tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52324165915917815292023-11-16T06:18:36.927-08:00Donna's Jewelry, Gardens, and ArtUpdates on My Line of JewelryDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-82010316589878091712011-11-01T11:50:00.001-07:002011-11-01T13:31:19.873-07:00Final Touches<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Vbqnaf5bWg0tJWT01ATH47G9gQotOiUmpZMnBH16dIOTR90la8MRzE6NJLlYhR0RIqxLJ5z_5agFDrZ5aUptZMx8PqycFtu0npbbSrERsKvoObR2w8lgfWC5NcJUqE4UsgPIZZqEQ4gv/s1600/side+view.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Vbqnaf5bWg0tJWT01ATH47G9gQotOiUmpZMnBH16dIOTR90la8MRzE6NJLlYhR0RIqxLJ5z_5agFDrZ5aUptZMx8PqycFtu0npbbSrERsKvoObR2w8lgfWC5NcJUqE4UsgPIZZqEQ4gv/s320/side+view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670103028293235810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBvNSA5eqn2cm7zr3W8OBD3fs41DKhGMLQbzW_yL-mdrJrdXAd01QMqaUiEJos2Wdt0rGtLs9GeNvfXpyNRaGia-0Py2NVk_MJ60KF7d-uejumtrKex4aPAONSP3f2o1BFksx7UkFlLp4/s1600/DSCN5702.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBvNSA5eqn2cm7zr3W8OBD3fs41DKhGMLQbzW_yL-mdrJrdXAd01QMqaUiEJos2Wdt0rGtLs9GeNvfXpyNRaGia-0Py2NVk_MJ60KF7d-uejumtrKex4aPAONSP3f2o1BFksx7UkFlLp4/s320/DSCN5702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670102783981132786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6MWtqjBhaT_e846eWgra64BnHMY1MTBgNd1jX5RlCcM4QbHvWaAoOFxtajhxuLbo8toIdwtEiJxdZJGMpLbIfP6s4D3Tbm2dRJHHrRU0K0MhQAa_81cLREVIUbBx5y6Gp1UYHMQgu-1b/s1600/DSCN5700.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_XF7uB1PfJMeT7eZUh_yecg1hFlCJAc8DRxGXdp9ngyJwbmoJTPRtC_8ci93M6oMUlNebHZEveZMRFbEhsSDGUy0NrQeGRbnmatcoWPGfCgvA7C4DVjyiRdQ9BjLxrXUfr4TL8MEAP1r/s1600/back+view.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_XF7uB1PfJMeT7eZUh_yecg1hFlCJAc8DRxGXdp9ngyJwbmoJTPRtC_8ci93M6oMUlNebHZEveZMRFbEhsSDGUy0NrQeGRbnmatcoWPGfCgvA7C4DVjyiRdQ9BjLxrXUfr4TL8MEAP1r/s320/back+view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670102044950739378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">These are some shots of the vessel with a coat of varnish and showing, in the second shot, the way to adjust the length of the cord.<br />I love the way the varnish adds depth and a glass-like shine to the sanded and buffed polymer clay.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-89615977488862054582011-10-30T08:17:00.000-07:002011-11-01T10:49:38.811-07:00Modified Design<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3HYzecTXWgC1hJkhL0GRJHJcPTp2va0EVOxnTVymfq4y1NRBBigB5BQ3ng_sSVIpuddbf_eCYnchyqvdsR3NzU6peVfoHIhC_V2AHLUL8ArjEGNBOJpV8ADhqVYCKRpPoWe2v9fvikvZ/s1600/eyelets.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPC6k68M_z_OUxmxQU7_z887ZSbEbXWGLZCXaFbEPIcg9bm3ISUXIbdRn4tlzpQDJoOrMVfnA2U1ZLZSULej9Zc3hDJKm2ODNKeZT5ORvETT6bWdQfhkIZav3rzi0-ZD9U_lt0zEgomwq2/s1600/smaller.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiionnZdUo-ij0EWzshBFjk-vc7__02nxd9dsEg9R-RWd7IJyfTIvYioSX9uFWV0on-RF7FUmaqHm24laYGzGsU2-Zm17uXQBbO_YLbKPe0soWXMTMNuNb1zZUbFnl9qW5IJWmQIk_POAuJ/s1600/smoother.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiionnZdUo-ij0EWzshBFjk-vc7__02nxd9dsEg9R-RWd7IJyfTIvYioSX9uFWV0on-RF7FUmaqHm24laYGzGsU2-Zm17uXQBbO_YLbKPe0soWXMTMNuNb1zZUbFnl9qW5IJWmQIk_POAuJ/s320/smoother.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669307285721913922" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to remove the brass findings at the sides of my vessel and drilled holes through the bottom and top, to suspend it, in the traditional way of inros. I was worried that the attachments could eventually be bent, through wear, and possibly crack the clay at the sides. I also saw that, to my eye, the extra brass, though attractive, seemed to make the piece too busy. The modified style does not have either of those drawbacks and should be even more durable.<br />I took some informal shots again to demonstrate. Once varnished the depth of the colors will be emphasized to a greater degree, and will be more obvious in higher quality photos. This is just one of the quick shots I've taken, as I progress through the little project.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-39996766460699946162011-10-20T19:16:00.000-07:002011-10-30T08:16:47.849-07:00Wearable Vessels Evolving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gYYiM8Ts9SK520THCQCDh7MceZ10R78b6Qgr_ZBBwLPcYdimOb2sHj6F1ZpZ0FxH5OB1PY19WZsAX0-hDnnzcviwix6Ro0L8oRHeTWavSjcJkfuJiAZAp5zOqGALdR0IvA58LlLHeNC5/s1600/DSCN5666.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gYYiM8Ts9SK520THCQCDh7MceZ10R78b6Qgr_ZBBwLPcYdimOb2sHj6F1ZpZ0FxH5OB1PY19WZsAX0-hDnnzcviwix6Ro0L8oRHeTWavSjcJkfuJiAZAp5zOqGALdR0IvA58LlLHeNC5/s320/DSCN5666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665772312971094034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF4hgsaFWRUT1_POIs5bLFgu6JpebjPSbR8sbkrcwZI2Q8SBIzWXEBY1u0u_PWw9Ld0TAfxs_yfE8Q9PVLHNtrciVt7gEVJ9b5yPXJUEFAVdPfGahSx7ENo_YVzo0llYvCSDNk18Eptwq/s1600/opened.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF4hgsaFWRUT1_POIs5bLFgu6JpebjPSbR8sbkrcwZI2Q8SBIzWXEBY1u0u_PWw9Ld0TAfxs_yfE8Q9PVLHNtrciVt7gEVJ9b5yPXJUEFAVdPfGahSx7ENo_YVzo0llYvCSDNk18Eptwq/s320/opened.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665771777480134034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OJxQajsyY2jKJxYNkYdPcw6jo4Zt5igFGxaaQsi0HKpQnKdByBD0zoKX3cZCsNKLDu6pM49RuyXYWewqH02seXFnZ7c1IDBNCmKdpDuMf4WTHWhfdn4hsYhZOW6WHAajv-Ls_vqiU2mf/s1600/DSCN5668.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OJxQajsyY2jKJxYNkYdPcw6jo4Zt5igFGxaaQsi0HKpQnKdByBD0zoKX3cZCsNKLDu6pM49RuyXYWewqH02seXFnZ7c1IDBNCmKdpDuMf4WTHWhfdn4hsYhZOW6WHAajv-Ls_vqiU2mf/s320/DSCN5668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665771332454944546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCIu3Pe4xdDBpXn2fNP04BYw7cS3VfPONByzFXGaRA2am4XDU3Z3xhIRdj6zzud4RqC3lY5ZKXsTNJCnJroWvdrDKxwMJ7oAcSHsTn6y4ZaOf6xdaodPZk0QzOKVBRmJjppBvKlYt9KwZ/s1600/quick+fixed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCIu3Pe4xdDBpXn2fNP04BYw7cS3VfPONByzFXGaRA2am4XDU3Z3xhIRdj6zzud4RqC3lY5ZKXsTNJCnJroWvdrDKxwMJ7oAcSHsTn6y4ZaOf6xdaodPZk0QzOKVBRmJjppBvKlYt9KwZ/s320/quick+fixed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665771098608520114" border="0" /></a><br />I've been continuing on my quest to create wearable vessels and have been mastering new techniques. This also includes new forays into caning and mica shift. In my newest piece, the canework captured the mica shift beautifully.<br />I molded the clay around an original form so it is truly one of a kind. This vessel, based on an inro, (small lacquered, wearable vessels originating in Japan) is bigger than my first, and I plan to gradually work up to more practical pieces big enough to use as small purses.<br />The Japanese inros were decorated all the way around, from what I understand, and so are my vessels.<br />I have some shots of it, in it's still unvarnished state. I may make some matching slider beads, and accent beads for dangles. These are informal quick shots, done on the fly.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-47146316494991808172011-10-11T18:24:00.000-07:002011-10-11T18:45:28.735-07:00New Explorations in Polymer Clay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmhkjmk6HUAgKj_TMu8_Wx4KRliWbaxFktr4LpK8NcFVcqZUFRFIEj336BmxocWZlZ63l_RSrhE9iHYSCFgNHlsA-C4zah-UPpM5JQvifyyCac5zVi52SujLYJnTW-WWH3lEmTNo0_gy6/s1600/DSCN5613.