Lazy Afternoon

Having one of those lazy afternoons; can't quite get motivated to do much of anything. So, took the camera and went for a lazy walk around the neighborhood, taking just a few shots of odds & ends I noticed along the way. Here a couple of my favorites. Will I do anything else with them - make drawings, start a line of photo-image cards or prints? Not sure yet. At the moment, I don't feel like doing anything....

Another Marriage

I've managed to make another combination of two of my art forms; this time I've put together drawing and collage. I started with a drawing based on a vintage photograph, using a very soft, dark pencil and oil pastel, and added pieces of wallpaper from a 1932 sample book. It's a new thing for me after a long break from drawing. Not sure yet where it's going, but I'm intrigued.

Marriage

Finally! I've found a way to combine my two passions: jewelry and collage.

The Romantic

Balance

One thing I struggle with in my art life is balance. I'm concentrating on my jewelry lately, as that's where I have the most monetary success so far. But I love my collage as well, and have difficulty finding time to fit it in. Add to that an almost full time job, and the fact that I'd also like to fit some drawing back into the mix...

In any case, I recently realized that none of my non-jewelry work has shown up in the blog, and decided to post a few of my favorites. I may just throw one in without text now and then, so that more of my pieces will be out somewhere in the world for others to see.

A Bonanza of Buttons

Trust that the universe will provide, and the universe will provide. Not only did I enjoy quite respectable sales at galleries and shows this holiday season; but have received a bounteous supply of buttons as the new years begin. At one of the shows I met a generous young woman who'd collected a multitude of buttons at estate sales. She was cleaning things out, and ready to let go. Last week she dropped by to give them to me. Afterwards when I sat down to go through them, I was astounded by the volume and variety: mother-of-pearl, plastic, metal, walnut shells; all sizes, all shapes... hundreds of wonderful buttons. I felt as if I were sifting through a pirate's treasure chest, or that Santa had just come. And then there were more. A co-worker at my day job regularly haunts thrift stores, and she presented me with a stash of buttons she'd found. Not only that, but I've been commissioned to make her several pieces of jewelry from some of her favorites. I feel blessed, and grateful for all the folks who gather supplies for my work. And itching to get started on some new work to take advantage of my recent bounty.

Persephone

Fall progresses; winter nears. I've just done the Abernethy School show; finished 4 collage pieces for the Little Thing show coming up at Guardino Gallery; and am preparing for the da Vinci School show the first week of December. Immediately following that, I descend into the underworld, just like Persephone did after eating that fateful pomegranate seed. (And I just opened a pomegranate this morning. Coincidence? I think not.) My day job (which I like - don't get me wrong!) requires the increased schedule and energy expenditure of the holiday season in retail. It uses up everything I have; it makes me feel like Persephone, going to live in the darkness for the winter. My life becomes very simple: work, eat, sleep. No time or energy for anything else. Creative pursuits go on the back burner until the new year. Meantime, I can look forward to that time when I can replenish my reserves: energy, buttons, jewelry for the next round of shows... I'll have new ideas to explore, new work to make, and that's always an exciting place to be!