Gourd Art and Pine Needle Basketry by artist Shelley Matousek.
My passion for basketry developed from a love of working with my hands to create art. I love the feel of pine needles in my hands. It is a lost art and mental therapy all in one.
Blending organic and native materials, as well as recycled materials to create art. Nature provides everything we need if we just open our eyes and minds to the creative process. I love to recycle whenever I can and recycling the pine needles and gourds begins with "listening" to the material to hear what it wants to become. Organic materials will often reflect the artist mood. Wood, agates, leather and even glass get a new life as art in many of my designs. Using Local materials, such as native pine, manzanita, pine cones, tar, stones, and native grasses in many of my works has developed into a search for materials that has brought with it many new adventures. Many of my works of art are embellished with additional elements, such as carefully crafted glass beads I make myself or from Kenya's Kitengela Glass Studio (www.kitengela-glass.com). Kitengela is just an amazing place, check out their web site. Gourds: Each piece is a one-of-a-kind item as the organic materials shape their final design. I find that the pine needles and the gourds will tell me what they want to do, more than me making them do what I want. Time and patience are a must. I love working with the gourds since they start out as Nature's works of art. With gourds there are so many techniques that the joy comes from finding just the right one for that special gourd. "Coil art" is what I call the coiling on a rim of a gourd that has just taken on a life of it's own and become it's own art. I find it beautiful and an adventure. Each piece takes on a life of it's own. It's own adventure. I am just along for the ride, the love and the passion. Enjoy! You can order these works of art for yourself or as gifts to be enjoyed for generations. Shelley teaches classes and if you have a group of 15 or less you can arrange for her to come out for the day. Cost is a per person materials fee and then a speakers fee for the day. Contact Shelley If interested in having a class or if you would like to view more photos of a piece you are interested in purchasing. Recent baskets
For Magnolia Park Art Walk Great fun at Magnolia Park Art walk. We had baskets, gourds and fused glass art for the crowds. Fused Glass Art by Shelley
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Welcome to Shelley's Art Studio web site.
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