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmhkjmk6HUAgKj_TMu8_Wx4KRliWbaxFktr4LpK8NcFVcqZUFRFIEj336BmxocWZlZ63l_RSrhE9iHYSCFgNHlsA-C4zah-UPpM5JQvifyyCac5zVi52SujLYJnTW-WWH3lEmTNo0_gy6/s320/DSCN5613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415482885528210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcT8HOcNzwADMwT_aTEDWjdRUqM3xfTbBUobgoqq-R4MZTzgJfbm-MyVP2hhfeHT-PevAOTDgc4DnRvJ_bp_R-FodA4imPXn8Eo-cZzUexk93nv8S3gVwP7KL_Y3hJAY7UY90tbHaPAna/s1600/misted.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcT8HOcNzwADMwT_aTEDWjdRUqM3xfTbBUobgoqq-R4MZTzgJfbm-MyVP2hhfeHT-PevAOTDgc4DnRvJ_bp_R-FodA4imPXn8Eo-cZzUexk93nv8S3gVwP7KL_Y3hJAY7UY90tbHaPAna/s320/misted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415288241821986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOiP2p2qh64w12AstFo3EXvjMI2UJbKoG9Lj0xZYj_ZRQ3F7SnPH5mTfqyOtPp1iV8lRrrjyVkTz7_3y4U7McYqX_UbD_bs-Q-qALiW9Rq84jBWWuUiZ_KEaKbrBGy9ghM9uVTPTFb-BF/s1600/DSCN5623.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOiP2p2qh64w12AstFo3EXvjMI2UJbKoG9Lj0xZYj_ZRQ3F7SnPH5mTfqyOtPp1iV8lRrrjyVkTz7_3y4U7McYqX_UbD_bs-Q-qALiW9Rq84jBWWuUiZ_KEaKbrBGy9ghM9uVTPTFb-BF/s320/DSCN5623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662415048106586898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-d0CqXlZJbyugyqfm8Zeit9gd_GyDAk-qQ-aUeNgAYVo27TrVXwajw1uLAhtHjPMadZb4nne6w1ecBdPKbhHvyWbI4gQcAy1zczj-x5-Iw_djXyXt5GmBp1d2kcoGnDnSqvm3GVb4Kfrt/s1600/vortex.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-d0CqXlZJbyugyqfm8Zeit9gd_GyDAk-qQ-aUeNgAYVo27TrVXwajw1uLAhtHjPMadZb4nne6w1ecBdPKbhHvyWbI4gQcAy1zczj-x5-Iw_djXyXt5GmBp1d2kcoGnDnSqvm3GVb4Kfrt/s320/vortex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414868267082898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1xdxgLzNLmAMdLjctdhe_VVQun_gFsy4byB1YYb4OLgpl0qkLwClRvVG1ifZb3-wdKXn-PZ_yyvZSnBV160BT4qh4r9msLEN58CpuXb0UXJsXZlirxfOhsoPdlp6VJ3sij3SLttL8slz/s1600/DSCN5608.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1xdxgLzNLmAMdLjctdhe_VVQun_gFsy4byB1YYb4OLgpl0qkLwClRvVG1ifZb3-wdKXn-PZ_yyvZSnBV160BT4qh4r9msLEN58CpuXb0UXJsXZlirxfOhsoPdlp6VJ3sij3SLttL8slz/s320/DSCN5608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414614214596562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyZS3Si2xah0joM2cqMkKa6YoQ0GnHhP-tvi3O3FMzmNcJgbyIth2tUWz5LMmc5wnpjipHtXCO1pf2LMSYu0PejC87Oqc_SkjjL4_FNhqJ14Gd56fICnExico9aMklX7BlSJwZMDfcB40/s1600/face+profile.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyZS3Si2xah0joM2cqMkKa6YoQ0GnHhP-tvi3O3FMzmNcJgbyIth2tUWz5LMmc5wnpjipHtXCO1pf2LMSYu0PejC87Oqc_SkjjL4_FNhqJ14Gd56fICnExico9aMklX7BlSJwZMDfcB40/s320/face+profile.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414453769351490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHHHUBFYZ0eeZ79UHmH52F55M_1hJ0bB_cWMH7ub0ZH5ymZn6KWsD7C4An6UF4IaX7W6rBgMD9ZN4NyzxyWUUxDgqzOZ4K28WYC4sBl9de1JlZb7vcECZKysTYMtOxMk0Q19mZc3GdTFF/s1600/DSCN5621.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHHHUBFYZ0eeZ79UHmH52F55M_1hJ0bB_cWMH7ub0ZH5ymZn6KWsD7C4An6UF4IaX7W6rBgMD9ZN4NyzxyWUUxDgqzOZ4K28WYC4sBl9de1JlZb7vcECZKysTYMtOxMk0Q19mZc3GdTFF/s320/DSCN5621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414271477051298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rwuKqLFZV5u5IP9tEds9i0uRz-zYIU1jWTbK2OZxoP_jQcdt1qGL7bb3enwBj74izGbJ4P8rMpHGjYBQn1ynM0jmXKPBAH2d5dwaklYYJBwCHX7OUNXKH08vI3WPGPdOiVVR6YWP5JSZ/s1600/DSCN5616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rwuKqLFZV5u5IP9tEds9i0uRz-zYIU1jWTbK2OZxoP_jQcdt1qGL7bb3enwBj74izGbJ4P8rMpHGjYBQn1ynM0jmXKPBAH2d5dwaklYYJBwCHX7OUNXKH08vI3WPGPdOiVVR6YWP5JSZ/s320/DSCN5616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662414085696798082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8282hNP4T7tzsRvtdKLe8TW6ONS27Q6AkMsagZMxR4bZmGkBThZmuAnQ6gLGH8CCmBc84sVrw-PXkaswgLlqI-tyxgw_92cLBTjt4aca5zjtcLfjvZ0CZe6Chf1gUuXgL-t0gwbjaMPDj/s1600/altered.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8282hNP4T7tzsRvtdKLe8TW6ONS27Q6AkMsagZMxR4bZmGkBThZmuAnQ6gLGH8CCmBc84sVrw-PXkaswgLlqI-tyxgw_92cLBTjt4aca5zjtcLfjvZ0CZe6Chf1gUuXgL-t0gwbjaMPDj/s320/altered.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662413822207376290" border="0" /></a><br />The passion for claying continues and I've been exploring new techniques and materials which combine so well with polymer clay. Wearable as well as functional art jewelry is one avenue I've been exploring, as well as drilled hollow forms, in the context of big lentil beads. Pearl Ex powders are used in one of my pieces shown here as well.<br />The photos will demonstrate where I've been going.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-4976983424407465312011-04-16T10:54:00.000-07:002011-04-16T12:32:25.856-07:00Doing Tutorial Specific Work For the First Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OJDUYhOSrvjXn8woU31SsF8dLxpD9ixd-0-yLVVVxjG-7uafXzGXwirxWwEdMb3RdbnVQmFI2wB9annqxQhW1fg3KCWJM7PQ5PS9KgmldlvwrQmiRtt54v3vCbig3poUOVKob5L8ty9E/s1600/silver+scarab.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OJDUYhOSrvjXn8woU31SsF8dLxpD9ixd-0-yLVVVxjG-7uafXzGXwirxWwEdMb3RdbnVQmFI2wB9annqxQhW1fg3KCWJM7PQ5PS9KgmldlvwrQmiRtt54v3vCbig3poUOVKob5L8ty9E/s320/silver+scarab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596262456126595762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrxRgJRU_unVFxQky19i8m5xitU5ucVjt4EXPKG2xU35q1efwcKqvKx8tE7t5Ao249840keQK3M8mKcXm21d20og9WFrQ3v-s9lzYSXfi_EpWn3H4z2Qm0xkmuuO9Jy-kBBq7XkOlgjGi/s1600/DSCN5386.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrxRgJRU_unVFxQky19i8m5xitU5ucVjt4EXPKG2xU35q1efwcKqvKx8tE7t5Ao249840keQK3M8mKcXm21d20og9WFrQ3v-s9lzYSXfi_EpWn3H4z2Qm0xkmuuO9Jy-kBBq7XkOlgjGi/s320/DSCN5386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596262290890359938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikjvc-7U66O3EB7ZelJE-dy7bAqFak7YtfmTVJBYGt1z2qVuChMLREiSJREC1SUUwT-MZGOBrP5CdCyeWkXjkCG0B_rAWQljBS43cU2OP_LAm91jLLwEzFdAhqkvQVG1cfmJvIxUW4N5u/s1600/something+fishy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikjvc-7U66O3EB7ZelJE-dy7bAqFak7YtfmTVJBYGt1z2qVuChMLREiSJREC1SUUwT-MZGOBrP5CdCyeWkXjkCG0B_rAWQljBS43cU2OP_LAm91jLLwEzFdAhqkvQVG1cfmJvIxUW4N5u/s320/something+fishy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596262032441258354" border="0" /></a><br />For as long as I remember I've been reading or buying books to teach me the subjects of my passions, from gardening to computers to art which was my first love.<br /><br />Polymer clay books have been added to my collections and read voraciously. Many, maybe all, of the techniques I now use have been learned or absorbed from my reading.<br /><br />Until just this week, however, I had never done the specific subject of a tutorial in any of my polymer clay, or jewelry-making books.<br />The first one was a scarab beetle from a tutorial in the August 2008 Polymer Cafe, written by the talented and accomplished Les Polinko, which grabbed me back then and finally, just lately followed, with encouraging results immediately. I used silver alcohol ink for the first time on one, and drilling, backfilling and sanding on the other one, which is a work in progress. I loved the ease with which these materialized and will have to make more.<br />Many of the species actually look like jewelry and will be a joy to form from polymer clay.<br /><br />My next subject is based on a very cute steampunk fishy seen through a porthole. This came from "Steampunkery" by Christi Friesen, my latest addition to my ever expanding polymer clay library. I picked it up immediately without even opening it, knowing that I had to have it, having seen her work published for years and been enchanted by the adorable interpretations of her subjects, based on nature which, for me is home territory.