I've moved.

I recently launched a new website, which means that my blog has also moved.
I look forward to seeing you there.

Please update your bookmarks as this will be my last post here!

You can also purchase jewelry directly from my website, thingsofthisnature.com. So, don't forget to have a look around the new website.

Announcing: Hand-crafted Jewelry by Things of this Nature

The studio has been buzzing with creativity as I have been finishing up my first line of jewelry, which is now listed on ETSY, with more coming. Go have a look.

These pieces are such a natural extension of my work - as I am finally able to actually build these tiny little worlds of nature into something tangible and fully dimensional. Each one is completely hand-crafted. Tiny sculptures. 

There's something so personal about jewelry, and I know I love the idea of carrying these tiny treasures around my neck, and I hope you will too!

For now, I am offering pendants in 2 sizes. A small dime-sized one, and another about the size of a quarter.

The Month of May and now, summer

There's been lots going on since I was laid off earlier this spring. It's about time to catch up.

Some of it has been domestic in nature, such as painting rooms and doing small home improvement projects. Our home has plenty of those to tend to. I've also gotten much more serious about making jewelry. I bought a kiln and other tools and supplies. I am hoping that in the next 2 weeks I will be ready to launch and share all of it with you. I thought about sharing some works-in-progress, but decided a big ta-da would be fun.

Here's a few pictures from around and lately...

Lovely packing and cup from Eri, purchase at the Little Italy Art Fair

Yummy lemon caper dish from Saveur

Visual treasures at the Athenaeum Arts and Music Library

Painting I've been working on for a friend's album cover.

Puzzle time with my mother-in-law. Unexpectedly fun!

Old-fashioned Mail

I had the idea to send some postcards to friends across the miles, using some watercolor and ink which I would describe as my earliest 'style' I used to do in college. I cut up some watercolor paper scraps, which always makes a creative endeavor feel more informal then a fresh white sheet. What's the most fun with these is no sketching or planning - just ink and color and commit.

Day Trip: Borrego Springs Desert

Dust storms. Dry winds. Hot in the sun. Cool in the shadows. Barren. Low scrappy plants and cactus. Rocks. Hazy mountains in the distance. That's the desert. Always an impressive place.

Jewelry

 

About a month ago, I signed up for a jewelry class using metal clay to make the pieces you see above. It's my first attempt. The metal clay, in this case Bronze, is very easy to work with and the binding/filler particles burn off when you fire it in the kiln. Metal clay was invented in Japan about 10 years ago and they sell it in all varieties of metal. Of course, bronze is the least expensive by far with the cost of silver and gold being so high right now.

The left two ones that look like a seed pod and the one below it that's like a peach with leaves, I plan to either make into a pin/brooch or attach to a bobby pin. I think those are the most interesting to me but I love the others as well.

I ordered some more metal clay and it arrived in the mail today. You'll be seeing more of these from me soon!

Printmaking: Drypoint

First test proof. You can see areas where the line isn't deep enough for the ink.

Final print - all of the elements showing up nicely.

I took another printmaking class because I wanted to try drypoint. I carved straight into the plate with a needle tool and this method is called drypoint. It's very similar to what I did last time, but this round, I skipped the etch process, which eats into the plate.  It's a much more controlled outcome because what you carve is what you get. Of course there's still the variable of how much ink you use. After the plate is totally inked, you can wipe it off in very decisive ways depending what you're after. I feel satisifed that I got a print that I'm happy with. 

Incidentally, I used water soluble ink for this print, whereas the last round was done with oil-based ink.

I'm not sure I like my work as much in black and white. And I miss the hand quality that an actual painting has. So, hard to say if I will continue with this. Much fun to play with!

Folk Art Treasures

I recovered some full-sized images from Christmas break and was taking another look at these beauties. Unfortunately they were on display in a flourescent/basement/side room (ugh) --- that's not normally open to the public (score!). So the pictures are crappy - but I love these. They make me want to make something. I think the jug in the middle was called a memory jar. Seems doable. 
Photos from the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.

Landshapes

 

The idea for this series came to me the other day. I think of them as idealistic landscapes, boiled down to simple shapes. I'm pretty excited about them. Still in progress and don't know what I'll do with them. 

Printmaking Like the Masters

Original drawing on the right with zinc plate on the left

Etch bath

Etched plate ready for ink and printing

Final print

I've always wanted to try etching and I finally had a chance recently when I took a short half-day class of  non-toxic etching with A & C studios. It's a beautiful studio space and I couldn't recommend our instructor, Cathrine enough. 

The basic steps are as such...

First you coat the zinc plate with a thin clear layer of floor finish which dries and just leaves a very thin coating to scratch through. Then you transfer your drawing onto the zinc plate and scratch into the plate with a pointed etching tool. The tools have the finest tip on them. Being able to get that tiny level of detail lived up to my wildest dreams!

When you're done scratching, the plate goes into the etch bath for 12 minutes, which ended up being a bit too long for my drawing. You can see at the top of the plate and the print that it's too textured. It's a lovely effect if that's what you're into.

The plate is covered with ink and run through the press, onto handmade cotton paper (at least, that's what we printed on) that is damp.

Of course, once you see the print, you can go back and keep going with more etching or more scratching or what have you.

I think the biggest thing I learned was exactly how much variation and technique there is to this process. And how wildly the technique can vary and that each print is truly unique. 

I look forward to more of this.

