always helps connect the dots, unless of course it’s dragging you down a dirt road behind a grader. No don’t worry, that didn’t happen… What with Leslie Thornberg and Randy Polumbo having parties I had a  lot of competition this year. Next year will be different HA!

So on to number 9, number 9… oh the Revolution number 9… love those Beatles. READY for three amazing Mosaic Workshops coming this year to the desert. Breaking tile while breaking open new ways of working creatively. Turning it into something else.

HOLIDAY pARTy and art Sale in Santa Barbara

Saturday Dec. 20th from 12 til 5.
Hot cocoa and marshmallows too.

Sea Goddess

The Sea Goddess is finally finished. Happy in her repose. This mosaic was made using ceramic pieces by potter, Mayah Martin (the face, foot and hands and ear) and very small bird and seahorse tiles by were created by Perry. She is 36″x18″.

The Goddess is NOW ready to grout …tomorrow

Birds and Snake rattles from the kiln.

Unloaded the kiln and what did I find? Birds and snakes and oh my… The “oh my” will be on display at Open Studio Tour in October.

Red Snake Rattle

Bird Rattle

Bird Rattle

Orange rimmed bowls.

4 orange-rimmed bowls

Grapefruit orange-rimmed bowl.

Little Himilayan Salt Pinch Bowls with orange peel outside.

Music Cake and Sex

The blog So Cal Potters that I have had listed under INTERROBANG on my sidebar, has continued to bring interesting people and stories regarding clay and the people that use it together in a fresh and informative manner. Chris McCormick, the creator of So Cal Potters interviewed me over the weekend, via the internet and email. He produced a beautiful piece for which I am very grateful. Here is the interview, entitled Music, Cake and Sex. Thank you Chris!!!