<br />When I saw the project, I had to make one for myself and there are other tutorials that I plan to follow in that excellent, sometimes hilarious, and very informative read. The first of the Christi Freisen books to be added to my library.<br />The pendant is filled with resin in her book, unlike mine which I left as, is knowing that the eye bead sticks out too much to cover well without a dimpling effect, so adding bubbles instead to get a kind of 3D effect. My porthole frame is rough (maybe dented) and there would have been more gears and cool "steampunk" components if I could have found them but it's just for fun and I plan to refine my portholes in future projects.<br />I plan to do more along this concept also being more careful with depth of my eye placement, because I love the idea, and have now spent hours re-organizing my gears, gizmos, and other vintage findings, [which took a catastrophic tumble a while back, in a scenario involving a laundry basket piled high with multiple full component cases (satisfactory idea) and placement of said basket on a <span style="font-style: italic;">small</span> rolling mechanic's stool (very bad idea indeed!)].<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-58976506554837995772011-04-08T09:41:00.000-07:002011-04-08T10:37:35.501-07:00New Directions in Polymer Clay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4d52NX-mGJWp4_7Cx6ew6TbHEiOiIsZXP6J9xrMYNuUOW8UUtCaS0GhL4qONy_HxeV6JtiLDH1mfmtOZRlJuHhaOz5aRsiPTbTFZx35Bz8D8cHTDlCqLtutJgrrL0-f1feTfpUyXnWP1/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4d52NX-mGJWp4_7Cx6ew6TbHEiOiIsZXP6J9xrMYNuUOW8UUtCaS0GhL4qONy_HxeV6JtiLDH1mfmtOZRlJuHhaOz5aRsiPTbTFZx35Bz8D8cHTDlCqLtutJgrrL0-f1feTfpUyXnWP1/s320/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593265998879774178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-4ytEvH8d3lDdzZQzOCeBpACQgHo55SQPvmaEL8fpUq8EsV-FatbFKMq1agqDH-CM_4cThfCVtsuf467peq3tl9Uhd3WIhKT3uI7D2DzMNIBVWbOZEDAbGx4QJba5_ZzOeTfIpG3v7NH/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-4ytEvH8d3lDdzZQzOCeBpACQgHo55SQPvmaEL8fpUq8EsV-FatbFKMq1agqDH-CM_4cThfCVtsuf467peq3tl9Uhd3WIhKT3uI7D2DzMNIBVWbOZEDAbGx4QJba5_ZzOeTfIpG3v7NH/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593265905359965938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXCW4g23d5Sespxxme4LFLT9s-TflkPAvRiiC6NqIB5yHrnnM6chWq1DPT48brEK22z_qJrWTzN-i8Yxp8GbQ3HT4HsvceVZ0P4apXlX_2nRhSsFBEciiwKq5SgBY59xiX1n55yZoSG9d/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXCW4g23d5Sespxxme4LFLT9s-TflkPAvRiiC6NqIB5yHrnnM6chWq1DPT48brEK22z_qJrWTzN-i8Yxp8GbQ3HT4HsvceVZ0P4apXlX_2nRhSsFBEciiwKq5SgBY59xiX1n55yZoSG9d/s320/014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593265799963021170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlokPmPRB-odYyZns7rUlDET7F7XT_oeY-xRUcKQGcQp2fAO1OciN4tiq8XgIpA3OmuRkSVMLfHDMz0BMk9MUm29t4DrXBEYALhDF42E52FfZz_g8j6YT8osZU9i1aYQ5DzxHqW0m7Irx/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlokPmPRB-odYyZns7rUlDET7F7XT_oeY-xRUcKQGcQp2fAO1OciN4tiq8XgIpA3OmuRkSVMLfHDMz0BMk9MUm29t4DrXBEYALhDF42E52FfZz_g8j6YT8osZU9i1aYQ5DzxHqW0m7Irx/s320/013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593265585855310226" border="0" /></a><br />I've been continuing to explore new techniques and new ways to cover eggs with polymer clay. I have literally taken my eggs in a new direction by orienting my egg shaped vessels vertically instead of horizontally like my first several eggs. This results in greater storage area within the egg and the vertical presentation is so effective in my opinion. One aspect of this presentation is a stand is needed now matter how well the egg is balanced. I just used a crystal napkin ring I picked up at a flea market for the photos and will eventually create stands for them from polymer clay.<br /><br />I have also been playing with alcohol inks as a color medium and love the effects. With the alcohol inks you get a lovely transparent color, as opposed to acrylic paint which even thinned does not equal the saturation when trying for a transparent effect.<br /><br />Both of the eggs pictured started out as pure white with color added using alcohol ink and in the case of the faux turquoise egg some black acrylic paint. The transparency of color seems to give the textured egg an appearance of glazed ceramic, and the darker one an extra glassy finish as there is some depth to the color.<br /><br />The pendant I just finished uses the drilling technique perfected by Geffery Lloyd Dever which I learned from a tutorial in "The Art of Polymer Clay" by Katherine Duncan Aimone, and another in the March 2008 issue of "Art Jewelry" an magazine often featuring tutorials by leading polymer clay artists as well tutorials on creating fine jewelry from precious metals and gemstones.<br />My bead has some holes that ended up too large on one side but the larger opening allows for seeing into the object and opens up possibilities for adding elements to the hollow interior. I consider this piece to be wearable by me but I can see where my work needs refinement and continually try to accomplish this.<br /><br />I've been playing with large hollow formed, drilled beads off and on for a while now and love the effects of layering colors and then drilling to reveal the under layers. This bead also features translucent overlay canes which are covered in Donna Kato's book "The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques". I've come across this technique in some of my other reading as well. I read extensively on Polymer Clay and love learning new ways to work with it. I plan to continue on adding interest to polymer clay by texturing, drilling and also carving and backfilling, which I have yet to explore.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-74227591498802688912011-02-23T06:23:00.000-08:002011-02-25T09:55:18.935-08:00Other Interests and Activities Kept Me Away<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwbyZCDyQ8niT0_9SuP3aXvM2yviu2pKPj-Y_tLRBFe_FNXCzrUDSzlUzcmEAAyQS6S8pMHfzj4Nooywh_nly2w19eXRRxAeMLvO_V6zsHGWzmdmJr91_tz8nGMUqZ3X_zsWE2_weSRtx/s1600/DSCN5108.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwbyZCDyQ8niT0_9SuP3aXvM2yviu2pKPj-Y_tLRBFe_FNXCzrUDSzlUzcmEAAyQS6S8pMHfzj4Nooywh_nly2w19eXRRxAeMLvO_V6zsHGWzmdmJr91_tz8nGMUqZ3X_zsWE2_weSRtx/s320/DSCN5108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576904927303800034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpdHUtPmu7tWXMq9_JxhQ3nzbn2WiRWocBUu5YjBv6jCV28QxjHPWUbnVv6WGp2CCP1-zfpN47wPbogvf7YvnMECS8LL-Ji8cjVQ2OSu5oDytkYtDcv6FtFgJ25FLKWi27wAa_8rCBvDj/s1600/three+little+friends.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpdHUtPmu7tWXMq9_JxhQ3nzbn2WiRWocBUu5YjBv6jCV28QxjHPWUbnVv6WGp2CCP1-zfpN47wPbogvf7YvnMECS8LL-Ji8cjVQ2OSu5oDytkYtDcv6FtFgJ25FLKWi27wAa_8rCBvDj/s320/three+little+friends.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576900905426530290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgModi3OUiF1dtuMQIpqK_-uY9gckIcD9q9P-r55fe26qJbtWRmMv9d3kg4XMLtEQ1BMaF5Pfw0B_XFtUBeooEXh79O3mi9dIY0SQek-bJ1-ySLBIU1DkTwf8qMMN6PxSRV79Gc5bwSw6BO/s1600/golden+pigeon.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgModi3OUiF1dtuMQIpqK_-uY9gckIcD9q9P-r55fe26qJbtWRmMv9d3kg4XMLtEQ1BMaF5Pfw0B_XFtUBeooEXh79O3mi9dIY0SQek-bJ1-ySLBIU1DkTwf8qMMN6PxSRV79Gc5bwSw6BO/s320/golden+pigeon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576900128503125938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31RZjxBYT67rGoRP_kBdDj9ijt9O4F0TT_m72mro6sdV9DtTTv4JM1ExBy0j0cqHENUioJDFjm7A6h4ArtfivY-3cC1wcCqZZPXnyKdB9jwoXw78aB1yVOUJdFISp5xUPaKuAvmj5aTIH/s1600/chickadee+side.