Shape Exploration

 I scheduled "shape exploration" this week as the first step a new series I'm thinking about and made a short video of the process. The idea was to work quickly and see what I came up with - I was just looking for shapes.  The video is about 2 mins. but I think I worked for about 30 minutes total, only keeping the shapes I liked the best. 

The best shapes

The same thing could be done by drawing I suppose (fast drawings on inexpensive sketch paper)  but I enjoy cutting and I like that I end up with pattern pieces.

The day was made

I got a lovely email this morning from Delphine of Le Blog du Coolest. She posted the necklace she made (below) after seeing my fiber bead tutorial last November and another necklace incorporating her "quotation" of my moon earrings. Very cool to see her take on these textures. You really made my day, Delphine. Thank you!
Several big custom orders have kept me very busy these past 3 weeks or so. I've really been feeling like I needed to stretch myself more in regard to construction so when a request came along for a necklace version of my Sediment bracelet I knew it was meant to be. Here's the necklace in progress. I wedged the beads at the bottom to help create the curve without a lot of gaping.



What kind of clasp to use was probably my biggest hurdle. I sketched. I stared. I sketched. I stared. I wanted something simple and sturdy but also something that was incorporated into the overall design so a purchased clasp was out. I finished it tonight and will hopefully get some good photographs tomorrow before its shipped to its new home.

It will get worse before it gets better

The next photo is indeed proof of that statement.


I thought we should take photos after we had made the studio really messy. That way ANYTHING would be an improvement. We couldn't completely clear the room so at first it felt like rubics cube...things were moving but there still isn't any empty space! I'm afraid it looks like we are hoarders and require intervention. But things are getting better.

This will be the metal/solder/clay oven area - the far side of the room in the first photo. Hate to the lose the window but thats where the vent will go. The work table is an IKEA hack. We purchased the wooden shelves when we got married and they've served so many purposes. Here they have been cut in 1/2 and have a plain interior door for a work surface. And thats my new portable jewelers bench there a top it. To the left of the window will be the solder station.


On the opposite side of the room (where Kyle stood to take that first "help I am buried in my stuff!" shot) ) we'll have the generalized storage area. The entire family uses this room but we had sorely neglected this fact, with lack of dedicated, organized, storage space for art supplies. We regularly have googley eyes, yarn, wool, card stock, oil paints, pastels, oil paint...lets put it this way, if you are out of something, let me know. We took the other parts of the IKEA shelves and added a corner.

Hopefully we'll get a lot more finished by the weekend.

Collaberation

Good things come in small packages.


Shannon at MissFickleMedia was willing to undertake a custom order for me. I emailed her a simple sketch, she created some copper samples and now here several weeks later...Voila!


Shiny silver rings, very well made, in a variety of sizes. I will mostly likely patina them.

They will hold stones, gems, carved bits or maybe polymer with faux enamel once I work out construction. Silver is expensive (especially compared to polymer) but I love the role reversal. The silver will play the understated, supportive role and the plastic will stand in as the "gem".

The Big Day Plus One

My coughing is almost gone thank God (apparently I had bronchitis). It subsided enough for me to have a great day at The Radius Gallery. My husband helped plan a demo table with several in progress pieces because he predicted, correctly, that I would do more talking/explaining than actual demonstrating. Although my process is wildly less complex, I was inspired by the poster of what goes into making one of her pieces that Louise Fischer Cozzi hangs in her booth at the ACC Show.

I did give a brief demo on how I made my "Fragment" rings to several people (several of whom were children which is fine with me because they are always a little more willing to give an enthusiastic "wow!" when I am finished). The Crimsons Red one is now in the etsy shop.



The gorgeous weather affected typical Sunday attendance at the museum I was told. Actually for this being my first such event the numbers were just right and I had a couple gaps between people visiting my table so I could re-squash clay and rest my throat. I had a nervous stomach on the way there but it was amazing, once people started asking questions I was totally fine. When I saw that someone was generally interested that was all it took for me to relax.


I read and researched all last week to prepare for the "what is polymer clay made of" questions and not one single person asked me that. Kind of funny. Not a waste of time though because I know a lot more about the material than I did just 7 days ago and knowledge is never a waste.

