For my summer session class, I assigned my students a paper (its actually a University mandate for 100-level art electives). I decided to have my students choose one artist from Klimt02 and discuss their work. I had a lot of fun reading their papers and gaining insight into some jewelers I don’t usually look at. Here are some of their finds:
tri, tri again
This morning I did my second triathlon of 2009. This one certainly had some advantages over the last one – it was women only (which is just cool), the field was much smaller (200 vs 750), and it was a pool swim (no freezing cold lake). I’m not totally happy with my time – I had a really rough run. I developed a horrible side stitch just past mile 1, and it took me a mile to work it out.
But I’m trying to focus on the positives. Even though my bike time was a little slower than I would have liked, I was pleased with how the bike went. I didn’t get passed by a single rider, and spent the bike just focusing on the next person in front of me, picking people off one by one. Then, part way through the ride, two guys out for their Sunday ride turned onto a road just as I was turning. One of the guys told me I had a really, really cool bike and wished me luck in the race. The two guys got a little ahead of me on the downhill, but I managed to hang with them on the next uphill and pass them on the uphill after that. How’s that for a confidence boost?
Now I’ve got to find a fall tri to do!
ornament prototypes
After getting everyone’s feedback on the ornament (both here and on Twitter), I was able to step back and really think about my collection and what I wanted to do. I also thought about some of my goals when designing the new collection, including the major goal of developing things I didn’t have to make. And yet as much as I love the new collection, I realize that the price point is a little high for many people, especially right now.
So it seems only fitting to develop a line of laser cut ornaments using the patterns in my new collection. They could function as a much more affordable version of my line. (Hopefully – I have sent the designs to my laser cutter for a quote yet.)
These are just the prototypes that I hand pierced to get a feel for the designs. What do you think? I still haven’t settled on how to hang them yet.
marking time
Part way through bowl #4, I started tracing the rim of the bowl to see the progression of the diameter. I like that it makes this reverse tree ring sort of effect – marking the history of my bowl.
It also reminds me of a chapter in Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, where he traces the history of the county by the rings in the tree they are cutting into for firewood.
4 and 5
I meant to post this on Thursday, but the day got away from me…
Bowl #4 is progressing rather slowly, because I’m trying to bring the sides up to vertical, so I went ahead and started #5. I’m experimenting with different forms to try to see what works for me. I keep asking myself, “what does a megan bowl look like?”
black, white, and grey
#4
When I left the studio on Thursday night, I was really disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to do any raising again until Tuesday. And by yesterday afternoon, I was jonesing to get started on bowl #4.
I’m not sure why I’ve been so compelled to do suddenly do all this raising. It started as a desire to remind myself that I knew how to do it. Its been almost three years since I taught the raising class, and I just wanted to check in with my muscle memory.
But raising one bowl probably should have fulfilled that. Instead, I moved right on to the next one. Perhaps its because the process is so gratifying – to go from a flat sheet of metal to something that can hold water. Or perhaps because the process is so physical compared to most of the work I’ve been doing lately. Its really gratifying to know that I’ve wrestled that flat sheet into exactly the form that I wanted. (Or sometimes not quite the form I’m after.)
And there’s a small part of me that is thinking if I continue out this exploration, perhaps I’ll get to a place where this works its way into my collection. I love the new items I’ve been designing, but I feel like so many people laser cut. I want to see if I can bring back a level of skill to my work that is indicative of seven years of higher education in metalsmithing. I want to distinguish myself from the pack.
I don’t really have all the answers, but I plan on continuing this exploration – making and thinking as I go.
the cutest dead animals
Thanks for all your feedback on my last post! Certainly lots of things to think about.
I wanted to share a few of the concept images that my brother made for an animation he is working on. You can read more about it on his blog. I just love the color palette and the simple, graphic quality of the animals. I think he should sell some of the concept art as prints in his Etsy shop. Don’t you?
the return of ornaments?
With only about 2 months to go until New York Gift, I’m really thinking hard about what products I’m going to have in my booth. I would really like to bring the ornaments into my wholesale line, but I’ve got a few decisions to make. I think the ornaments will be a good addition because they sell at a lower price point, and since this is an August show, buyers will be looking for holiday items.
However, I’m concerned that in their current incarnation, they won’t fit into the modern, graphic aesthetic I’m trying to convey in my booth and with my brand. So here are my questions:
Do I just focus on imagery using my loop leaf shape so that it relates to my other work, and forgo the more obvious holiday imagery?
Do I limit the metals – just steel instead of copper? And if I’m using steel, do I powder coat, paint, or leave them bare?
Should I use a different hanging method? Something simpler and cleaner than the ribbon? Or do they need a hanging method at all? Is a hole enough, and then people can supply their own hook?
These are changes that I’m considering for a wholesale line of the ornaments – the original version could still be available in my Etsy shop.
So, what should I do? Your thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your help!
the jig is up
When I was in grad school, I used to marvel at how quickly my friend Corey could raise a bowl. Turns out that with a little practice and some 22 gauge copper, I too can raise a bowl in an afternoon. Corey, I’m on to you!
(Actually, I could never hold a candle to Corey’s metalsmithing skills. I own two of her bowls, and my bowls could never be in the same room as hers. They would just be embarrassed.)
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