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31RZjxBYT67rGoRP_kBdDj9ijt9O4F0TT_m72mro6sdV9DtTTv4JM1ExBy0j0cqHENUioJDFjm7A6h4ArtfivY-3cC1wcCqZZPXnyKdB9jwoXw78aB1yVOUJdFISp5xUPaKuAvmj5aTIH/s320/chickadee+side.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576899832640950274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwq_cZXiUXTqF7qc_QMwlAyUIuTAy9EnWrzFZylIdZgECLkruJCf1ZLJpCewyS4hTnGxgnU3-0KhDCXD4D_2ig9yJIw9Eicbp7GpjUnrj1YCy1E3Ddte5XvNpcxhfaLin-aUj0PEfn39h/s1600/bunting+side.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwq_cZXiUXTqF7qc_QMwlAyUIuTAy9EnWrzFZylIdZgECLkruJCf1ZLJpCewyS4hTnGxgnU3-0KhDCXD4D_2ig9yJIw9Eicbp7GpjUnrj1YCy1E3Ddte5XvNpcxhfaLin-aUj0PEfn39h/s320/bunting+side.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576899248491192306" border="0" /></a><br />I had a very busy spring and summer taking care of my gardens and when fall ended the gardening season, I got back into my polymer clay, experimenting with taking egg shaped vessels in an entirely new direction.<br /><br />I've always loved birds, with their cute feathered bodies and adorable mannerisms. The way they hop instead of walking, and the way they tilt their heads. They were one of the first creatures I sculpted. I used Sculpey III, because it was the lowest price, for a beginner like me, and my sister who introduced me to polymer clay had sent me a good sized starter kit. I didn't have a pasta machine then and the easy conditioning made it more appealing to me so that's what I continued to buy. At the time Sculpey was used as the clay of choice in some of the featured books too.<br /><br />With the addition of a Michael's to our area, Premo has become my clay of choice. From what I understand, there have been many changes and additions to some of the brands, (Fimo especially) and I don't even know if Premo as I know it today even existed back in 1999. The egg shaped vessels, in my previous post, and the birds seen here are made with Premo. I love the fine texture and the way it comes up to such a high gloss with sanding and varnishing. I still buy the florescent shades of Sculpey, at times too, which I combine with Premo to get a brighter effect.<br /><br />The first photo shows one that I made as a gift, to my sister, who loves chickens in art. That was my first chicken, and I realized that they are both cute and some of the breeds are really beautiful.<br />I've also been covering pens too, and and testing them for durability. I plan to share more on that later, and I'll try to come back more often.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-38341142396935693832010-04-22T09:56:00.000-07:002010-04-22T10:50:53.407-07:00Busy With Polymer Clay and Seedlings for Spring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9800e1mw14DI03wfX9aOWHJSlcIn8CNkWVxGBp3xbU6fVqEtUsIauyo6jyDk7zszXu3hyfoGsKTv1trVtSIWJG9fTyIcEg8O7x6mG7w5vJwhHDEUhdebMImPjW5kC4EWn6R2xvFU716I/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUo8NPl2YG-0YLprOg81pl0hu2Sf-THKV65687wLHMmwTbeZ8RMZ_Ut5Dmp-MSdWKhmxr_rhB7YfkfLF-ZSXzRlXnCigXLDJMpP9U2lkK4E2tZDk0PifpZMVxTKb9TNgtKda9Ldmsauso/s320/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463007928607494818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2T3xKBtNncuehVh-ngoV3xtubqGVEBOlxbWsrexernIJWcOD4xReSTGmEnoIbrHXnEYBK-DEnv_1NrFIIlnvKKduFlFwVK5Z338YVhmz-XdQVolEMdoHptvH5zxG5h-Mt77yd1ibhcPr/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2T3xKBtNncuehVh-ngoV3xtubqGVEBOlxbWsrexernIJWcOD4xReSTGmEnoIbrHXnEYBK-DEnv_1NrFIIlnvKKduFlFwVK5Z338YVhmz-XdQVolEMdoHptvH5zxG5h-Mt77yd1ibhcPr/s320/013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463007810403018722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kByy1SXvfWcd9igt0GPZkREfDFfsgdu18jvTdzZf9mCPEMemEZ-V1j3rsKY9RUri4j4pSx_LSJ8CA5C4s7EYf-eW1eHFOg_VQxZnuybx8GV4H8A-sw0VYuKMjS_vtn5yROPo17sWZLcl/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kByy1SXvfWcd9igt0GPZkREfDFfsgdu18jvTdzZf9mCPEMemEZ-V1j3rsKY9RUri4j4pSx_LSJ8CA5C4s7EYf-eW1eHFOg_VQxZnuybx8GV4H8A-sw0VYuKMjS_vtn5yROPo17sWZLcl/s320/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463007698099228962" border="0" /></a><br />I may have been quiet on my blog for the last while but I haven't been idle. The addiction to polymer clay continues and with the expansion of the polymer clay section at Michaels it's become easier to pick up some of the latest tools I've read about. Among them is a leaf embossing set which, in a flash, creates lovely, uniform, detailed leaves. To me the drape of the leaf shape on a necklace is lovely and since I got the set I've probably made at least a hundred leaves.<br />I love to use the Pearl Ex powders on the raw clay for metallic effects and I also love the new foils I've been trying out which are self adhesive.<br />I'm excited about a new type of UV resin too and just got the resin and little UV oven. Because it's seed starting time, and the weather has been nice enough to do yard work, I haven't tried it yet. I'll be posting my results, once I have some. I did discover another gloss/resin product which I just use out of the bottle, dries transparent, can be layered and is fairly durable. I used it on the eagle pendant but the angle of the shots hides it. The new UV resin cures hard enough to sand and carve and because it cures in UV light it shouldn't slump or soften in the sun.<br />The allure of polymer clay is the endless potential for self expression. The smooth texture of both the soft clay and the finished product is also highly addictive. Jewelry made from it quickly assumes skin temperature, is light and never feels icy cold.<br />Egg shapes are fun too and to make the vessels in the shot here I used a marble egg as a form. I was pleased to find that all three sat evenly without stands but for real stability some type of stand would be handy too. I want something that works without detracting from the shape of the egg.<br />The two textured pieces in shades of green and copper, without any holes, were textured with a sheet I made myself with a cuticle pusher and Bend and Bake Sculpey. It's fun to make my own texture sheets, but the purchased ones are great too for different techniques<br /><br />The latest project for my gardening started on March 31 when I started a number of different seeds including two types of tomatoes, cayenne peppers, nicotania, impatiens, begonias and geraniums. They are all doing well and I wanted to add a shot or two of their latest progress. The begonias and impatiens are still quite small but it's amazing how quickly they grow. Soon I'll be giving each of my seedlings their own pots and I plan to start some allysum and marigolds within the next week or two. I will post my gardening results as the season progresses too.