Lotus Emerges - A Ceramic Tile Sculpture

Lotus Emerges, a handmade sculpture with handmade ceramic tiles, 4'5" by 4' by 6",  2021

Above photo shows the sculpture installed on Main Street in Alamosa, Colorado. It is part of the 2021/22 Artscape Sculpture Program. Vote for your favorite art via the city website here: https://cityofalamosa.org/public-art/public-art-archive-2021-2022/

The lotus is an exquisite flower that easily captivates whomever casts their eyes upon it. In nature it emerges from muddy, murky waters to bloom into a perfectly clean flower. Because of this it has come to symbolize purity and has become a much loved symbol of beauty in various cultures, all having a somewhat different interpretation. 

 

Above are the renderings for my sculpture proposal prior to it being completed.

 

What I love about this flower is that it follows the cycle of light, opening up during the day and closing at night – rebirth is a symbol that I am particularly drawn to. The lotus flower inspires me to begin each day fresh and clean. Furthermore, it is a sign of enlightenment – breaking through the darkness. I love looking back on the times when I broke through the darkness inside, learned something new about life around me or about myself. For me the lotus is a beautiful reminder of the potential we have when we open up to the light.”

 

The sculptural form is built from plywood, white foam, mesh and is covered in exterior foam coat from the Hotwire Foam Factory.

There is a custom-made steel base inserted into the center of the sculptural form. It is in there permanently.

I created all of the unique ceramic tiles in my studio. I hand rolled the clay, cut out each shape and added patterns to each tile by hand before the bisque fire. Then I glazed all the tiles. I love the final part, opening the kiln for the grand reveal of the completed tiles.

Here I am laying out the first set of tiles on top of my blueprint for the pattern.

This was my favorite of the tiles for the first side of the sculpture.

It was so exciting to see one side of the sculpture ready for gluing.

Here are the tiles for the second side of the sculpture. After the first firing, I didn't like the way some of the tiles turned out so I had to reglaze some of these. It was well worth it as I loved they way they came out on the second go around. 

I loved examining each tile and arranging it into my pattern.

These bigger shapes were my favorite on this side. The whimsical, organic feel of them was mesmerizing to me.

On the left, I am holding the tile and on the right you can see the tile installed onto the sculpture which is grouted in that photo. 

 

On the left is my son Ethan, inspecting my layout before I glue down each tile. On the right, I am inspection from above after I glued all the pieces down, making sure that all the spacing feels right.

Here I am with the finished sculpture with Side B facing forward. All the tiles have been glued and the mosaic has been grouted.

My younger son Wesley, running past the sculpture.

 

Angle View of Side B of the finished sculpture. 

 

 

Detail view of the tiled sculpture on Side B.

 

Another angle view of the sculpture Side B.

 

The same angle view of the sculpture but of Side A.

 

Another angle view of the sculpture's Side A. 

 

Detail view of Side A.

 

 

Wesley stealing the attention from the finished art ... once again =)

 

After finishing the sculpture, I decided that this was the Side A of the sculpture. It was a difficult choice as I love both sides, plus originally, the other side was intended to be Side A. But I was drawn to the vibrant blue hue of the tiles on this side. That's what swayed me to choose this as the primary side, if there needed to be one. But the sculpture is 2 sided and intended for both to be equally enjoyed by the viewers. Further more, the circular cutouts encourage the viewers to look forward, through the sculpture, as if they are looking toward a brighter future.

The Mountains Are Calling

The Mountains Are Calling 

acrylic on board, 48″x36″x2″, 2021
SOLD
See Other Available Art: https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/product-category/paintings-drawings/

This painting is inspired by the countless mountain vistas that have propelled me to keep getting outside to enjoy time in the mountains.  

 

Often times the scenery can be so awe inspiring and so incredible that only the most skilled photographer will come remotely close to capturing that moment. I know that I’ve not been able to get that great sunset shot of the mesmerizing layers of fading mountains, an awe striking experience that so many of us have had.

I think one of the reasons we love this type of imagery so much is for that fleeting moment. Magic happens right in front of us and often it feels like we are the only ones seeing it, like the moment is just ours. I know that those moments are some of the most memorable for me.

