Frank and Jane Go To The Gallery

Remember Frank and Jane? They got to go to Art Works for a gallery show last night!

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Fourth Friday gallery opening reception at Art Works gallery. My friend Carolyn, who is a muralist and polymer clay artist, has a studio in the gallery and she invited me to set up a small display in her studio for the opening last night.

Not having done a show of any kind in months, I was really looking for an opportunity to revamp my display and try out a few new things I had in mind. My work has been evolving steadily since I started selling it about three years ago. I think it's really getting to a place where I feel like it is truly an expression of my skill and talent and vision, instead of an attempt to co-opt someone else's 'thing' and make it my own. Granted, there's really nothing completely new under the sun, but I really think most of my recent work has had more of a stamp of ME on it than anything else.

I'm defining my media, for one thing.

I adore copper. Truly I do, almost as much as glass, as a medium, and I have also discovered I love manipulating metal. Well, duh! What with all the pounding and shaping and mangling of sheets of copper and brass....one would hope I love it!

Etching has also become a new thing for me, and I am finding ways to use that process to bring out my own vision in the work I make.

So....copper, glass, etching, metalsmithing...yep. Now I just needed to find a beautiful and enticing way to display it all.

Remember those vintage suitcases I bought at an estate sale a while back? Got those. Also a mannequin hand, Frank and Jane, some basic necklace stands, a pillow I made for my couch, and some wooden cigar boxes. Much finagling and fiddling later, here is what I had:

In the background is one of Carolyn's murals, on the back wall of her studio. She's fantastic, and last night showed me once again how crucial it is for me to have like-minded artist friends that I can hang out with. It was fun to be in the studio with her, drinking some champagne (one glass each -- we're lightweights -- but the cream puffs? We put a hurtin' on those) and talking about pretty much everything under the sun.

Oh, there's Jane. She was hiding behind a lamp, and pointing out the hollow-bead necklace, 'Roman Holiday'. Carolyn's dad is a blacksmith, and he made that gorgeous lamp, by the way.

The picture quality is not the best, because I had to use the flash or else they were too dark. Sorry about that. I did love hanging my bangle and cuff bracelets off the edge of the train case, though, and standing the earring cards up in the cigar box was MUCH nicer than using my usual oak earring rack. All in all, I really like the direction i am taking with display stuff, so hopefully by the time my next 'real' show rolls around, I will have something really nice all worked up.

I have to confess: I made about five bucks last night, but the greater riches were gained in spending a couple of hours with a friend. Thanks, Carolyn!

Gallery Show and New Work!

First, tonight is the opening of the show at ArtWorks. Besides the portion of the show my work will be in, they are also showing an exhibit of Korean and American artists, a photography exhibit that shows some really interesting urban photographs, a paitning show, the usual monthly all-media show, and other stuff. The Eggstravaganza show is on, too, and they will be announcing the winners tonight!

I have no idea what to wear. I was thinking of going with all black and white, but the really awesome necklace I am making that is all black and white is not done yet. Hmm.

If you are local, you should try to go see the show, either tonight or anytime before March 21.

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AND, in big new news.....I am getting into pounding metal.

Seriously. I have a friend who is a jeweler in Pennsylvania, and for a while now, he has been giving me lessons and helping me work on my skills. I blame him for the need for more tools.

Anyway, I got a wild idea to try some copper forming and stamping, and here are the latest results:


Hammered copper, stamped with the quote, "The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne." It's from Chaucer, and I thought it was fitting for my first metalworked piece.


This piece is a favorite, "Loops". Nice and substantial and really attractive to wear. This one should be in my Etsy shop by the end of the day.


And of course, this one. A mother's bracelet, stamped with the names of my three kids and with three lampworked heart beads as accents. My mom saw this and now wants one with blue beads and her grandchildren's names. No problem, Mom! I will likely be offering this as a custom order in my Etsy shop as well...base price to include up to three names and beads, with a maximum of five or six. Details to come.

I made three more bracelets, but they are not yet photographed and finished. I'll post those when I am done, hopefully by the end of the weekend.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Cheers!

Which came first?