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-65903750126001119922010-02-25T09:15:00.000-08:002010-02-25T09:38:51.470-08:00Canes, Kaleidoscopes, and Polymer Clay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjv9Erok8iHiA70fZvR5Lh0JInZecA7hOgONJb7Hpx3mDAH8O-w6UyExNbtwgM-GDCjlFWdyNrtZitYu1YqtrDlUOTCnP0q-Ul0RFdyf2JZ9uSABu-bJyvGIuzw6v2dcCjkiemIzlFWAL/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjv9Erok8iHiA70fZvR5Lh0JInZecA7hOgONJb7Hpx3mDAH8O-w6UyExNbtwgM-GDCjlFWdyNrtZitYu1YqtrDlUOTCnP0q-Ul0RFdyf2JZ9uSABu-bJyvGIuzw6v2dcCjkiemIzlFWAL/s320/054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442236131465989442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY61-VppIS0L0yh5niPZdbXwJiYRVBwY7M2yGtt8yqqW71wMnBuYKr79dRauGrQJ9A-8qtZdOdPaylUehA-ftxKbvsN9_SzhgPOpIcCm-tCqWtlYAhU3P_mEStCXoU45HsNNN77VRt3aSc/s1600-h/052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY61-VppIS0L0yh5niPZdbXwJiYRVBwY7M2yGtt8yqqW71wMnBuYKr79dRauGrQJ9A-8qtZdOdPaylUehA-ftxKbvsN9_SzhgPOpIcCm-tCqWtlYAhU3P_mEStCXoU45HsNNN77VRt3aSc/s320/052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442235458275510866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4EOXAJenuakQGYgR-MWRpLGVXAq-kOwdDwR2Zi6J3xvD8agwArlkVVzH3952TDVTUngQpy-1xs5M_GfX0ErY7jnAYaIGmyFZIU9Ny5Wkpw-E4mqxHvI_lP9MNyTKFjTB0-2CXKKaP0GO/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4EOXAJenuakQGYgR-MWRpLGVXAq-kOwdDwR2Zi6J3xvD8agwArlkVVzH3952TDVTUngQpy-1xs5M_GfX0ErY7jnAYaIGmyFZIU9Ny5Wkpw-E4mqxHvI_lP9MNyTKFjTB0-2CXKKaP0GO/s320/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442235219645408722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2LSCpoi7yC2OkkfRWVLmYHQzEJqbUYsDd3kxVoxXj_jtF-AuAkzS7p2-6xZ2DroyjYIN4hXdg49aCrcqGi1MaceNrXuCVBLyXz4OMmvhDL7WmIEfWglshNrLs8XPcgni926T4t0FCTU6/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2LSCpoi7yC2OkkfRWVLmYHQzEJqbUYsDd3kxVoxXj_jtF-AuAkzS7p2-6xZ2DroyjYIN4hXdg49aCrcqGi1MaceNrXuCVBLyXz4OMmvhDL7WmIEfWglshNrLs8XPcgni926T4t0FCTU6/s320/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442234936427384738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMHsq1HFb_kcNK3lnd87tpK4OXZxSLkPynZn4iIGcm-WTAguGKDxDoikuwz_yiOA3JgoZkAOhOiL37NRbFnluTzCgvR5-L5Tmyqmy8Z-2oUYfp8Gf3PSrlbcDPA2Rx8lUlA2kqADeKsy9/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMHsq1HFb_kcNK3lnd87tpK4OXZxSLkPynZn4iIGcm-WTAguGKDxDoikuwz_yiOA3JgoZkAOhOiL37NRbFnluTzCgvR5-L5Tmyqmy8Z-2oUYfp8Gf3PSrlbcDPA2Rx8lUlA2kqADeKsy9/s320/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442234656889422866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQk1wy7nbz1wabb7DvgCLCDG61ixB9k3QgGGLr6YFpZyPAUvGxFsrrIiXzCMXgiqxPYJa9_Q8J6_3Rr59QQFwTrKIUhfPjwCvgjylSAtbNJnqaeV6T_Pevm2XqQ7WUfb3bogCFc_FujCQ/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQk1wy7nbz1wabb7DvgCLCDG61ixB9k3QgGGLr6YFpZyPAUvGxFsrrIiXzCMXgiqxPYJa9_Q8J6_3Rr59QQFwTrKIUhfPjwCvgjylSAtbNJnqaeV6T_Pevm2XqQ7WUfb3bogCFc_FujCQ/s320/020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442234460682882466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCwaVRJsMIeWIS_YXkmI6Kh37iZKMjcbHfDCZhrWgX-Ms7cv4lRBEfFw0YbUfvTIJiIdDa_oK0pePP3fyh64a5A75pfXv760LNZU0S6dq6AQtmG3Y2MDAs-KQ5zWmef-km0WHt_zACNSQ/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCwaVRJsMIeWIS_YXkmI6Kh37iZKMjcbHfDCZhrWgX-Ms7cv4lRBEfFw0YbUfvTIJiIdDa_oK0pePP3fyh64a5A75pfXv760LNZU0S6dq6AQtmG3Y2MDAs-KQ5zWmef-km0WHt_zACNSQ/s320/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442234239214612578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy-Y0q9xNIg6b1UyC8UW9Cyk20KSkmy6R3w_8ocZLtNFZDJr3zeSY1siPMKrFOv9TjzT8vRN39xsahpSUkiL-mYHT2qRAhpeyA6eNEGnEcvOKJ1_5DcYbk8kYI_M5NFTm_hUbOcFi9qbk/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy-Y0q9xNIg6b1UyC8UW9Cyk20KSkmy6R3w_8ocZLtNFZDJr3zeSY1siPMKrFOv9TjzT8vRN39xsahpSUkiL-mYHT2qRAhpeyA6eNEGnEcvOKJ1_5DcYbk8kYI_M5NFTm_hUbOcFi9qbk/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442234054832779010" border="0" /></a><br />I've been busy with my art in various forms, as always, and have just lately rediscovered polymer clay. One of the main attractions is the amazing palette of colors and the resulting effects when combined, either formally as in a cane or just random mixing and then slicing. I'm also so happy with the smooth glass like finish which results from using the newer clays and a triple (wet) sanding method I now use on all of my beads.<br />I've been enjoying playing with the symmetry which can be obtained when slicing even random canes. The photos I post here are mainly pictures of my learning process, in which I'm trying for more refinement in my finished work. I still have a ways to go but here are some examples of what I've been doing.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-56083081323249017982009-11-15T16:18:00.000-08:002009-11-15T16:30:12.211-08:00Updates on My Paintings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V8rYA5E1esPVssIaGLDLXPKsmL59SebIZjb07HTsxi_ikV-sZAOdXtVTB2reMmz38gZqJvzuTk5Nl3iB-godM3ZSCUM6q5Ni3_K7_A2ZnIil0QiY8m-4yQCs5brwbV3MKKpwz9wXkKiB/s1600-h/updated+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V8rYA5E1esPVssIaGLDLXPKsmL59SebIZjb07HTsxi_ikV-sZAOdXtVTB2reMmz38gZqJvzuTk5Nl3iB-godM3ZSCUM6q5Ni3_K7_A2ZnIil0QiY8m-4yQCs5brwbV3MKKpwz9wXkKiB/s320/updated+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404491981788819858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sRwbkIMKpx6rohzYlq2aqxi1GA0L-gzoY1J56vsrOm_fQUaBBPtAzIMfy1Pk1pm7nArMLFsa7jRYvgIhSdBIgyDHKmdRGUXGlbbTPro4EmeNDDtHr4C1OMU9xfePCLdxa6QGGq18Q0dj/s1600-h/updated+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sRwbkIMKpx6rohzYlq2aqxi1GA0L-gzoY1J56vsrOm_fQUaBBPtAzIMfy1Pk1pm7nArMLFsa7jRYvgIhSdBIgyDHKmdRGUXGlbbTPro4EmeNDDtHr4C1OMU9xfePCLdxa6QGGq18Q0dj/s320/updated+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404491843807812370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8qrEUM70XCmSTX_wAumq1TNcKMb9vQsEWZdvRbSVNzFmph73ZNiVvj0Fqfq3etXEjVmlOVNKPh0gyyF5HhVJyZ0XWFFcfHFZsutTFmbDoDflI5c8MTF5ZE-cg-bzWdTAYDdsiZ9Eggyy/s1600-h/updated+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8qrEUM70XCmSTX_wAumq1TNcKMb9vQsEWZdvRbSVNzFmph73ZNiVvj0Fqfq3etXEjVmlOVNKPh0gyyF5HhVJyZ0XWFFcfHFZsutTFmbDoDflI5c8MTF5ZE-cg-bzWdTAYDdsiZ9Eggyy/s320/updated+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404491725520193138" border="0" /></a><br />From the beginning I was not happy with the dark overtones of my first painting which I called "Luminous" . I tried again to lighten it and was much happier with the results. The photos do not represent the paintings as well as I might like but with practice I hope to get better.<br />The painting called "Whitecaps From the West" looked better in my opinion but the way the background behind the tree looked bothered me. I did some improvements on that too by feathering in some of the new background colors and the result looks less phony to me.<br />The one with the face started out as a perfect circle and was to be a moon study, behind clouds, but the face materialized and I decided to call that one "Storm Watcher". I deliberately left the background without defining a horizon so the viewers can interpret it any way they want.<br />I discovered that faces in acrylic are no more difficult than in the more familiar mediums (to me), so I plan to do more, as faces are one of my original passions.<br />Many of the shots I upload here end up being works in progress, as I'm teaching myself as I go.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-50037866893620664992009-11-12T13:35:00.000-08:002009-11-12T14:12:16.188-08:00Another New Painting and Another Changed Work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLbXDjRcYMWJrUM8eT6UfyToVv9bZF68J14S99aLVD8WiYMmcycJwr-NaHKkB8BHJes_DGLVFMYFKdQWg_61JamZLqBSuuBDCI5wrSPbPf5GjFz-NrQRZuCdTQHT1cUn_jagc2PX2WcGN/s1600-h/changed+work+028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLbXDjRcYMWJrUM8eT6UfyToVv9bZF68J14S99aLVD8WiYMmcycJwr-NaHKkB8BHJes_DGLVFMYFKdQWg_61JamZLqBSuuBDCI5wrSPbPf5GjFz-NrQRZuCdTQHT1cUn_jagc2PX2WcGN/s320/changed+work+028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403340105410332882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRtGbUoG-JUeR16N-Vze0Ko6FpAJzoA-JmkgalPV5pTgYKyD5cEAUuDbHMKLeONFs6gybQwpv4a7V0hYNoxZfLFO22P1GZ5Zt4c4FU53yBJleyKMd6oR3egB0_jT-LdWCBZmtf12aFtl4/s1600-h/changed+work+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRtGbUoG-JUeR16N-Vze0Ko6FpAJzoA-JmkgalPV5pTgYKyD5cEAUuDbHMKLeONFs6gybQwpv4a7V0hYNoxZfLFO22P1GZ5Zt4c4FU53yBJleyKMd6oR3egB0_jT-LdWCBZmtf12aFtl4/s320/changed+work+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403339971769234818" border="0" /></a><br />The painting "Whitecaps From the West" looked so dark to me so I decided to lighten up the sky and the reflected water. I may have lost the effect somewhat but this is just for myself anyway so I decided to post it and let my readers decide. I'm not sure if it is now hideous or lovely. It's hard to be objective about my own work.