Heron in the Everglades
Custom ceramic wall art by Brenda McMahon

Heron in the Everglades: Custom art in Palm Beach County

Sat, Aug 12th, 2017 This story began in West Palm Beach, Florida in March of 2017. I met Peter and Lauren at an art show on the last day and they shared how much they enjoyed my work. "Do you make custom pieces?", Peter asked. 'I sure do,' I responded. I'll be in touch," he said. And sure enough, he was.

We began discussions about their home, the color scheme and the idea of a heron in the bayou. They emailed images so I could see their space and understand their aesthetic.

Lauren and Peter wanted earth tones to match their thoughtfully designed art wall in West Palm Beach. They had a beautiful & simple palette and wanted my interpretation of Heron in the Everglades to fit their home.

Once the drawings were complete and we agreed on a design, I began my work in clay. The heron sketch came to life, the soft ripples of water with lily pads floating about and a few water lilies added that quiet pop. The grasses all around give the viewer the feeling of looking at the water and suddenly, noticing the quiet elegance of the heron. Stillness and quiet were my driving force with this wall mural.

After the bisque firing the 'Heron in the Everglades' was glazed. I used a soft palette of gray-blue, white, green and ochre. The golden of the ochre was the backdrop to the silver-gray water. A slight pop with a dimensional white lily on a green pad pulls the eye down and then the heron appears in focus. She is tall & quiet.

The golden background pulls the colors of their primitive art collection together, while the smokey grays and whites pull the piece together and allow Heron in the Everglades to fit perfectly on this West Palm art wall.

Thank you, both for your collaboration. What an honor and pleasure to work with you both.

For their part, after I left the installation, I received this text:
"Dear Brenda, Lauren and I are in love with the piece you created for us. We keep going back to it as the light changes and it takes on different shadows and colors as the day turns into night. We wanted a piece of art that blended with our existing art, what you gave us is the centerpiece that everything else looks like it was bought to compliment. We will enjoy it forever. Thank you, Lauren and Peter



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Heron, a closeup
Heron, a closeup
Custom wall art tile by Brenda McMahon
Heron, a closeup
Focal Art Wall
Focal Art Wall

Focal Art Wall
Mural will hang on the right
Mural will hang on the right

Mural will hang on the right
Art Collection Detail
Art Collection Detail
Informing colors in their home
Art Collection Detail
Heron Inspiration photo
Heron Inspiration photo

Heron Inspiration photo
Sketch for Mural in clay
Sketch for Mural in clay

Sketch for Mural in clay
Day 1 in clay
Day 1 in clay
Making the tiles
Day 1 in clay
Color Reference in clay
Color Reference in clay
Autumn Crossroads
Color Reference in clay
I often test colors
I often test colors
to make sure clients needs are met
I often test colors
Once I know the colors,
Once I know the colors,
I'm ready to glaze
Once I know the colors,
The Clay Canvas is ready
The Clay Canvas is ready

The Clay Canvas is ready
The sketching in clay begins
The sketching in clay begins

The sketching in clay begins
Laying out the clay canvas
Laying out the clay canvas
'how to make wall murals'
Laying out the clay canvas
Sketching & refining lilypads
Sketching & refining lilypads

Sketching & refining lilypads
A fish gets away...
A fish gets away...

A fish gets away...
The Great Blue...
The Great Blue...

The Great Blue...
her head among the grasses
her head among the grasses

her head among the grasses
texture, texture
texture, texture

texture, texture
Layering in color
Layering in color

Layering in color
Lily Detail
Lily Detail

Lily Detail
Colors Complete
Colors Complete

Colors Complete
Final Glaze
Final Glaze

Final Glaze
Lotus Detail
Lotus Detail

Lotus Detail
Out of the glaze kiln
Out of the glaze kiln
custom ceramic tile art mural
Out of the glaze kiln
Heron on the Bayou
Heron on the Bayou
Handmade ceramic wall art tile
custom designed indoor/outdoor residential wall art
Heron on the Bayou
Framed & Finished
Framed & Finished
Hand made ceramic wall art tile & backsplash
custom designed ceramic tile
Framed & Finished
Heron in the Evertglades
Heron in the Evertglades
West Palm Beach home, FL
Heron in the Evertglades
Custom Ceramic Wall Art
Custom Ceramic Wall Art
On the Wall in West Palm Beach, FL
created by Brenda Mcmahon
Custom Ceramic Wall Art

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