Rebecca Rothfus Valentine, Steady

 

Lucky am I to have received a limited edition Valentine from artist, Rebecca Rothfus. This one is titled, Steady. Beautiful surprise in my mailbox.

Please go have a look at her wonderful work.

Going-on, as of late

Cross stitch project from another era

Atheneaum Art and Music Library

 

Little tide pool things

LA Art Book Fair Scene

Chris Burden's Metropolis II LA County Museum

With the paintings complete for the ETA show, it's been time to get out of the studio and see life. Here's what's been going on:
--Went up to Los Angeles recently to see the 2nd Annual LA Art Book Fair at the Geffen Contemporary museum which was a window into another world. A world of small and even smaller publishers printing a variety of things from words, to serious art to silly hand-drawn mini-zines. We picked up a couple of odds and ends but could have bought much much more. Looking forward to going back next year.
--After that we swung by the LA County Museum of Art and caught the Alexander Calder show, which was an unexpected delight. A bit overshadowed perhaps by the Turrell show next door, which is too bad. The Calder work does something that I've seen few sculptures do and that is defy and deny the materials from which they were made. They all appear airy and light despite the steel construction. Unfortunately, no photography allowed in that exhibit. Really beautiful work.
--Popped by the La Jolla MOCA and picked up another lovely Elk necklace in their gift shop [not pictured above]. This is my 2nd by the Australian husband/wife design team. Their work is modern, organic and great design. Well-priced, too.
--Joined the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla. Got totally sucked in by an old cross stitch book I found.
--Finally, after many months of waiting, made it to the tide pools. This is the time of year when low tide is during the daytime, making the tide pools ready for viewing pleasures. We didn't see any sea creatures but all the nuances of color and tiny bits of whatevers were all out in their glory. We forgot to bring the magnifying glass which just means we'll have to go again real soon!

Very soon we are headed back down to Tijuana for another museum field trip. More to report shortly. 

Enormous Tiny Art Show #15 is up!

New work is almost available for Enormous Tiny Art Show #15.

Nahcotta Gallery

110 Congress Street

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Opening reception: Friday, February 7th, 5-8 pm

Smaller-than-desired Christmas

I was so excited to show great photos of inspiring things that I saw over my Christmas travels to Virginia, until I downloaded them and was met with utter disappointment. Technological letdown. Sigh. No earthly idea what happened there.

Be that as it sadly may.....

We checked out some museums in Colonial Williamsburg that I hadn't been to in many years. Turns out, they are very impressive and well put together and I kick myself for not going sooner.These pictures were taken at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller museum of art as well as the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts museum which are housed in the same building. Such a nice breadth of work from paintings to pottery to musical instruments.

The top photo, one of my favorites, is a painting by self-taught artist Steve Harley. There were 6 on view which you can see here.  They were done in the 20's and have some stunning detail and a literal, yet charming style to them. I'm so thrilled that I got to see them.

It's a bonus if you can visit family for the holiday AND take in some art. That's what I say.

Gingerbread houses!

 

Thanksgiving was great but enough about that. Let's talk about the highlight of the weekend. Gingerbread houses!

Our local bakery had small houses up by the counter and I inquired about buying some blank ones and they were happy to oblige. After a few stops for candy, my mother-in-law and I set up shop to build our dream houses.

Here's my tips and tricks so that I don't forget next time:

1. The houses came on a paper plate but I'm lucky to have these cake stands. Or there's always a foil-wrapped piece of cardboard for your base.

2. Royal icing is just egg whites and powdered sugar. The trick is to get the right consistency. It seemed a tad 'melty' but not bad. You'll want to drizzle some off your spoon to see if it's thin enough for the pastry bag, but thick enough to keep it's shape. I think perfection here comes with practice.

3. The sour tape gummy stuff is great. That's what I used for the red siding on mine. Looks like brick and it's versatile and lightweight.

4. For decorating we mainly used red hots, gum drops, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, grape nuts, shredded wheat. Should probably add: Twizzlers, pretzel rods/sticks.

I'm determined to start doing this every year. Maybe it'll be a new Thanksgiving-weekend tradition.

Momento

This pendant is a french coin that someone in Tijuana carved out. My husband picked it up for me when he was down there. I guess the guy had lots of different ones made from all different coins. What a great idea! So simple and unique.

Make fun!

My goodest friend is coming from Austin, to visit us in San Diego. As we were making a list of all possible wonderful places and things to do while she's here for the weekend, I thought how fun would it be to make a map.

Even though it's not accurate and I left things out, it was sure fun to draw and paint up something quickly without the hassle of sketching and planning and being all uptight. Like most of what I do is.

I had it laminated too so she can check things off as we go.

All that to say, bust out the __________ and mess around!

Growing

The highlight of the weekend was visiting a huge nursery here in San Deigo and wandering around for a few hours dreaming. I can honestly say I have never seen so many different kinds of plants for sale! And from what I can tell, you can grow them here. Because it doesn't freeze here (well, I don't want to jinx anything) and it doesn't get super super hot here. The climate is temperate. Plants like that!  

Also, our yard is irrigated. Also, the backyard is blank. There's nothing there. Not even grass. Not even a square of concrete patio. It's totally ready for anything. Which is an exciting and daunting task.

We started small today with just some succulents just to get our feet wet (not pictured.) But, wow. There is much growing to be done!

(Psst.. also.... blueberry bushes)