A new use for doodles.

Never one to be far from a pen and a piece of paper, I'm finding that I have a new use for doodles - painting!  In an attempt to just paint, I do a doodle, then paint it, no time to think or obsess or ponder the awful question of 'is it art'. Makes no difference, in the end, all it can be is MY art.  So, today I need to run out and get more doodle pads becuase this is way fun!  Painting is so intimidating, but this little exercise in doodle then paint is working out just splendidly.  I read somewhere, and it stuck with me, that even though I have no training, all I need is on the table...in other words, just get painting and see what develops.  At the moment I'm into a forest theme I guess, working on a third that involves trees and land.  Oooh, also need some more canvas. 'The moon won't rise'.

Sea Glass Jewelry for 2012

Just a note for anyone looking for Jewelry in the New Year...I'm changing my line slightly, adding oxidization to the entire process.  You see I'm tired of polishing all the time!  The beautiful, shiny silver is awesome, but my studio is a bit on the damp side and I just have to clean the darn stuff too often, so I will be oxidizing all pieces.  You can still clean them up with polish if you like, but they'll be sold oxidized.  This will also encourage me to do more wirework in each piece, to better hold the oxidization, so that will be interesting.  Look for an updated Portfolio pic in the Spring.

Painting a Scene on PEI

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while.  But I have been doing stuff.  Just finished my painting class, where I got some great feedback from Anne Gallant, I played, she commented, was great!  Will take another set of classes with her over the Winter, hope to try some more techniques picked up in Mary Todd Beam's book, The Creative Edge, otherwise known as my favorite book with painting exercises.  Three things first: 1.  My interest in taking a nice picture comes and goes.  Here it is apparently gone.  There is lots of great texture in this piece, but you can't see it because I didn't take a detail pic...might go do that now.  And there is a flash...bah.  2.  I used Gesso and saran wrap to create a fabulous texture then tried to follow the texture to an image.  Every marking is actually outlined in texture. Uber fun.  I have to say working intuitively is fun.  And I don't wait until I see the full image, I jump in and hope I see it along the way, otherwise I'd stand and stare at it forever.  3. It's not finished.  I think there needs to be a wintery moon in there? somewhere.  Will have to stare at it a while longer to decide.
'Fractured'

Painting

Playing with a staining technique and then blocking areas with opaques.  This is my very first attempt at something really abstract, that wasn't just for pretty color (like the pink and black in a previous post).  This is very small, like 10"X8" or something, didn't check, but it's tiny.  Will try several more of these small ones, then perhaps try it on a larger scale, but only when I buy some better quality paints - fluid acrylics.  This is not quite finished, although I'm not sure what else to do, it doesn't feel finished. So we'll see where I end up.  Think I need to stare at it for a while.  Fun.

(the next day, staring at it) There is not enough contrast I think.  Everything is too mid range...the figures are good...the staining part.  But the background.  Need to let some sink away and some come forward...or something like that.  Hmmmm......

Sea Glass Jewelry

Played with some jewelry today! Yes, a shocker...but you know, I get on these rolls with other stuff and I forget about things.  I LOVE having more than one thing to do, to make.  But it has it's drawbacks too.  I haven't made any jewelry in months, well, mostly because my shop hasn't been open other than by appointment.  But anyway...today I went to polish some jewelry, and suddenly found myself ripping around three older necklaces to give them a new look.  Loved them, kept going and tomorrow (since my son will be home to avoid some sporting event...lol) I'm going to oxidize and shine them up.  I'm going to buy two dozen eggs and do it the 'oh naturel' way.  And then have egg salad.  Pictures to follow tomorrow.

So here are three quick and not totally great pics of the three pieces that went from being entirely handformed, to being what I'll now call hybrids, partly handformed components, party fabricated chain.  I LOVE asymetry, in everything but houses.  So here is a tiny bit of asymetrical fun. Changed the bail I had on the aqua piece there in the middle also.  Wasn't happy with the way the last one hung off the chain.  Really liked the direction I went this time.  Anyway...time to oxidize these ones!