I took some of those feelings and memories and used them to incite this painting into being. I hope that my imagery will awaken those feelings for some and be a reminder that magic does happen everyday, here all around us.

  

For me, creating this painting was an extraordinary experience in itself. I stared at the blank gessoed board, knowing that this blank canvas can become anything. I wondered whats inside of me worth sharing? But more interestingly, how will it come out? Will it be like what I imagined? That journey of searching and channeling my vision with my paints, my brushes and my markers - that was a journey to a place that I've never been. Discovery through action, the search, the mistakes, the surprises - all that in layers is one of the reasons I go to the studio to create and to watch the making of something that's never been.

 

Over the years, I've gravitated to creating mountainous, mosaic imagery in glass while revisiting photos of places that I really loved exploring. I take loads of photos while traveling, camping and hiking. Working from those has been a great joy for me. But with this painting, I embarked on just memories, I left the photos behind. That exhilarating journey to embark on, maybe a new chapter perhaps?

I love both glass mosaics as well as painting. I've began my journey as an artist as a painter. Eventually I found my way through working with stained glass. For over a decade I relished scoring and breaking glass, arranging them into abstract patterns that would emerge as landscapes. Today, I am once again drawn to mark making with paint and line. I approached this painting very freely without expectations. I just wanted to have fun, to explore. I was surprised to see what developed in front of me. I just ran with a certain feeling of the mountains and enjoyed this wonderful, colorful voyage.

The Mountains Are Calling 

acrylic on board, 48″x36″x2″, 2021
SOLD
See Other Available Art: See Other Available Art: https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/product-category/paintings-drawings/

 

Paradise at Mt Rainier Painting

Paradise at Mt Rainier, acrylic on board, 48″x30″, 2021 ~SOLD
See Other Available Paintings: https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/product-category/paintings-drawings/

 

This painting was inspired by one of the neatest mountain scenes that I got to experience in person. Mt Rainier is a sight to behold. It protrudes up toward the heavens and towers above its surroundings. When you look up, you have a feeling that if you climb up, you'd surely be able to touch the sky or even jump into a whole new universe from up there. On that bright September day, Rainier was veiled in the brightest, most beautiful colors that I've ever seen. The color palette was comprised of so many exquisit shades of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and brows contrasted with the deepest, brightest blue. It was a feast for the eyes. I could not decide if I enjoyed looking up at the mountain more or down at the unique blanket of fall colored flora and fauna. It was one of my most memorable mountain walks, one I look back on fondly. Just thinking about it makes me smile and feel giddy that I got to experience all that wonderment.

I might be releasing a limited time print of this one in the Fall, possibly in October.

 

  Angle view of the painting showing the frame as well as the gloss of the varnish. This painting was so challenging to photograph, to really capture the feeling it gives off in person. This little angle shot captured it pretty nicely though.

I took this photo back in 2015 when I spent a month exploring the Pacific Northwest with my life partner Kyle. We actually spent most of that year on a cross country roadtrip teaching mosaic art classes across the US. We planned for a month off to enjoy this incredible pocket of nature's wonders.

Kyle and I hiked around the base of Rainier in total awe. No photos or words can truly express the grandeur of this place.

 

I loved painting this large piece and was so excited to see it beautifully framed by Kyle.

Above is one of my photos that I've used to design the composition of my Mt Rainier painting.

The mountain looked incredible from any direction with so many unique plants, bushed and trees framing it for many, many possible painting compositions. I'd love to explore another one in the future but more so, I'd love to revisit this place in real life and to just enjoy this incredible scenery in person.

An angle close up of the painting.

Another detail shot with a close up of the fall foliage of the shrubbery. This was one of my favorite sights.



The ground foliage was so full of color. I still remember its intense almost glowing appearance.

Here is the Mt Rainier painting right before getting crated for international shipping. It traveled to its new home all the way in Poland. The two smaller pieces traveled with it together.

Me and my son Wesley with our favorite, new painting prior to framing and crating for shipping to its forever home =)

And of course large artwork is lovingly packaged for shipping. This large one traveled abroad so we built a custom crate for it to ensure safe travels.