Still Figuring it Out

It’s hot, it’s cold, it’s sunny, it snows

I haven’t been in the studio as much as usual lately. There are so many reasons why. It’s too cold, it’s too warm (gardening), too many other things happening, lack of ideas, etc. That doesn’t mean I’ve been sitting idle.

I’ve been working on some other creative pursuits like trying out painting and writing again. I’m taking a free class in one and just jumping in to the other. There is everything I’ve been doing with the PA Guild of Craftsmen & the Yellow Breeches Chapter boards. I’ve been doing non-artistic things as well (gasp.)

But I’ve been mulling things over in my head and I’m ready to come our of my winter hibernation. It’s hard sometimes to build your motivation back up after taking some time off (even if you really needed it.) Not to mention all the vitriol being spewed online has kept me away from places like Facebook & Twitter.

There is a change in the way everyone is experiencing art and it’s tough finding the crest of that wave as well. So that’s something else I’ve been trying to figure out. It’s a time of finding myself I guess. So where do you look when you’re looking for inspiration? What motivates you?

SBC IX – 3 Players, Three Different Bowls

First, let’s check out the other two Super Bowls that were made in this year’s challenge.

First this libation cup by Lew Shieber. I love that he says about the project this piece is a part of “from a culture that doesn’t exist in our history, but might have in an alternate time.” That is totally how I think of my work!

part of the Elsewhen Antiquities project ©2017 Lew Shieber 2 7/8″ x 3 5/8″ x 5 5/8″ across the handles. 16 gauge brass, raised, chased, etched, and fabricated

Next is a video of Laurie Jane Kern’s wonderful patinated thick, thick, thick copper bowl. I love the music, hehe.

Here’s an image of the finished bowl

Super Bowl IX ©2017 Laurie Jane Kern 6″ square copper sunk and heat patinated

SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted

Now onto my entry!

This year I decided to try and do a simpler bowl. Not the biggest thing I’ve ever done (like last year) not the one with the most parts or the most rivets. Simple and easy with a few subtle bits to break up the larger whole.

Well that kind of worked. The bowl was the size that I wanted, but it morphed away from my original simpler design to become what it was meant to be. This one it probably the least bowl-y of all my bowls, but it does still have that concave resting place in the middle of it.

SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted

The original design was somewhat yin-yangish, but I ended up rotating the placement of the two larger pieces making the whole design more dynamic. The u-shapes help reign it in a bit drawing the eye back into the bowl and the base (as always) was a bit of a struggle to figure out but ended up complementing the bowl.

Now if I can just figure out a name…

SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted

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Fresh Start in 2017

Hanging Arch Necklace ©2016 WTEK brass

2016 was a different kind of year and this year I need to shake things up a bit. First of all, I am no longer a staff member at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen…I am a Board Member!

Secondly, I am not planning on doing any craft shows at this time. This doesn’t mean I won’t, just that for now I am focusing on different things.

Now onto 2017 events!

The 9th Super Bowl Challenge is February 5th! Start getting your ideas in order and get ready to make something by that day.

For the next show at JAM Gallery I will have jewelry. It is up through the end of February 2017.

I am proud to announce that I will be in a two woman show next Spring with Kim Banister at the Carlisle Arts & Learning Center in Carlisle, PA. More details soon!

***Update*** The CALC show is actually in 2018

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