My tools and materials are seriously out of control. I make my own paints with traditional and non traditional pigments. So, I collect things to use in my paints. I also have a screen printing studio and I do electroforming. So there’s a lot more going on than what is in these photos. Once I finish organizing (I just moved my studio), I will do a video of the space!
Today’s #MarchMeetTheMaker promt is “how you started”. My compulsion to make things started very young, and just never went away. I was just thinking about this the other day— I got really, REALLY serious about art when I was 15. I was so depressed and lonely as a teenager. Art helped me focus on something other than my misery. There are a lot of reasons why I am an artist, but that is one of the big ones. Around that time I started collecting books and taking classes. It became an obsession. It became therapy for me. It helped me occupy my mind and focus on something beautiful.
Today starts the fabulous @Joannahawker's #MarchMeetTheMaker! I usually participate in this challenge, because it gives me awesome things to talk about! And it is a wonderful community. I suggest you follow the hashtag, because you will discover all kinds of creative and unique businesses out there (folllllow it).
Today's prompt is #favouritetomake! This is a hard one for me to answer in a simple way. I am by no means a purist. I like to make all kinds of things that fall in the realm of fine art. And I just go with the flow when it comes to what I do. I mostly enjoy making watercolor paintings with adornment. I enjoy making my own materials, though. So it's all mixed media. I guess that's what I would say about it? I used to be a printmaker, and I am getting back into that. I also like working with metal and jewelry.
Ugh, Rose and and I got Jason’s cold from last week. We are miserable. Rose, especially. She does not handle colds well, and it always blows up into a nasty respiratory thing. Poor girl.
Anyway, I am thoroughly overwhelmed again. I am in the process of moving my studio. I know, what a surprise! I just talked about my tiny, happy space a couple weeks ago, and here I am moving! I am adding a couple art fairs this summer, and when I realized how much inventory I need, I started to up my production. Anyway, my tiny studio is officially too tiny. I am moving into the finished basement, where we previously had a room for the kids. I am so excited at the potential. But for now, my life is a mess and it is frustrating. And now that I am sick, everything is put on pause. Ugh!
Thanks for sticking with me. I had a successful shop update over the weekend. I will have another one in March. I am also working on two other secret projects that I can’t wait to share with you!
I know I have been quiet. I have neglected my project. But not really. I have been writing in my journal every night, and preparing for longer, more involved posts. I have also been immensely busy making work. Commissions have been coming in consistently (thank you!!!), and it is the season for art fair preparation. I have to make a lot of work for these fairs. It is what I love doing, but it keeps me so busy! All good things.
My art fair applications are coming back. All good news so far. I will announce when and where, soon! I also have two projects that I have been laboring on that I haven’t had the courage to share yet. I am so excited about it all. Thanks for sticking with me. I hope you enjoy these new pieces!
She was exhibited for several months, and now she is home with me! When I exhibit in a gallery I have to share between 40%-60% with the gallery. Now that she is home with me, I was able to drop the price a bit! I spent 3 intense months on her and she is made with a LOT of 24k gold, gems, and other mixed-media. I have shipped prints of her all over the world, but there is nothing like the original. She sparkles, shines, and glows. She is an experience. Full price includes a frame of your choice, but on sale she comes without a frame.
Statement for the Nest:
First, there was the Deer. A painting that was inspired by an incident that involved a deer that was shot on my property, and the subsequent months that followed, watching the animal return to the earth. When only fur was left, I collected some, but left most of it. The day after I collected the fur, a giant oak tree fell on where the body once rested. Months later, in early spring, the pandemic had started and I spent more than a month inside. Scared. Finally, I forced myself to go outside and explore the woods. And that is when I found it. A bird had made a nest out of deer fur! The Deer’s fur. This piece was inspired by the feelings I had at that moment of discovery.
Using a variety of techniques, I create artworks that explore themes of natural history, historical occurrence, memory, and cycles. My materials are found and handmade—my most precious material is my grandmother’s antique jewelry that I crush and use to make handmade watercolors. This piece also includes rubies, emeralds, 24k gold, deer fur, geodes, and glass.
View the piece in action on youtube: https://youtu.be/1aG3WBkRUIk
I seem to always start and end with a Bumblebee! This is day 100 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
The Cicadas are emerging! This is day 99 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
Yes, you know me and my moons! This is day 98 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting of the moon! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
This is an original painting of a dung beetle. Day 97 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels, a broken geode, and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
A little lacewing for you. I am working on my writing behind the scenes. I am preparing to combine #my100daysofwritingsomething with the #marchmeetthemaker prompts, for some more involved posts. Also, I will have a shop update this weekend. 🐝
A blue bee in an antique frame. I have collected antique frames for years. Finally, I have some paintings that work perfectly in some of them. 😃
These pigment prints are printed on handmade paper that I make myself. They will be shipped in 2 weeks time from ordering. If you need something by a specific date, email me and I will try to speed up the process.
The 11’’x14’ and 17’’x22’’’ are statement pieces! I have to recommend one of those. But I want to make prints affordable, so I have smaller sizes. Please note that detail is lost the smaller the print. This is a limited edition pigment print on handmade paper. Based off of my painting the Nest.
Prints are signed and each one is one of a kind due to the nature of the handmade paper.
Prints can come matted and ready to fit in a standard size frame.
5’’x7’’ / 8’’x10’’ Double Mat
8’’x10’’ / 11’’x14’’ Double Mat
11’’x14’’ / 16’’x20’’ Mat
(New!) 17’’x22’’ /24x36’’ Mat
Statement for the Nest:
First, there was the Deer. A painting that was inspired by an incident that involved a deer that was shot on my property, and the subsequent months that followed, watching the animal return to the earth. When only fur was left, I collected some, but left most of it. The day after I collected the fur, a giant oak tree fell on where the body once rested. Months later, in early spring, the pandemic had started and I spent more than a month inside. Scared. Finally, I forced myself to go outside and explore the woods. And that is when I found it. A bird had made a nest out of deer fur! The Deer’s fur. This piece was inspired by the feelings I had at that moment of discovery.
Using a variety of techniques, I create artworks that explore themes of natural history, historical occurrence, memory, and cycles. My materials are found and handmade—my most precious material is my grandmother’s antique jewelry that I crush and use to make handmade watercolors. This piece also includes rubies, emeralds, 24k gold, deer fur, geodes, and glass.
View the original: https://youtu.be/1aG3WBkRUIk