Welcome to my world of ICE resin with rings and other things!
Tag: jewelry
Posted with BlogsyMy Messy Studio Table Courtesy of Seth Apter
A couple of weeks ago Seth Apter’s blog was recommended by a friend as a “don’t miss out” blog to read. Upon arriving the first post I read was one about allowing the world to see us, we as artists, in our true habitat. (you can read the post here: Seth’s Call for The Studio Table)
Also known as the cluttered studio and messy worktable!
This is my main work table area. Normally this is 4′ X 3′ but, as you can see, I’m working in about 1′ X 1′.
Why are we always worried about cleaning everything up? What’s the deal? Isn’t it true to form if you’re a working artist then you have a messy work area?
I know for me that this is completely, without a doubt, true almost everyday.
So here goes…here’s your MESSY tour. And believe me it is. I’m in the midst of working at the stocking of several shops and three shows plus two classes in about 6 weeks time. Oy!
This is the opposite side of my main work area, also the same size, but now covered in resin supplies plus some other things.
I know where everything is…it appears normal to me.
And this is another work area usually 8′ X 3′. Not sure there’s even an inch there if I wanted it to be.
I have two more full lengths of counter space that I’m not showing off. They look pretty much the same just serve different purposes.
So…what does your space look like? Are you productive? I may be have a messy space but I can crank out some artsy stuff!!
Lots of good things happen over on Seth’s blog!
Until next time!
Susan
Artsy Fartsy Almost Fail
On the ever present train ride that is the artistic journey one tries to do things that are different…intriquing…maybe with a twist…?
Forgetting that the universe includes something called the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) principle i seem to forge ahead most days achieving close intimacy with the complicated. Seems i needed to come up with a class proposal. A new idea, a fun idea. To say i labored over this would be a gross understatement. I pulled out all the supplies, drew a bunch of templates, created a couple dozen pieces of God knows what, resin’d, shrunk, journaled, sculpted, painted, trimmed, and cut. For about three weeks. Everyday. The pictures are the result of my efforts.
Lets see if i can explain what these would be in a class situation. First, what i hope would be, a group would learn how to do some doodling to come up with a template which would then be cut out of shrink plastic. One side we color the other we journal on…random words. While these are in the oven we pull out the pictures or, my original idea, was to have the group take selfies (the black and white photos are me, i was about six), which we would cut to fit the shrink frames. Then we glue, then we resin…then we play with polymer clay for bases, bake again, paint them in funky patterns, insert bunny eared and crowned semi sculptures of shrink with selfies…and admire. Maybe not quite that fast but….
So…once finished i submitted the class proposal and thought, “ah, good work done!” About two days later i got a “thanks but no thanks” note. (Not really that abrupt but they let me know it wasn’t an idea their clients would enjoy) At first i was upset…all that work and an end product i thought was quite fun. Ahhhh….back to the drawing board.
And another 24 hours, i re-arranged the class practicing the K.I.S.S. principle and the second one they liked. All was not lost.
The moral of the story…stop overthinking, obsessing, hyper-focusing about your artwork. Let it flow…go with it…allow it to run freely from you. Stop doubting your ability and over doing your work. Everything you do is worthy and wonderful.
And always apply the K.I.S.S. Principle…
(Anybody want to take a crazy class? I have some ideas…)
My Favorite Show…(better late than never)
Bead Soup Hoppers…..you can find my bead soup here: https://www.susansartcircus.com/bead-soup-all-at-once/
Over Mother’s Day I had my booth full of things at the Bernardo Winery in San Diego, California. It was the 37th year that this show has been going on and about 10 years that I have participated.
The winery is a beautiful spot. Filled with antiques from the century they’ve been raising grapes on the property. Hundreds of olive trees line the walkways and buildings. Lush landscaping and flowers all around. Many small specialty shops and, of course, the wine tasting room plus they have a restaurant in the middle of everything! Needless to say it’s my favorite place and I get to be there (as long as Veronica juries me in) twice each year…Mother’s Day weekend and again the weekend a couple weeks before Halloween.
This time my whole family came on Mother’s Day. My son…
…he fell in love with my friend April’s Yorkie, Suzy. Isn’t she cute?
My daughter came all day to help out.
And my husband, well, let’s just say he found some new friends.
Whenever you get the chance go visit the Bernardo Winery…you won’t regret it!
Christmas with Ice and Santa!
Christmas is coming?! Really? Didn’t we just do Christmas?
I have to admit that Christmas has not been my favorite holiday over the past decade. When you’re on the road, as I am, through the holiday season Santa is more work than pleasure. Add to that 10+ years of this love/hate relationship and thinking about Christmas seems really daunting.
So, several months ago I was sent some beautiful Rue Romantique pieces from the Ice girls and asked to do something for Christmas. My first honest response in my head was, “oh no, not that!” I’ve wrestled with it ever since…until this past week.
Knowing our blog hop was fast approaching I knew I had better wrap my head around it or be totally delinquent. Out came all the pieces and more from my design team stash…ribbons, the component Rue pieces, resin, bezels, papers….all of it all over the studio. I stared at it for several days. Pushing it aside I went back to my all time favorite material, shrink plastic, and just began to play with some holiday stamps. Then it dawned on me! K.I.S.S. Stop over thinking it and keep it simple stupid!
Merry Christmas and Santa emerged…
I pulled out the alcohol inks in red and green to add some holiday color to the components. Wrapped a bit of vintage ribbon to the bottom.
Santa had to have some shiny, sparkly areas so out came the iridescent glitter added to some ModPodge then painted into his fur, beard, hat, and sleeves. Also some glitter was added to the component piece then resin over the top to seal.
Here it is a bit closer so you can see how wonderfully the glitter falls into the component grooves then lights up under the resin. Santa and all the pieces also have a resin coating. Such a nice gloss to reflect the lights when these are hanging from the tree. The bottom crystals are also from the Connie Crystals…last blog post…beautiful, faceted teardrop shapes. They made the perfect sparkling end to the base of both.
Here’s to Christmas…a better relationship with Santa and wishing you all the meaning of the season!
Check all the fantastic Christmas projects for the hop!! Don’t miss any of them!
ICE Resin site http://wp.me/p1MCno-2W3
Lexi Grenzer http://lexigrenzer.blogspot.com/2013/11/rue-romantique-ornament-blog-hop.html
Pamela Huntington http://pamelahuntington.typepad.com/february_2007/2013/11/handmade-holiday-blog-hop.html
Jen Cushman http://wp.me/p1lhEq-Gb
Until next time…