Here is the lovely glass display that is filled with just my work for the entire month! As I look at this photo I am reminded again of all the people (included the curator Morgan and his assistant Jessica) who have come along side me, supported me and given me opportunities to show my work over the past 3 years.

Meet the artist

Its nose to grindstone for me right now. I will be the artist of the month at the Radius Gallery at the PA State Museum for the month of March. Its an honor and I am forever grateful to assistant arts curator Jessica Watson who spotted me on Etsy!

I'll have 10-20 pieces of my work featured and will demonstrate (did I mention my fear of speaking in public?) for 2 hours on the first Sunday of the month.


I'll be taking all new work (large necklaces, carved rings...) but I also wanted to use something from the museum's collection as inspiration for some of the pieces. The new mastodon exhibit seemed a perfect jumping off point so I've been working on faux bone. I've found directions for this technique in various places but Irene Semanchuk Dean's Faux Surfaces book is the clearest. Learn first. Mess with process later.

Let there be light

My husband has always known the way to my heart. This was my Christmas gift!


And with the addition of a 35mm 1.8 lens I can now take photos any time of day (or night). Gosh, no more perching close to a southern facing window waiting for clouds to clear. What will I do with all the time I'll save?

I guess I can work on four new necklaces that are partially underway.

Must...keep...going

School is in full swing and for the first couple of weeks especially it will take up a lot of my time and my thinking.



Repetitive disk bead pieces will be great to work on right now. They were made with leftover bits and pieces of color clay and so I may call them Flotsam and Jetsam. Disks are of course the same as my Reef bracelet with the hole at the side instead of the center.

Button Down

Upon the request of Sarah from Old Glory Woolen Co, I am working on some polymer buttons. (I was already working a large focal button for a great sweater I have that sports a bland, single, black button at the chest so the timing was fortuitous!) Its exciting to work on a functional item and think that this coming winter, someone may ward off a chill by buttoning a lovely handmade sweater with one of these!


It wasn't a huge leap from some of my earrings and pendants really since the techniques are essentially the same. I'll be offering them in the etsy shop after I finish Sarah's order.

Feels like crawling sometimes

I think polymer clay existed when I went to art school but it wasn't taught. Shame.

I am working, working, working to learn different polymer techniques. I have read about and am experimenting with making canes and veneers, mokume gane and image transfers. Soon perhaps I'll take a class in metal clay.

Above are earrings made while fiddling around with faux bone techniques. Below is my first attempt at making a polymer veneer. I took leftover bits of clay, made a cabachon shape and overlaid a very thin sheet in the grey/yellow pattern. Its a start.


Not long ago I read about a polymer artist who said they didn't do ANY learning/reading about polymer. Everything they did, every technique they used, they had figured out for themselves. And at first this seemed impressive. No one could say they were copying, right?

Quickly though that thought changed to "why in the world would anyone do that?"
Why NOT learn technique from the masters (hasn't the art world always worked this way?) and make THEN make it your own?

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." Aristotle

New Ring

I am pretty excited about this new ring I made. I suppose not everyone wants a ring this large but I have bulky hands and can definitely get away with it. I'm ordering slimmer bands too though so I will be able to offer a sleeker version.



The band is wood and the "gem" is polymer.

Working...

Some of this week's work in various stages of completion...







Very busy! Preparing to take my work to The Radius Gallery and for my first craft show of the year (details forthcoming).

A List and A Silver Lining

Since my March 27 post regarding my search for balance several things have happened that have really helped focus me.

First, I should mention that I had blog friends comment, share their own struggles and offer suggestions on the post. Knowing that one is not alone is so comforting! Thank you!

Secondly, I have been asked to consign my jewelry at The Radius Gallery and Museum Shop at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg. This is great; its a target with a defined goal, 12 pieces. So I have made a list and posted it. Visuals really help me.

And lastly, I made a unscheduled visit to the doctor for knee pain. Results say arthritis. Ten days resting the knee means (here is the silver lining) 10 days at my work table. So I decided to take one afternoon and experiment and work on something I have been putting on the back burner for a while, making a polymer ring. The design needs refining or changing or something but I did manage to push through the biggest glitch...I can't break it!

Understanding Inspiration

Just thought I would post some new work before it hits the Etsy shop. I have been giving a grey and black pair of these a test drive. The are so light weight but hang nicely and stay on securely.