<br />The monochromatic one is based on mental images of lakes I've been to when the sky is lowering with clouds and both the sky and water look like polished steel. That was the effect I was going for so I left it rather stark to prevent visual distraction from the effect.<br />I adore painting lakes and ocean scenes and this is just the beginning.<br />I love to depict the raw power of rock too and combined with the wind and the steely water, to me it denotes a feeling of movement and the power of the elements.<br />The pattern that sometimes shows up on the canvas is the reflection of the weave of cloth in the sheer curtain I use to diffuse the light. I wondered about this and realized that's what causes that effect, not the grain of the canvas which is much finer.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-58925455330880148662009-11-11T11:57:00.000-08:002009-11-12T13:35:31.849-08:00Two New Paintings and One Corrected<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pts1M-BUCacxO1o9b780LMAfqVMoQTQQnUbT8kvrQf9m7yVItb3peB0gscCXLZRkbNc10Ol95yX1Opp9QABFgTNbHgo_dkBkdQSc4iSlm40Hv4bsbpMC_pw5WoivMxEaQUkKGN3Yut9E/s1600-h/changed+work+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pts1M-BUCacxO1o9b780LMAfqVMoQTQQnUbT8kvrQf9m7yVItb3peB0gscCXLZRkbNc10Ol95yX1Opp9QABFgTNbHgo_dkBkdQSc4iSlm40Hv4bsbpMC_pw5WoivMxEaQUkKGN3Yut9E/s320/changed+work+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403333940240519922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQTazJpu9Jmetm5FfknvcdYvTXv7jRoW-V5dtvmzjMSoM-J7fTnMQ1vwuwPsV9Zoq8ixmbufFl4BqC7BW1_xxv25IMaivlq4E9o9Fit-hdwWByORy_HVDcM5jbVYBnS4NRVew9iO9j9Fv/s1600-h/new+paintings+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQTazJpu9Jmetm5FfknvcdYvTXv7jRoW-V5dtvmzjMSoM-J7fTnMQ1vwuwPsV9Zoq8ixmbufFl4BqC7BW1_xxv25IMaivlq4E9o9Fit-hdwWByORy_HVDcM5jbVYBnS4NRVew9iO9j9Fv/s320/new+paintings+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402941401805505586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmW8eEMslR0fVCP4qTnoHre42TUqZlTrtGgz2RqyD4bNmdDWs8HGRss_X1oem_U0LQaeVkss8Gl8Fxk0QBE6LigIHWDj3GOloW0bNL8y4OyYg4TV0BGkjlIMSjen7vAOMErNsYRJaDNeJ/s1600-h/new+paintings+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmW8eEMslR0fVCP4qTnoHre42TUqZlTrtGgz2RqyD4bNmdDWs8HGRss_X1oem_U0LQaeVkss8Gl8Fxk0QBE6LigIHWDj3GOloW0bNL8y4OyYg4TV0BGkjlIMSjen7vAOMErNsYRJaDNeJ/s320/new+paintings+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402941249364754498" border="0" /></a><br />I've been continuing having fun with acrylics and in one of my latest works I re-discovered wet-on-wet and plan to stick to that tried and true method from now on. The "Luminous" painting in the previous post bothered me because the sunset had the look of an explosion or maybe a raging fire, which was not what I was looking for. I added shots of blue and in my opinion the later one looks a little more natural to me. I also lightened the grass a bit but have discovered that once a dark background is in place, it is amazingly difficult to lighten.<br />The painting with the vivid orange sunset behind the wind-driven whitecaps is called "Whitecaps From the West" and is based on all the images of the Canadian Shield, in my heart, where I have spent so much of my time, both back east where I was born and in later years, in the Whiteshell park which to me is a second home. My husband, son, and I used to wilderness camp on a lovely little lake called Bedford Lake and this picture of the rocks, trees and lake could come from there.<br />The seascape with the pink sunset, done with the wet-on-wet technique, is based on breathtaking scenery from a remake of "Lord of the Flies" which was on TV the other night. As I watched I stored up a number of mental snap shots of lovely transparent turquoise waters, sunsets and the gnarled tree which was on the beach. The painting was drawn from my memory of those scenes and, to me, painting scenes takes me there in my mind in a most absorbing way, and is a wonderful escape into beauty!<br />One thing I have to work on is photographing my paintings. Whitecaps from the West is 16x20 inches and the other two are 11x14, so even if I wanted to, they're too big to scan. With time and practice I'm sure I'll improve, but in the mean time this is a handy way to show my family and friends what I'm up to.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-28745834116225603812009-11-04T18:29:00.000-08:002009-11-04T18:56:02.727-08:00A Study in Perspective, Done in Acrylic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcVaud8r6vsDieCkcGW6oSZd3_Fz-aOHPoplIItkxY3P3NRUxKj4TRDZRt9tcq0SkCNOVjUxG1aKB-1RZBeDc_vNRWu3qOQq0U3N6RefTV3vkcsHtvN8KTIwW2y-o7kH_D0GZZFt17Z-Z/s1600-h/painting+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcVaud8r6vsDieCkcGW6oSZd3_Fz-aOHPoplIItkxY3P3NRUxKj4TRDZRt9tcq0SkCNOVjUxG1aKB-1RZBeDc_vNRWu3qOQq0U3N6RefTV3vkcsHtvN8KTIwW2y-o7kH_D0GZZFt17Z-Z/s320/painting+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400447757247358034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div>I haven't painted with oils or acrylic for a long time and have re-discovered acrylic. One of the things I love about acrylic is the fast drying time. I also love that the clean-up can be done with warm water and a little soap which is so much more convenient than the methods for cleaning up after oil painting. Both oils and acrylic offer the added dimension of texture, which is so fun to play with and can be very effective.<br />I haven't done much work in either medium, but I plan to get more into actual painting. I find that doing a scene is very meditative and I like to create scenes of places where I want to be.<br />The picture here is a sunset and I wanted to re-create the luminous effect of the setting sun reflected on the surrounding landscape and the main tree. I call this painting "Luminous". It measures 11x14 inches so I had to photograph it and the tree, being painted in shiny acrylic, shows up less black than it actually is. Otherwise the colors are pretty well duplicated in this photo so I decided to upload it anyway.<br />This my first painted scene and I really enjoyed it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-31282298007838999532009-10-27T11:41:00.000-07:002009-10-27T12:00:32.347-07:00Still Playing With Pen and Ink<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28ZBPYn1lLHNuKrzLFCLVTqH05WbayZPQ8twGfu70T6dJb_6RMwV5GECSbKs72Ls7gmF19Gb9cuULvL8xtbyAjcAQ_HTy4bFnKLpKPnWNDoQ78jte42pzib5M8msbl02t4Myd0EcOD5-N/s1600-h/late+oct+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28ZBPYn1lLHNuKrzLFCLVTqH05WbayZPQ8twGfu70T6dJb_6RMwV5GECSbKs72Ls7gmF19Gb9cuULvL8xtbyAjcAQ_HTy4bFnKLpKPnWNDoQ78jte42pzib5M8msbl02t4Myd0EcOD5-N/s320/late+oct+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397354785470033938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu3yfd7S7u0QI0VCz9jls85ph8Gq-FUJyQdzaEJHtCzW-k_NMPddvR67Q3whgE3BaWPWDvKcWrqEFIpJs1OX7qlVXWn4ZqymE0_D3wHxp9SXm8NCpkMEMP87p5lt1bcBndjrCkakTP7vy/s1600-h/late+oct+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu3yfd7S7u0QI0VCz9jls85ph8Gq-FUJyQdzaEJHtCzW-k_NMPddvR67Q3whgE3BaWPWDvKcWrqEFIpJs1OX7qlVXWn4ZqymE0_D3wHxp9SXm8NCpkMEMP87p5lt1bcBndjrCkakTP7vy/s320/late+oct+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397354644132306386" border="0" /></a><br />I've been exploring ways to use pen and ink and I love the different effects which can be obtained. I also find that the stark black and white of India ink and pen makes a bold and powerful statement, no matter what the subject matter. For the rest of my life I will now be working in pen and ink as well as the other mediums I've worked with before, (of course).