I like to make charitable donations to support organizations whose missions really make sense to me. Easter Seals Virginia is one of them. As a speech therapist, I know all about what great work they do in helping kids (and adults) with disabilities, running fantastic camps and other programs, and providing access to services that some people might have to do without. The local group runs an Easter event called Eggstravaganza, which consists of a black-tie party and silent auction. Easter Seals works with the gallery where I have taught, ArtWorks, to assemble egg-inspired art donations for the auction. I just finished a couple of pieces as a donation. There is a prize awarded for Best in Show, Best Expression of the Easter Seals Mission, and 1st through 4th places in each of Professional, Amateur and Student categories. Here is my donation to the cause:


"Which Came First?"
necklace, made with copper wire and glass beads

...and...


the companion bracelet. Again, made with copper wire and glass beads.

This is a new type of design for me, new components, new wireworking. I'm getting some pieces ready to put in Etsy that have a similar look. It's all about color and quirky unexpectedness. I think you'll like it!

Keep your fingers crossed for me....today is the egg art judging....Friday is the art show opening and winners announcement. I'll let you know how it goes.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!

Toay, at 1pm, I will be demonstrating the art of lampwork glass beadmaking at the ArtWorks Gallery in Richmond. I did this back in the spring, and it was well-received and a whole lot of fun! If you are local to Richmond, come on out and see me, along with a bunch of other great artists and artisans. Demos run from 1 pm - 5 pm and will last 1 hour. 2 demos will occur concurrently with ½ hour set-up between each demo. There is no charge to you or those attending!

Come on out and see us!

Update!

I know I've been slack about updating this blog....I've been busy making beads! Well, more or less. I did write a post for Watch Me Create, which is online here for the next little while, so go check that out if you haven't already.

It's difficult for me to start thinking about Christmas, what with Halloween and Thanksgiving not even over and done with yet, but such is the way of things in retail sales. I've been slooooowly starting in on Christmas stuff....random candy canes here, Christmas trees there, stuff like that. I still can't wrap my head around it yet, so it's been slow going. I'll get holiday goodies done in plenty of time for Santa's visit, though, so no worries.

My market schedule is getting firmed up for the next couple of months, though. Not getting into a holiday show bummed me out in a major way, but another jewelrymaker who has gorgeous stuff didn't get in either, so now I don't feel so bad about it. Here are my plans for those who want to know...

South of the James Market (Saturdays 8am to noon, Forest Hill Park)
October 11 (this date is tentative as of today), 18, 25
November 8 and 22
December 6

ArtWorks Gallery
Day After Thanksgiving Art Affair
November 28, 10am to 10pm

After all that, I'm planning on taking a break through at least February! Seriously, though, my work will be available through my Etsy shop pretty much from now til forever.

ANyway, that's the update from my end. Hope to see you out at the markets soon!

Gallery opening

Here I am at the ArtWorks gallery opening tonight! It was fun, there was really good music and some snacks, lots of doggies running around and wonderful art. I can't express how much of a thrill it was to walk into a gallery and see my own work displayed on a pedestal with it's own tag and good lighting! Wow.

There were many talented artists and many fine works there. I wasn't among the winners of the show, but I sure do feel pretty darn good about what I accomplished.

WooHoo!!

The jewelry piece I made last week and showed a photo of in my last post has been accepted into ArtWorks August All-Media Show!! I am so excited, I can't even believe it! My work, in an art show!

If you'd like to come and see it, and other fantastic works of art in the show, here is a link to the show page. And here is a link to ArtWorks for directions and other information, in case you are not familiar with the gallery. The opening reception is from 7pm to 10pm this Friday, August 22. I'll be there!

The All-Media show is a benefit for the Richmond SPCA, so the works shown will all have a cat and/or dog theme, there are a couple of collaborative projects and other artist shows going on, too, so you should come down and visit. I believe the show will be open until September 21, so if you can't make it for the opening, you will still have a chance to see the works.

The weekly wrap-up

Another fantastic day at the South of the James market! Cupcakes were particularly popular today -- all of my earrings and pendants all found new homes! I got to chat with a lot of wonderful people today, explaining the process of lampworking and how the beads are made. Unfortunately, I neglected to bring my extra canister of torch fuel, so I wasn't able to do any demonstration. Next week, I'll remember to stick the spare canister in the car!

Lots of you had special requests and ideas for beads you'd like to see. I'll be working on those this week....some owls, turtles, more sweets, more rings, some mushrooms, and some other cool stuff I have in mind. Every week will bring more new glass goodies, so keep the ideas and suggestions coming!

In other news, I have submitted a piece of work to a local gallery that has monthly all-media art shows. This month's show is themed -- Cats and Dogs -- and I submitted a necklace "Pawprints On My Heart", shown at the top of this post. I'll find out Monday if it was accepted into the show, and then I'll let you all know where you can see it, if you like.

More later.