I recently ordered some lovely handmade script beads from Field and Sea on Etsy. I was enamored with them straightaway but wasn't...quite sure...where to...go with them. I finally decided I would just go ahead and buy them with confidence that inspiration will arrive when they do!

I have come to the conclusion that if I am able to make pieces that look like they are ancient or at least old, unearthed at some archaeological dig, I am relatively happy. And if my husband can take photographs of abandon buildings, with a possible bit of trespassing, he is extremely happy. We are well suited for one another.

His photos below were taken on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, June 2008. This is the lovely Georgian mansion, Teutonic Hall, which now stands crumbling. Shame.

Widget and Wonder

Here are some new pieces that I am working on, venturing out from solids as I think and learn about how to make connections using polymer and sterling silver.


The grey and black earrings (which haven't yet had the bottom circle glued in place yet) even have handmade earring findings. I am really happy about this because I want to move toward totally handmade, beginning to end, pieces. I think when my abilities catch up to what I see in my head, I am going to be happier with my end result.

I went to the Baltimore Museum of Art yesterday on a group homeschool field trip. What a fantastic museum! (*Mental note to self: when I get stuck, don't sit staring at the studio walls, go to a good art museum!*) The docent made 2 minor errors (oh! I did listen in art history class!) but it didn't take away from the overall trip.

Museum photos were taken by my daughter, Ema.

The mosaics from Antioch are one of my favorite parts of the museum.


My son Ben can be moved to tears by artwork because he is so excited about seeing pieces from an artist that he knows and loves. I was alittle concerned that I would need to distract the other children from this teary eyed 11 year old when we went into the room with the Calder mobile. (do you think Alexander Calder imagined moving people to tears with his work?) Ben was beside himself! The first time we noticed this in him was when we had him at the MET when he was five and he stood in front of a Van Gogh self-portrait and cried! Awestruck he whispered "mommy, is that the REAL thing?" Another woman and I just stood there and watched HIM!

Photos don't do this mobile justice.


At the BMA my sixteen year old amazed me with her art history knowledge, discussing paintings she recognized. And at some point during the day my seven year old tugged my sleeve and said "I want to be a wood carver." I am not sure where that came from but unfortunately I had to tell him that he isn't quite ready for a knife and would he please consider starting with another material.

Little Dancer by Degas

The Story of Stone Upon Stone

Recently an earring design popped up on Etsy that, although constructed in a different material, and having a different look, had me a little distressed. Firstly, because they are quite close in overall design to one of my earrings and I worried that I had been copied. Then I actually got to worrying that that person would think that I copied them! This design has more significance for me than anything that I have worked on as of late, and I'd like to be clear about my original design and intent. (Here are my original pair of Stone Upon Stone earrings, first seen in my Nov. 26, 2008 blog post.)


2008 was one of the most momentous years of my life. My husband, an art teacher/ photographer, received a grant to do a documentary on the island of Saint Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean. One of, if not the "the most remote inhabited island" on earth. Its location 1200 miles off the coast of Africa has not earned it this title but the fact that it does not have an airport and is only accessible by a five day journey by ship from Cape town, South Africa.

The project had been a dream, THE dream, of my husband's for over 4 years and then there we were...a family of five on the adventure of a lifetime.
More details to follow in another blog post at some point for now suffice to this was BIG deal.


We had an amazing summer! Cultural immersion, hiking ancient volcanic cliffs, tea with a master lace maker, volunteering at an archeological dig...every day was an education. Then just three hours before leaving the island, my two sons and I found ourselves in the path of a 350 ton rockfall. Miraculously no one was hurt. A life changing event at the end of a life changing summer.

(This photograph was taken from the approximate origin of the rockfall a week or so before the event occurred. Jamestown fills the deep valley below.)


As the post traumatic stress subsided over the next few weeks I became quite aware of the irony of it all. One of my biggest fears when getting to island WAS indeed to be in a rockfall. Obviously my fears were not unfounded. Several buildings, including the home of our friends, seen here, were heavily damaged but we all survived unscathed.

Survived, indeed, friendships were CEMENTED that day! And now my church here is the U.S. is BUILDING a relationship with the damaged church in Saint Helena by joining the Rockfall Relief effort.



Rocks thundering DOWN a hillside can be devasting but those same rocks can be used to build something...new.