<br />The ability to capture the finest detail as well as such varied textures are qualities of pen and ink that I am continually amazed by. All of the pictures you see, unless otherwise stated, are directly out of my imagination which, to me is really the most fun to work from and throughout my life has been the main source of my images.<br />These pictures as well as many of the previous shots were taken with my Nikon Coolpix rather than scanned in. The 9x12 paper is a bit big for the scanner and the software that came with my all-in-one is a labor intensive kludge, which although does give a better quality end result, takes several minutes as opposed to the few seconds it takes to take and upload the camera shots. I would use the scanner for marketing purposes but for now I decided to take the shortcut.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-1521516283129424202009-10-23T11:37:00.000-07:002009-10-23T11:59:55.054-07:00New Work in Pen and Ink Both Bizarre and Traditional<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEkJMMtRacpwDVNsZ2_2YDM-XxoZSkSTJKuASABje3pRmJf5_MTA2ZoM7XjYRPfotbaNfWKWpoPWeA2BGbLm-feDnuSNYFb0-IIp8RbLBYQRZOVSGZF76sFu0nx4Ga71sRStSeKErNdFf/s1600-h/art+photos+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEkJMMtRacpwDVNsZ2_2YDM-XxoZSkSTJKuASABje3pRmJf5_MTA2ZoM7XjYRPfotbaNfWKWpoPWeA2BGbLm-feDnuSNYFb0-IIp8RbLBYQRZOVSGZF76sFu0nx4Ga71sRStSeKErNdFf/s320/art+photos+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395870957394993474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcloSAxn3oPn3HwGd8CpUh0Z6B7EHDEmGZ_oPt7PwC_HiqopEjS2E_KvO1sEeLJ81Fwm8SqMahRtDGVnt5ya2txZRMYWvj_7ErKGcdG3x-kuB4rR-bK_RBUrT2VX36om20-BKHlw2SITX/s1600-h/art+photos+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcloSAxn3oPn3HwGd8CpUh0Z6B7EHDEmGZ_oPt7PwC_HiqopEjS2E_KvO1sEeLJ81Fwm8SqMahRtDGVnt5ya2txZRMYWvj_7ErKGcdG3x-kuB4rR-bK_RBUrT2VX36om20-BKHlw2SITX/s320/art+photos+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395870737661516178" border="0" /></a><br />I've really been enjoying drawing with pen and ink. I love the way the detail can be achieved because of the fine point of the nib I've been using. I use India ink and an old fashioned stick pen with a very fine detachable nib.<br />In the rather bizarre pen and ink drawing here I continued on with my obsession with drawing eyes and delighted in the way the lines in each iris can be defined in pen. I also love the way bark can be textured and detailed in pen and ink to look truly three dimensional. I called this one "The Growth of Vision".<br />I rounded out the spheres with graphite which I shaded with a tortillion. The character of gnarly trees lends itself to this medium and I'm at present working on a new one with real (sort of ) branches. I love creating this kind of "far out" abstract and the potential to include eyes (my ultimate favorite feature to draw) in surrealistic art is infinite.<br />The drawing of the cat is supposed to represent a white cat. My cat Asha is the model for this one, but in the end it ended up a fusion of Asha and Bud her late brother who had more of the Persian evident in him, especially the smaller ears and wider muzzle. To me it looks more like a silver haired cat but I'm still reasonably happy with this first portrait in pen and ink. For a long time I've been studying the shapes that comprise the face in a cat and I hope to get it right one day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-81177716288482724982009-10-20T16:27:00.000-07:002009-10-20T16:53:48.492-07:00New Work and Some Changes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYWk4AukJ-VbkuQqUb2LHxf76y4Xn6tjzZDpo7Z_w07VMHu_cacXW9i15Z5yWaE9f5Plpsf0ezxs0ajOVIKMFJFXuPuGh1qLxtLVgdV-6wZSmm7wDJaQ8wvn5l7LaSnd5MoMxnyMWImT1/s1600-h/latest+art+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYWk4AukJ-VbkuQqUb2LHxf76y4Xn6tjzZDpo7Z_w07VMHu_cacXW9i15Z5yWaE9f5Plpsf0ezxs0ajOVIKMFJFXuPuGh1qLxtLVgdV-6wZSmm7wDJaQ8wvn5l7LaSnd5MoMxnyMWImT1/s320/latest+art+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394834372109626258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCYcz-bUyGeFQVijVysxUHGr0ivcwuXcSFyY7J8oDmOIEX8Q6xvdzu7vKO00ilX4D0K9VT6g7RYhpww9oY5GTJWma35JPT94tfR9rE6cnrFDnIeVNaMJ9HxLyCKpNXbaStvstuPdCA8VL/s1600-h/sketches+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCYcz-bUyGeFQVijVysxUHGr0ivcwuXcSFyY7J8oDmOIEX8Q6xvdzu7vKO00ilX4D0K9VT6g7RYhpww9oY5GTJWma35JPT94tfR9rE6cnrFDnIeVNaMJ9HxLyCKpNXbaStvstuPdCA8VL/s320/sketches+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394831958653270386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4XgEXufOGXt1-RmnCr2e8qGhZJ2hGIWaB-TkNBJ8GZvKcIQEWFypu1SRO65W7n7ziGmCgsS23fGGfBiHHnXHBjbDDtXxKilDtiQupxinflFMVvv_J0XjIfwvGD2rJ3sBWbkQs0sIlqWi/s1600-h/sketches+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4XgEXufOGXt1-RmnCr2e8qGhZJ2hGIWaB-TkNBJ8GZvKcIQEWFypu1SRO65W7n7ziGmCgsS23fGGfBiHHnXHBjbDDtXxKilDtiQupxinflFMVvv_J0XjIfwvGD2rJ3sBWbkQs0sIlqWi/s320/sketches+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394831849283287090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF2gppv8EUMXmNaTReJqqDxq7JLC4hWkrm1oGrxTAZEdJvnGYUL_WHV8zNumzWYpzXEKcDCTm8CN45NmnIMibAZnns8xfM477pcUtsCLg_aaNyh1re6aaoiDieIDPeR4-UsAWvKPFquQW/s1600-h/sketches+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF2gppv8EUMXmNaTReJqqDxq7JLC4hWkrm1oGrxTAZEdJvnGYUL_WHV8zNumzWYpzXEKcDCTm8CN45NmnIMibAZnns8xfM477pcUtsCLg_aaNyh1re6aaoiDieIDPeR4-UsAWvKPFquQW/s320/sketches+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394831662303119058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHXThruTuNxIF7TYSsB1EeZp71p4QkaaQo3xQ84D5bLP5R19lbt01eGsQE-9AVvECM_BXBbN0y_bRH966CWKpA18J8decl556hVppLvXN_YJ_C8fhvKSqAd9wBA6sgrM83q3JQmYfBzWw/s1600-h/sketches+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHXThruTuNxIF7TYSsB1EeZp71p4QkaaQo3xQ84D5bLP5R19lbt01eGsQE-9AVvECM_BXBbN0y_bRH966CWKpA18J8decl556hVppLvXN_YJ_C8fhvKSqAd9wBA6sgrM83q3JQmYfBzWw/s320/sketches+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394831466522087234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VZ1R5Tc88c3Zquqe4kaevdmOeADwXR8bxuwilu4BrybAbDV2jX6E1Vod6VKOjCEwqVQEwtOghg8709_RwE901DFwpFx7il1IVYRik1sWq9aLxZrbmXQwX86gKxd2JwrmoNzsLq1kd4bc/s1600-h/sketches+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VZ1R5Tc88c3Zquqe4kaevdmOeADwXR8bxuwilu4BrybAbDV2jX6E1Vod6VKOjCEwqVQEwtOghg8709_RwE901DFwpFx7il1IVYRik1sWq9aLxZrbmXQwX86gKxd2JwrmoNzsLq1kd4bc/s320/sketches+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394831326200305762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQUgzk3spyRC9-Hi1hUIoY9SmIKTnDIjKIYe9MfABc3atDb72abzLYJKjX6aa8va8JjteLDlKqU_en-mRFQsE5U-ZLq9vkWmj0Pl4CqfFegrb-0D4ELGM5CTNyFk40z3L8VNWsuvgBo9L/s1600-h/sketches+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQUgzk3spyRC9-Hi1hUIoY9SmIKTnDIjKIYe9MfABc3atDb72abzLYJKjX6aa8va8JjteLDlKqU_en-mRFQsE5U-ZLq9vkWmj0Pl4CqfFegrb-0D4ELGM5CTNyFk40z3L8VNWsuvgBo9L/s320/sketches+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394831184259652482" border="0" /></a><br />I've been continuing on my drawing and painting kick lately and made some changes to one of my works, "Kitty in the Garden", and did a new "In the Gloaming" picture without the "critters".