The Tile Experiment Update

Last week I finished the second of my 2 tile pieces. I've decided that I like them, but there are so many repetitive actions needed to create even one piece that the process doesn't thrill me. Lots of cutting of the squares and drilling of the squares….then there's the jump rings one needs to make in (what seems like) massive quantities. However I'm glad that I gave it a try. Maybe in the future I'll pick up where I left off, but for now I'll move on.

The first set of pictures is the piece "My Creative Well". Representing how I feel that creatively I draw on everything: the emotional, physical, nature, the universe, the intuitive, the subconscious, my ambitions. There's a small hanging bucket that attaches to the well tower.

31x22x4"

This second piece is "Good Under Pressure 2". Instead of using a fair amount of color transfers like I did in the first piece, I fired up all the red, orange, yellow enamels and used the iron-based fired transfers exclusively. This piece is about my awareness that under stress I really want my physical body to hold up - I'm holding the thought that it is! Hanging from the top cross beam is a mini submarine, the best icon I could think of for good under pressure while going into the depths of me.

25x23x4"

Upcoming Class: Constructed Narratives

Next month I'm excited to teach another class at Pratt Fine Arts Center, April 18-19. The class description is as follows:

This unique workshop will blend technique-rich demos with discussion of concept and design in small dimensional work. The instructor will share her sculptural and narrative focus in ways that will appeal to enamelists, jewelers, mixed media and multi-disciplinary artists, and others interested in stretching in new directions. Learn braised copper construction, unusual assemblage options, torch firing of enamels, surface design and patina techniques, and use of found objects in your work. This is an opportunity to work on a new scale, with new materials, and to make a new kind of statement in your work. Make samples or design a new piece.

Registration


Also I created an e-book to entice you further! Click here to view.

Grid Exploration

 When I first started doing my artwork full time about 17 years ago, I never dreamed I'd have to work at keeping passionate. But now I know that boredom with myself and my metal work will creep in if I don't take time to nurture myself. So every year I usually take January/February and do some kind of exploration, just to see what pops out.

I love grids and squares and have used them in my work previously, but my short little detour last year into jewelry-making made me want to treat those squares in a looser way. I struggled for a couple weeks (my good friend told me after hearing me complain, "Walk away! Walk away! Let you subconscious chew on it!"). Finally about a week ago a structure that would allow me to hang the squares versus attach them to a board came to mind. I roughed it in and instantly got excited. Here are some photos of my explorations so far. I know the whole concept needs some refinement, but I'm excited! (and for me that's half the battle).

First piece prototype. Torch-fired enameled copper squares with either inkjet color decals or iron-based fired decals that turn sepia. Many jump rings!

First piece prototype. Adding an outside frame of brazed copper pipe that lets the squares hang 2" off the wall.

Same, from the side. I'm thinking a bit over-built at this point.

New piece with the concept of it representing my 'creative well'. It will hang in the same manner off the wall.  Still working on refinement to the outer structure.

Close up of tiles.

One of the other thoughts I've had is to hang or braze letters/words off of the support structure, or even branches or other small dimensional pieces that relate to the piece's concept. Onward! Excited!

Wood Net Floats

About a year ago I found some old wood net floats at my local second hand store. They sat in my studio all lined up next to my desk and every time I tried to include them in a piece I was working on, they just didn't seem to work. They all had great patinas, some black, some white and others a rich blonde wood. It was the shape that was throwing me. Then one day I was packing them up to take back to the second hand store (I do this a fair amount…buy something/take it back/buy something/take it back), and it struck me! Cut the buggers in half! It was a major moment for me. All of the sudden I could make something out of them. For the last several months I've been making these wheeled creatures mostly, with a few other variations thrown in. Very fun.

"Reason to Believe"

"The Coming of Abundance"

"Germinator"

"The Places I've Been, the Places I'm Going"

"The Universe Inside"

"Inner Workings"

Commissioned Copper Boats

This last October I finished 6 boats for the Mystic River Complex out in Boston. I had a wonderful time creating them! The complex is full of high end stores and is being built in the old industrial area where clipper ships, bricks and even Edsel cars were once built. Quite the history. The firm doing the design work is Foreseer headed up by the amazing Paula Rees. The place has an essence of steampunk, patina,  and reclaimed objects throughout. My work fits right in!

"Tinkered"
Copper, enamel, glass, optical lenses, brass
13x24x5"

"Good Under Pressure"
14x24x4.5"
Copper, pressure gauges, enamel, brass

"Ingenuity"
19.5x25x4"
Copper, enamel, glass, brass

"Resplendent"
10.5x14x4"
Copper, enamel, glass, brass

"Thunk"
9.5x14x4"
Copper, enamel, optical lenses, steel

"Outwit"
7.5x14x5"
Copper, enamel, optical lenses, mixed media

Curios Show Opens July 3

I'm very excited to have my "Curios" Show done and delivered to the Patricia Rovzar Gallery! For a preview of the artwork, please click on the photo link below. The show opens July, 3rd, 6-8pm. Patricia Rovzar Gallery, 1225 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA. Hope to see you there!

Black Clay

A couple of months ago I experimented with black high fire clay. It has some mineral in it that apparently is quite toxic (magnesium?) so one has to use plastic gloves when molding it. For me, and I suspect most artists, that is a bit frustrating because the gloves don't fit so well and so all that sensitivity to creating expression in the clay face is minimized. I swore that I'd forget about using black clay again.

I created one head and then used a white underglaze on it which I then partially sponged off. Much of the underglaze burned off, but not all and it ended up having a stone-like patina to it. I love it! Ha! Back to using black clay - gloves and all.

This piece hangs from an upper metal grid that attaches perpendicular to the wall.

It has a title that keeps bumping around in my head for years now: "Some Say It Is Already Written, We Must Only Remember ".  That idea that we choose our parents and talents before we are born, but then forget everything as we come into the world. (Sigh. What's up with that?) So as young adults and/or grown adults the puzzle is to remember. On the figure is etched "parte incognita" - meaning there are still parts unknown.

I like the hanging method. It feels quite different for me. A bit jewelry-like.