Yes, I Still Make Jewelry

You may think with all my posts about paintings that I'm not making any jewelry. You're right, not a lot, but I'm still into it. I'm always trying new things, picking up new books. I'm a book fiend, and can't get enough of them. I recently picked up the latest Belle Armoire Jewelry, which while in the magazine section, is priced like a book and gives a ton of examples like a book.

The hot trend for the last few years has seemed to be using resin in jewelry. While resin is a specific product, usually two parts that you mix together, you can also find many easier things that will give a resin-like quality. Even a strong clear glue, the glossier the better, can give a resin look.

I made this necklace when I was challenged to create something using a piece of sheet music. I cut rounds out of the sheet using my scrapbooking circle cutter. I fashioned copper wire rings with loops so they would be charms on the necklace. Using my chasing hammer, I flattened the wire loops. Then I place a loop on top of a round of sheet music, and squeezed a resin-substitute into the circle. The wire was a barrier so the resin would stay in the circle. I let it dry, then I was able to create this fabulous necklace that I finished with tied fibers. Come to think of it, the other hot thing with jewelry is including fibers -- ribbons, yarn, strings. I'd say this necklace is quite cutting edge.

Chemical Landscape

I'm really liking how this painting developed. This is another one that went through many configurations before the final piece. I'm going to enter this one in a Landscapes show in the next couple of weeks. You can see here how it evolved into a "Chemical Landscape."

Here's is where I started thinking of it as a landscape.

I got very dark here. You'll see in the next photo where I lightened it up.

I changed its orientation and like it much better this way. I added some radioactive flowers, chemical dust flying through the air, and there you have it.

A Gathering of Palates

Recently I had some paintings in a show at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, Florida. I don't think I've shown this one in my blog before, so I thought I'd share it now. This painting made me think of a dinner party, where you have a fine mix of foods and a fine mix of friends. I call this painting "A Gathering of Palates."