new goodies

Since yesterday was my day off (pool and lounging - it was SO sweet!); today was my work day. And I got quite alot done. I was motivated by a G-chat convo with a fellow metalsmith - I couldn't be out done and not get into the studio myself - as he was going to work in his studio early in the morning.

Anywho, I continue to work with deer antler, now having a bit of more innocent fun and play. Below are new earrings with black coral twigs.

And some other fun projects below; my gold nugget no-solder tab set deer antlers. I made these for two purposes; to show my students how to make a small pin using tabs and easy mechanisms.

These were quick photos I took before leaving the studio. I'll have upclose shots of the earrings tomorrow.

Deer antler earrings and black coral

Another shot.

Tube rivet sample for the beginning metals I teach at Emerge.

Golden nugget no-solder brooches. $15 each - soon to be uploaded on my Etsy site.

Another shot.

Backs of my no-solder brooches.
(Roller printed lace on the back for an extra touch).

These lil' nuggets will be on sale this Wednesday at the Umbrella Market in the Downtown G-Vegas area.

Hope you had a great weekend and thanks for reading!

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sneak preview

Went into the studio this afternoon and sat at my bench for about 40 minutes contemplating what to do first (psst. if you know me I'm can be very indecisive). But I finally got to moving and grooving with my deer antler and GOLD LEAF!

Gold leaf is so much fun, when you want to add that tacky but seductive goldness to your jewelry.

Affordable lil' brooches on the way...
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Featured Artist: Ken Bova

Ken Bova's happy face

Ken Bova is my featured artist today for several reasons; 1. Ken is a fantastic instructor 2. Ken is a fantastic artist and 3. Ken is a fantastic person

As you can see he's pretty much an all around awesome person; as mentioned above. Ken Bova is a visiting instructor at ECU's School of Art and Design Metals and Jewelry program. And Ken is leaving us at the end of this Spring Semester. I'm SO bummed, because I didn't sign up for the courses he's teaching this semester because I thought he'd be around longer....but I can't complain, Ken has been kind enough to review my artist statement and I'm so grateful for that!

A mini-album of Ken's workshops.

Ken's work is intriguing because of the many techniques he uses and how he uses them. Ken creates a landscape of different textures and colors on his brooches and jewelry.

You can find his jewelry in numerous private collections and in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Racine Art Museum, the Georgia Art Museum, and the Tacoma Art Museum, among others. (per Ken's website).

The brooch below really attracts me with the cobalt blue, gold leaf and texture of the setting. I'm not sure which materials are which, like the candy wrapper and bicycle reflector but arrangement of it all reminds me of a butterfly wing.

Gleam Revisited

3 x 1.5 inches approx.
(images not to be reproduced without consent of artist)
Bob's Gala Pin

2 x 2 inches approx.
(images not to be reproduced without consent of artist)

Sterling, 23k gold leaf, coral, wood, pearls

Ken is teaching Contemporary techniques (electroforming, creating new and different pinback and other techniques) and Enameling II this Spring semester. Both of which I still need to take.

I really enjoy Ken's style and approach to teaching because he makes it so accessible and easy to understand. Though I haven't sat in on his class, I've copied some of the handouts he gives other students and I'm delighted at how he describes a technique step-by-step.

Even though Ken will be leaving ECU soon, he has definitely left a lasting impression on the metals program and myself.

Thank you for reading!
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