EDM CHallenge #77

This is my posting for "Something Cool" - the ice cubes were a real challenge - I've never really looked closely at them before to see all of the different angles and shadows they contain. Yesterday, I tried goauch paint for the first time and liked the opacity of the paint (you can cover mistakes rather easily as opposed to watercolor) and hope to post some of those in the future.

EDM Challenge #76

I joined a wonderful Yahoo group called Everyday Matters to get me jump started in doing regular sketching - it's a great group and the art produced by the members very inspiring. There are weekly assignments to complete and this is my posting of flowers. It's not elaborate - at 104 degrees outside, I had to get it done quickly this morning before the heat of the day hit.

Out of my Comfort Zone

Well, since it is too hot to create jewelry, I will continue with posts of my drawing - this is an exercise I did in a class taught by Randi Feuerhelm-Watts where we selected a photo from a magazine, cut it in half and drew the half that was missing. The exercise was more difficult than I thought it would be but I like the result.

Lincoln City beach

Had the pleasure of spending the fourth of July on the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon - from the deck we could see the Siletz Bay firework display which was gorgeous. Below us, on the beach, several folks were setting off an amazing array of mortars - all in all it was the best display of fireworks I've ever been treated to despite the unseasonable cool weather. The attached is a sketch of the view from the condo.

Travels

In April, I was lucky enough to travel to Sayulita, Mexico to visit friends. The town was quaint and beautiful and full of artisans. I spent time talking to several jewelry artists who maintain their own studios in town. Many of the silver pieces start with a silver coin and the finished result can be less refined but far more interesting than some of the designs stateside. Thought I would post a journal sketch of the view we had from our deck in town.

Stone Madonna

Thought I would just put a photo of one of my pieces out there for you to comment on. Her name is "Stone Madonna" from a series of Madonna pieces I have made exploring the essence of the female spirit. Copper, brass and silver with rose quartz, labradorite and adventurine with a pewter milagro arm.

A New Challenge

Well, here's to another step forward in establishing myself as an individual and artist. I have come a long way in my art over the last year. Pieces in gallery shows, being published, selling art. I've revisted all of the arts that I have loved and participated in over the last 30 years and am now focused on the production of original jewelry pieces crafted from silver, brass, copper and found object art. Now the hard part. Gearing up to create enough pieces to begin selling in shows. I want to get my ideas together and post pieces in hopes that I might get a little feedback from other artists and crafters just getting into sales. Do you create one of a kind items or mass produce? How do you keep from being bored by producing the same piece many times? How do you balance your life to avoid stressing over deadlines? And if no one answers my questions, well at least I got it out of my brain and on to paper where I can begin to answer them one by one.