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Friday June 4, 2010

Holy Hell!

Keith LoBue’s recent post “Poetical Modesty, Part I” is enough to make me throw up my tentative metal working tools/skills and give up the ghost. If you don’t visit Keith’s site, be sure to read this post at least. The enormity of his current project and the intricacy of the construction, not to mention his most amazing skills, is mind boggling. Here I am struggling to just wind wire and he’s making the next great “thing”. Zoinks!

Sketch of Poetical Modesty Copyright Keith LoBue

Sketch of Poetical Modesty Copyright Keith LoBue

Friday May 14, 2010

Hello? Hello? Anyone here??

Guess I’ve been pretty quiet. Seems I’ve hit a giant dry patch. The Muse has gone AWOL. I stressed and panicked for awhile. And then I just slipped into that wretched hole of shruggingness. You know the one? Where you end up giving up on yourself? You know that even putzing in the studio isn’t going to solve anything? Yep. I’m there.

So. I’m trying to resign myself to this stage. Trying to be good humored about it. Trying to remember that my Muse WILL return, usually with renewed interest and projects aplenty. Trying to be kind with myself and not descend into the blame game of …”But last summer you said you COULDN’T do anything because training was taking all your energy. You aren’t training so why aren’t you out there (pointing to the studio accusingly) WORKING?!?” Okay. So kindness hasn’t quite won. But I am trying!

So there’s something else to look at other than my whinging, here are some photos from my “Inspiration File”.

© Hannah Livingston

9

Bike Fence

Jorge Manilla-necklace

Tuesday April 13, 2010

The collab that keeps on giving

After what seemed like months … well, okay, it WAS months … I finished my page in Seth’s “Contexture” and shipped it off. Keeping with my resolve to not use “the uzzhh” (aka the combination of Quinacridone Gold & Mars Black), I applied only variations of neutral papers, a splash of gesso and titanium white. Oh! How I longed to slosh a glaze or two of the uzzh. But I resisted. And added more whites. More textural elements using molding paste and thick paint pressed through sequin waste and plastic mesh. But I was really missing that contrast.

Contexture - Seth's book

Perhaps it was the Olympic influence but I hauled out the reds. Kind of the furthest away from the grungy look I normally rely on. Initially I planted 3 squares at the bottom of the right hand page but hated it. Overpainted with titanium white then worked the cadmium red through the sequin waste. Hmmm. Not. Bad.

Here’s the full spread:

Contexture - Seth's book (full spread)

Now I have to get to my own book, “Shine”!

Friday March 26, 2010

Another Assemblage Challenge done

I know. I know. It took me forEVER to finish this. But it has been sent off and I’m now playing with Cynjon’s contributions. Here are some photos of Fin’s finished piece (click to enlarge):

Assemblage Challenge - Fin's Stuff - detail Assemblage Challenge - Fin's Stuff - detail

And here’s the finished piece:

Assemblage Challenge - Fin's Stuff

Now on to work on Cynjon’s:

Assemblage Challenge - Cynjon's Stuff

Sunday March 14, 2010

Razor Baby

Razor Baby Necklace

This necklace has been sitting in front of me staring me in the face since my last post (oh! second to last post!).  I knew I wanted to add a “head” to the bottom and I had one picked out  but I couldn’t figure out how I was going to attach it. (it didn’t have any usable holes)

Out to the studio and found one of these frozen charlottes … I’ve actually made plaster casts of this wee one but wanted the aged look – not that I can’t age the plaster ones but well, I just wanted to use an original! … it already has holes at both arm & leg locations so it was simple to add wire.

I wanted the attachment to be clean – and the original head would’ve required more (besides I want to create a wire cage for her so she’ll have to wait for another incarnation!) – so a simple circle of flattened copper suited this baby well.

Razor Baby Necklace - detail

The copper mesh ribbon was a nice addition, I thought!

Something about the top still didn’t sit right. The transition from neckline to the flat of the razor felt …erm… uninspired. So I added a couple of chains w/some dangles for movement and interest.

Razor Baby Necklace - detail

I’m playing w/backgrounds for finished works. Can you help me? Which do you prefer? Wood or quilt? And do you like to see necklaces worn?

Razor Baby - wood background Razor Baby Necklace - quilt background