The first week of classes kept me away from the studio (and this blog), but the last two days have been about some serious studio time.
Unfortunately, I’m experiencing a love/hate relationship with this pattern. Yesterday, I was excited about it. Today, not so much…
At least the first side is finished, now on to the second.
Archives for 2007
I’m feeling slightly better about the new pillow pattern (though I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s not as strong as the last pillow.) But I do think that some of the parts will make nice brooches (if I scale them down a bit.) Unfortunately, the new semester starts tomorrow, so that’s the end of my daily studio time. With some major entry deadlines fast approaching, I hope I don’t lose momentum…
another day…
no rest for the weary
These are the designs for the next pillow. I had planned to start something bigger after finishing the last pillow, but I’ve decided to apply to some of the bigger craft shows (ACE, Philly, etc.) with my pillows, and I want one more for the application.
Looking at the designs, I think it’s strange that I usually like my pencil drawings of the pattern, then hate the pen designs that I manipulate in Photoshop (I blame my poor tracing skills), but ultimately like the pattern again once I make it in wire.
This pillow will be approximately 16″, with a band separating the two panels (more like a cushion).
flickr
finished
The new pillow is finished (except for the surface treatment). I apologize for the bad picture – its not worth shooting right until the surface is finished.
I’m feeling a bit conflicted because I think I’ve exhausted this series conceptually, but not visually. I still have so many more ideas for pillows, chairs, etc. I’m hoping this is a normal, post grad-school dilemma – and, hey, at least I’m making work.
waiting
the backstory: from vision to reality
Be sure to stop by the Towson Commons Gallery tomorrow from 6-9 for The Backstory: From Vision to Reality – an exhibition featuring jewelry, hollowware, and sculpture by Towson University undergraduate and graduate jewelry and metalsmithing students and alumni. Sponsored by the Towson University Metals & Jewelry Club.
a little short
I didn’t quite make my goal of finishing the pillow today, but I’m only slightly bummed, because I’m happy with the way its turning out. Plus, I couldn’t be more excited about my new studio music… The Complete Million Dollar Quartet. Elvis featured prominently in my undergrad metals studio (nothing fixes a bad day like Heartbreak Hotel), so I was thrilled to get this album of a 1956 jam session with Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. I highly recommend it for your studio enjoyment.
art by committee
As I near completion on the latest pillow (I’m hoping tomorrow at the latest), I can’t help but think… I miss grad school. In grad school, we practiced art by committee – meaning if you had a problem or needed to make a critical decision, you asked for feedback from the other people in the room.
I’m trying to determine the surface treatment for this latest pillow, and I’m totally stuck. The first pillows – made from copper – had an oil painted surface. I liked this at the time, but I’m not sure it matches the more modern quality of the new patterns, plus, it doesn’t protect the steel from rust.
My thesis pieces were powder coated – which protects them from rust – but then I’m forced to make some color decisions. (I have 100 lbs of hot pink powder sitting around, but I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’ve also got some brick red, and this nice matte brown – but I’m not sure how I feel about those in my current b&w phase.)
And of course all my current jewelry is bare steel that’s been sealed with Johnson’s paste wax. But with a larger area such as the pillow, its hard to get a consistent surface finish.
Plus, then there are other choices… powder-coating matte black to look like bare steel, powder-coating then oil painting, etc… I really miss grad school.