Countdown to Valentine's Day

I must confess, Valentine's day is my very favorite holiday to make art about. It has been since I was a little kid, cutting up paper doilies and construction paper and since those days, I've at least made something, and on some years, whole editions and/or series of work, to celebrate, in my words, "Love and Peace, Hearts and Flowers." Two dimensional, three dimensional, it doesn't much matter and it just depends on my muse that day or week or month before February 14.

This year, so far, I've come up with 2 variations on my current design with flowers and pearls. The first one uses clear but frosted flowers, which were actually kind of hard to figure out how to make work-they have garnet centers and are mixed with more garnets, and red and white pearls.

The second one, also red and white, uses garnet hearts randomly scattered between other bits. Kind of unusual is moonstones are used as the centers for garnet glass flowers. and in both cases, red and white are the main colors--for some reason, it just HAD to be this way!! (The dangers of talking about making things...it's hard to explain the intuitive process in words sometimes.) Now on the bench is a full spectrum of pinks, from soft and sweet to quite shrill...who knows what will come of it??

So last year at this time, I was very into cold forging "Open Heart" pendants --it is a fairly large series, including the example here. In fact, I got so carried away with these, and had barely any visitors to my brand new Etsy or Artfire shops, that I have some left and will be re-listing them again this year. Each is one of a kind.

Which brings me to today's treasury, which includes a piece from WillOaks Studio in the lower right hand corner--a perfect theme, IMHO. It was curated by Krissyanne of Krissyanne Jewelry Creations.


You can take a closer look by clicking on the image which will take you to the actual treasury, and by visiting, you're "casting a vote"--and if you're registered with Etsy, you can even leave a comment.

OK, so I've 'fessed up to my weakness for and habits for Valentine's Day....now I'd love to hear how any and all of you, dear readers, celebrate or prepare for the day. Thanks for stopping by & have a great Sunday!

Wearable Art vs "The Object"

Most of the "Open Heart" series is finished now, photographed and posted in my Etsy store. And most of them are displayed as precious objects--with props. Apples, rocks, a white background. I realized as I stepped back that my descriptions were quite objectified, too.
And is was a conscious decision to choose, for the main image, from these object-type photos. I described references to calligraphy, to playful textures, to interesting uses of fasteners and stones. But after I finished posting number X, I thought, "Wait a minute...the whole point of these is to be worn!" and that was really driven home for me when I delivered number IV to my friend Denise, who had purchased it earlier in the day.

She promptly opened the box and put in right on. I was sitting across the table...and I couldn't believe how good that piece looked on her! No, really, I was pleasantly surprised because I just don't get to see my pieces on other people very often. It helped that she was wearing a wonderful purple sweater that served as a great foil for the patinae on the silver. In this context, the gesture, the shape of the piece was nicely emphasized.


At any rate, later, it got me thinking about the "wearing" of these pieces versus the "object" status I had chosen for display. I put together this collage in order to sort of step back, and consider how these, well, wear. I can see that some are more successful than others where the marriage of form AND function is considered.





Although there are still a few more to finish so this series is complete, I am happy to realize this has been a terrific learning experience.

On a different note, as I'm brainstorming here. I've gotten a couple of "custom orders" the past couple of days, which I think of as wonderful design challenges. A chance to take a set of parameters and see what I can do within these. All the while, hoping to please the other person, the customer. Let's be honest--we all like to be liked, and I confess it's sometimes true about my work. It helps a lot to know where to begin when the conversation includes "...something like that one...and I like......"

But I digress. In both cases, the pieces ordered feature stone focal points and I was rooting about in the studio, realizing I have quite a collection going here of larger "rocks." I wonder if there would be a way to offer some kind of "design your own" neck ware, with the customer choosing from the various focal points and then my putting this together with assorted ways I can work in silver, chain, linen or leather? Hmmmm.....

Open Hearts Opened Yesterday

Well, at least 6 of the new pieces are now in my Etsy shop, and more will be added over the next few days. I'll be featuring a few of them in both Jewelry and Valentine Etsy Showcases over the weekend, and hope to also post in the ArtFire shop as time permits. Once again, a new body of work pulls from the past (I kept having flashbacks to monotype series I would do in printmaking) but added new thinking and skills to the present (I seem to have entered a new phase with some of the photography, which is just great!) At any rate, it's been a lot of work and a lot of fun...and when it's finally complete, I can't wait to get on with something new!

Open Heart Pendant I

Open Heart Pendant II

Open Heart Pendant III

sold

Open Heart Pendant V

Open Heart Pendant VI

My Recent History of Hearts

While this is by no means complete, and it doesn't go back to include all the "valentines" I did with paper making, etc. I decided to have a little fun putting a collection of hearts together. These begin about 3 years ago and the gray braided chain and cold forged heart are from last year. I can't quite grasp why I find the heart shape so compelling. I mean, it can really become quite trite, very trivialized, awfully commercial

Yet I keep returning to it and find it so enjoyable, it must be at least sort of OK? Maybe the newest series is finally breaking the mold...I can only hope! This collection, however, seems quite hopelessly romantic...

Open Hearts and More Ice

The weather is the topic again. We may have missed the "worst of it" the past couple of days, but are still in the grip of the season. We don't see much relief coming, either.



But at least we have power, it's warm inside.

My favorite beauty is in her full glory again! She reminds me of a fucshia spotted hereford cow...and every petal is different. Stunning....and always in the dead of winter. What a gift.

I ventured out this evening, a pot of chili in my tote, and met with art friends to talk and eat (oh yeah!) A nice relief from a couple of days of finish work on the "Open Heart" series, a full day of photography efforts, and the disaster my abode has become as I've remained (happily) buried in the new art efforts. Luckily, no one is looking and my housemates don't complain as long as they are fed and petted regularly. Hey, I can at least keep up with their needs....But the "important" stuff...

The series currently has 13 different pieces. "Open Hearts." I love the word and the concept...and a "thank you" to the doctor who finished "open heart" surgery on my friend Rebecca last month...from which she's not just recovering, but has a whole new life ahead of her. In serious praise of "open hearts." Now, if this concept would just infect a few more people, the world might become a better place. One heart at a time!

On a material note, this idea began last year, when working with really heavy silver wire became an exercise in calligraphy. Texture and surface, however, were ON the line, not from it. I got that first piece out a few weeks ago and became re-inspired. I have a few new tools, materials and skills to bring into the mix. These pieces will go up on my Etsy and Artfire stores over the next few days and the weekend.