Sunday, April 14, 2013

Featured Artist: Lana O'Myer

Featured this month at Paint Metal & Mud is Lana O'Myer.  Her beautiful oil paintings hang in the main room of the gallery, but she is also well loved for her unique Tree Spirit sculptures.  

"I’ve always loved to create things and my usual artistic outlet is oil painting and clay.  I received my first set of oil paints around the age of 12 and was instantly in love.    It was 5th grade art class where I had my first experience with clay sculpture and the potter’s wheel.  Through the years I’ve gained much knowledge in each medium.  I’ve taken several workshops,  but most of my art education has been self taught through my own trial and error.

I find it incredibly exciting and fulfilling to make something out of nothing.  To have a vision in your head and make it a reality is a wonderful experience. 

I’ve learned through the years that life is what you make of it--your own  personal  artistic creation.  Make your life a great work of art."


We hope you will come visit us during the month of April, so you can see Lana's work (and the work of all our other local artists) first hand.




'Lucky Tree Spirit' (c) Lana O'Myer
Lucky Tree Spirit
Legend of the Tree Spirit
15th Century Europeans believed trees maintained good and the most powerful of all spirits. Before entering the forest, they would knock on the trees to wake up the sleeping spirit to protect them. This is where the saying, "knock on wood," originated from. Tree spirits have a great sense of humor, gentle wisdom, and will bring good luck to your home.
Each "Lucky Tree Spirit" is individually sculpted using 100% Montana stoneware clay. Each piece is bisque-fired in a kiln for 16 hours and then a final firing in an outdoor pit with a variety of organic materials. This gives each Tree Spirit it's unique, earthy colors and markings. No two pieces will ever be alike.