Process Shot of the Week

Quote of the Week

Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, grasping,…Stop it and just DO!…

Don’t worry about cool, make your own uncool. Make your own, your own world. If you fear, make it work for you – draw & paint your fear and anxiety…

You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to DO!…

Try to do some BAD work – the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell – you are not responsible for the world – you are only responsible for your work – so DO IT. And don’t think that your work has to conform to any preconceived form, idea or flavor. It can be anything you want it to be…

I know that you (or anyone) can only work so much and the rest of the time you are left with your thoughts. But when you work or before your work you have to empty you [sic] mind and concentrate on what you are doing. After you do something it is done and that’s that. After a while you can see some are better than others but also you can see what direction you are going. I’m sure you know all that. You also must know that you don’t have to justify your work – not even to yourself.

excerpted from a letter from Sol Lewitt to Eva Hesse

Via Keri Smith, author of Wreck This Journal and others.

Books

I've managed to make two more structures out of the Alissa Golden book: The Snake Book and the Twist Card/Book. The Snake Book structure sat around for awhile before I came up with the content, but I'm pretty happy with the end result. The Twist Book was so simple it was a bit tricky. I think the paper I used was a little thick, or I should have just used one sheet of double sided paper.

On deck: the Brush Book!

Process Shot of the Week

The Art of Enamel

Thursday evening I rode out to Manteo with Ken Bova and Mi Sook Hur to attend the Art of Enamel opening reception. I always love the drive out to the Outer Banks, and it was great to catch up with Ken and Mi Sook. The College of the Albemarle has a fantastic little gallery, and the work was just spectacular. I still can't believe I was in a show with so many of my enameling idols!
Rock Brooches by me.
Gallery
Jennifer Wells
Marissa Saneholtz

Mi Sook Hur


The show is up through April 6th. If you're headed out that way I highly reccommend you stop in and see it!

Trunk Show Prep

I'm failing spectacularly at making something everyday, but I'm still trying. I do think about making everyday, and I know I should be making, which gives me hope that I'll keep striving for a lifestyle that will allow that. I'm just still in the beginning stages, piecing everything together. And from most everyone I've talked to, what I'm going through seems to be par for the course.
However, I'm participating in the trunk show at the SNAG conference in Phoenix this year, and I'm beginning to panic about having enough work! I'm trying to work up some new mica pieces as well as improve upon the older designs. I know late May seems very far away from early March, but when you only get one or two solid days in which to work in the studio on top of teaching and working, and coordinating an exhibition. . . well. . . I've just been feeling very overwhelmed lately. But, I'm pretty pleased with where these earrings are heading.

I've also been doing some enameling, which is good for my soul. These will be slate black cloisonne brooches for the trunk show.

Back to work! Thanks for reading!

Art of Enamel Exhibition

I've long been an admirer of Katherine Osgood's work so I was thrilled when she asked me to participate in an exhibition. The Art of Enamel opens at the College of The Albemarle Professional Arts Gallery in Manteo, North Carolina and runs from March 8 to April 6. I'm so excited to be in an exhibition with these talented people:

Linda Darty, Robert Ebendorf, Marjorie Simon, Barbara Minor, Deborah Lozier, Jan Harrell, Mi-Sook Hur, Ken Bova, Marissa Saneholtz, Sandra McEwen, Kristin Mitsu Shoga, Charity Hall, Kristi Kloss, Felicia Szorad, Adrienne Grafton, Julie Brooks, Irene Schindler, Jane Wells Harrison, Kathryn Osgood, Ashley Gilreath, Sharon Massey, Betty McKim, Jennifer Wells, Lillian Jones, Kate Cathey.

I don't know that I'll be able to make the opening, but I'm going to try and make a point of seeing this show in person.