"The fingers can feel......."

The fingers can feel what the eyes can't see. I heard this along the way from someone in my metal clay journey. (Can't remember who.)

This is so true, especially for us old folks. For me the worst part of growing old is not being able to see as well. I don't like driving after dark, I can't read the fine print, and I can't see what I'm doing in metal clay without my dorky visor. It's downright annoying. The hubby gets mad at me because I can't see where the golf ball landed. (If I would hit it straight, it wouldn't be as big of a problem.) I even lose sight of the little arrow on the computer screen and have to drag it to the corner to find it.

So, when I'm working with the clay it definitely is important to run the hands and fingers over the piece (somewhat like a blind person.) The fingers can feel an unwanted bump or rough spot and smooth it before it goes into the kiln. (Much easier to do before.... than after.) And, if it is sharp now, it will be sharper later.

The picture is of my oldest grandson wearing my visor. (He thinks it's cool!) He looks cute it in...... I don't!

Who am I?

In an earlier post I talked about trying to find a "style" that expresses who I am. Without realizing it, I guess I have.

The artists from the Transit Studios are painting a car to put into the Oil Heritage Parade next weekend. I missed the first two painting sessions but was able to make it last Sunday evening. I told them I wasn't a painter and I'm not. (Although I sure did enjoy painting my share of the fender. I didn't want to quit.)

Anyway, one of the other artists, Swan Daashuur (also a jewelry artist) came by when I was painting. She made the comment that any one who knew my jewelry could tell that was my painting. My painting looked like my jewelry.

The painting wasn't planned. In fact I had no idea what I was going to paint on the car. My business name was the first thing, then the fine silver and from there I just started to paint. (That is most often how I create my jewelry.)

So, who am I? I am twining tendrils, neurons and connectors, swirling and blending organic forms that fade into each other. (for the time being!)

Other views of the car with paintings by other Transit artists.

Talk to Me

A former colleague of mine, Norm Milliken, did a reading of his poetry tonight in the Transit Buildings Great Room. This is the first time I've been to a poetry reading and the first time I've heard Norm's poetry. I was mesmerized by Norm's poetry and by his voice. (He has a great voice for reading poetry.) His poetry was inspired by his experiences in Viet Nam, fairy tales and his family. He also talked about how one doesn't just sit down and decide to do a good poem in a certain time frame. It takes time. The mind has to simmer and filter and work on it. It may take days, months or years for something to come together.

It's the same with the visual arts. No one sets out to make a masterpiece. It's like the cosmic forces all have to come together in just the right time and place for it all to work. Artist's can't predict the impact their work will have. Pieces that seem right don't click. Those that don't seem right, sometimes are. It's a strange process.

Now I know that I'm never going to create a masterpiece. But, my creative process takes a certain method just the same. For me, the work has to "talk" to me. I have work laying out all over my classroom tables. (There is room for six students when the tables aren't covered.) It lays there for days, weeks and sometime months. Every time I see it, I ask the question.... "Who are you?"

Sometimes I put it away and pull it out with a fresh perspective. Often it goes back in the drawer. The work evolves and it develops a life of it's own. Many, many pieces start out as one thing and end up as something different. I've even been known to take a piece that I've been wearing and re-work it. Sometimes you just have to live with it to know if you like it or not.

My sketchbook isn't over flowing but there are a fair amount of sketches in it. Sketching saves time and money when working out a piece. I know I should be digging into those designs and working on some of them. But, I have a tendency to jump in feet first and then "feel" my way around. Quite often, I work in reverse. Make a piece, then try to figure out what I am going to do with it through sketching.

Talking to colleagues for opinions and suggestions is another good idea. And, so is talking to your work (and listening!)

Foxburg Logo

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

My sister in law was up from Florida several weeks ago and we were showing her around. One of the places we visited was Foxburg, Pa which is about twenty five miles from here. We've been there before to eat dinner at the Allegheny Grille. The food is good and the atmosphere is wonderful. We sat outside as it was a beautiful day and enjoyed the view of the river flowing by. Besides the grille there is a winery, a hotel (The Foxburg Inn), bike rentals, Segway tours (not sure of that spelling but they are the motorized stand-up type of vehicles that police and security guards use), a country store and a pizza shop. (Such beautiful buildings.) We checked them all out. (Going back and do the Segway thing sometime...... looks like so much fun!)

Anyway, we stopped at the Pizza shop to get a drink and the woman behind the counter admired my jewelry. (Had on the big cuff bracelet for one thing. Ya know when one makes jewelry.... one has to wear that jewelry out.) So I told her I made it (getting better at promoting myself) and guess what.... they had been looking for someone to make jewelry for them with their logo on it.

I delivered four pendants today and plan on making some pins for them soon, along with some earrings and such. All four pendants are slightly different.

Now, I want to try to create a poll to see which fox is your favorite. (Just for curiosity's sake) I never did a poll before so hopefully it will work. Please vote for your favorite. The fox is the same on them all but the style is different. Some have a patina, some are shiny, some are incised and some have a linear relief effect. I'll number the pictures to make it simpler. Thanks!