<br />I've also been working more with pen and ink and teaching myself to draw birds from life. The colored bird picture here is based on a picture in my "Birds of North America" book. My goal is to draw birds with the correct markings from life. Difficult to achieve because photographing wary birds like the English sparrow is tricky. I look out my window to do my real life sketching because if I'm outside and get close enough to really see them, they fly away immediately as soon as I make a move with the pencil.<br />The Indigo Bunting in the colored bird picture (which I have also seen in real life) started out as a black and white pen and ink drawing, but buntings are one of the most colorful birds and this one cried out for color. I used colored pencil over the pen and ink for the bird and leaves, and chalk pastel for the background.<br />I did another abstract eye picture with ball point pen and ended up coloring it with colored pencils too. These were done on a left over pad from one of my tech courses, on the blank backs of the pages.<br />I decided to upload some of my( very rough) learning sketches of birds too, done in pencil first and highlighted with ball point pen after. These were done very quickly as birds are constantly in motion. I've been feeding them for years and find them adorable, in all their ways. That includes all the birds I see in my yard, from the common English sparrow to the exotic warblers and colorful finches and blue jays.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-61595654710518932662009-10-13T16:29:00.000-07:002009-10-13T16:44:36.583-07:00More Fun With Color<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv02jRNZeT15659WWVW2XwNzOHoIWsWkbA6v0nWDOGMFKZ4v0E_-h1t_QZLFIexy0NhBKHs5FBxEzxd7Fs2TZs1ORxcc0fyXHY6_pdaTH3D2LdPPJ4QpbLEH_ya6pFVQZ_wyK6KMtMzLz/s1600-h/rotated+kitty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv02jRNZeT15659WWVW2XwNzOHoIWsWkbA6v0nWDOGMFKZ4v0E_-h1t_QZLFIexy0NhBKHs5FBxEzxd7Fs2TZs1ORxcc0fyXHY6_pdaTH3D2LdPPJ4QpbLEH_ya6pFVQZ_wyK6KMtMzLz/s320/rotated+kitty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392234433970476514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjangHRJQE43XDvs9XkxDxha5UPPaJ_GjF_MEaVWlOPtcY7Y3hFNdpTm6262z-qDp07IjJbvwrAoW2FwM5XaMPdAwv2Eb0xrSpylgsfEstpKcLWx9Gushj71IvEmdNrz1G4TMrHq8b1NUG2/s1600-h/rotated+in+the+gloaming.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjangHRJQE43XDvs9XkxDxha5UPPaJ_GjF_MEaVWlOPtcY7Y3hFNdpTm6262z-qDp07IjJbvwrAoW2FwM5XaMPdAwv2Eb0xrSpylgsfEstpKcLWx9Gushj71IvEmdNrz1G4TMrHq8b1NUG2/s320/rotated+in+the+gloaming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392234251742854578" border="0" /></a><br />I've been on a drawing kick lately and have been experimenting with many different ways to apply color. In the photos above, I've used everything from India ink and pen (the old fashioned nib right out of the late 1800's), colored pencils both watercolor and standard. Soft pastels are also great for background and in the one I called "In the Gloaming" the pastel background has a luminous effect in real life. The scanner does a poor job of capturing the color exactly but we get the general idea. The creatures in "In the Gloaming" are not named yet and only appear at dusk in this magical land.<br />The "Kitty in the Garden" is mainly in watercolor pencils and pen and ink highlights. I did use some acrylic craft paint for the flowers too, because of the opacity and it seems to work well too.<br />I've always loved the word "gloaming" and in the perspective sunset with the strange creatures, I had the perfect excuse to finally use it.<br />The titles are self evident. Hope you enjoy my latest fun with color, and how to apply it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-26144494126680119552009-10-08T18:36:00.000-07:002009-10-08T19:06:54.513-07:00Trippy Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVBDxpFGuZxZbS4MWOg57SpfvtWt2qeyJnuZhvqLcVcAu_El_kbHKDfVJQbEMfpzhxTj5WZuMCSse0EURMTcctrqfUENAU9lu14VguuDpbWH6Ja_nVKLRUzq3mmv0MPY0hf9d-tIKiySU/s1600-h/woman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVBDxpFGuZxZbS4MWOg57SpfvtWt2qeyJnuZhvqLcVcAu_El_kbHKDfVJQbEMfpzhxTj5WZuMCSse0EURMTcctrqfUENAU9lu14VguuDpbWH6Ja_nVKLRUzq3mmv0MPY0hf9d-tIKiySU/s320/woman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390413052470271378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXijAZ9V6B9JQpo2n_AqJsjOWDp3ARv1dJOWiQRhUiMzlaKnIS4RuCeKzTkFBPF6njC5bHguWZKBgtTs5QFwjaqLJcmMKXPgJzWnQm2y2GBCk-J8q2LNEClPDYSHHka__ecT_HOzFkjOhe/s1600-h/eyes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXijAZ9V6B9JQpo2n_AqJsjOWDp3ARv1dJOWiQRhUiMzlaKnIS4RuCeKzTkFBPF6njC5bHguWZKBgtTs5QFwjaqLJcmMKXPgJzWnQm2y2GBCk-J8q2LNEClPDYSHHka__ecT_HOzFkjOhe/s320/eyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390412743461824290" border="0" /></a><br />This is some of my latest work. The woman with "the eyes" is done in Prismacolor pencils and some chalk pastel in the background. I call it "Mother Nature Raining Down a Watchful Eye"<br />The landscape with the surreal aspect is called "Eyes Above the Ground".<br />I love to let my imagination run wild and of all the things I love to draw, eyes are one of my favorites.<br />I get a kick out of combining aspects of both realism and abstract and to me the effect is most interesting and has endless potential to tickle the imagination.<br />The landscape picture is done in Prismacolor Watercolor pencils which are very intriguing to work with. This is my first attempt using this medium and I love it. You get all the effect watercolors with the ability to add sharp deliniations as well. I'm going to have a lot of fun learning all the ways these can be used.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-36556949626494776882009-09-24T09:04:00.000-07:002009-09-24T09:28:32.457-07:00Some of My Other Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vmIye273r5Kh7H-kBbb2PCY53JdVkMCs8flQxFUHl9i5KlNP4QL-b0IetIUMRjUD7BSjJxJ8Ii3x-t-B6jhQXWaSXAzArACNZ5X6V2zjgtUG2L1IfMaC0nwNwOm47Th_vhyTy8zfR7U8/s1600-h/eagle+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vmIye273r5Kh7H-kBbb2PCY53JdVkMCs8flQxFUHl9i5KlNP4QL-b0IetIUMRjUD7BSjJxJ8Ii3x-t-B6jhQXWaSXAzArACNZ5X6V2zjgtUG2L1IfMaC0nwNwOm47Th_vhyTy8zfR7U8/s320/eagle+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385071479432967122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ0pczGdclzrIl9HHaOATC7HdZcPszf2-42Kwk7IFM_TWCScslWxYHYXK5QgC1Fos-s7YRWaKzweWyRClmfLKo9iN-flr9mG8Yxfk5h9aS05tzmsZUVqGNtRmOPS-06zTQMvr3_uEJ_WP/s1600-h/horse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ0pczGdclzrIl9HHaOATC7HdZcPszf2-42Kwk7IFM_TWCScslWxYHYXK5QgC1Fos-s7YRWaKzweWyRClmfLKo9iN-flr9mG8Yxfk5h9aS05tzmsZUVqGNtRmOPS-06zTQMvr3_uEJ_WP/s320/horse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385071362719906802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXQViIwbpULNha9yBDoejr4QX4ms6EfkGdo39B0-DAOO7aEJoMJg_Y1GgBRsY6DAMW9j-YC7XLvEVkeDSFDBr44zbTzYuxx7kZA3Hu5yHHE6O-peFTobtzXERYCrztHxzYJPErcUvOLXc/s1600-h/scan0001+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXQViIwbpULNha9yBDoejr4QX4ms6EfkGdo39B0-DAOO7aEJoMJg_Y1GgBRsY6DAMW9j-YC7XLvEVkeDSFDBr44zbTzYuxx7kZA3Hu5yHHE6O-peFTobtzXERYCrztHxzYJPErcUvOLXc/s320/scan0001+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385071195823313170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkA_3gfRfKHvI3_CP6I2mJMfL29V4wgaWMBjECqcoXKDskX81wIOWe7jE521w8RFeqmZ1vq4WhU23LbG1gGv-TqG5NI2I8jh1GdTVBJgr1XtMu3gMWYrz-eIjFeOToMeGL6oGOu2Q2-Dn/s1600-h/butterfly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkA_3gfRfKHvI3_CP6I2mJMfL29V4wgaWMBjECqcoXKDskX81wIOWe7jE521w8RFeqmZ1vq4WhU23LbG1gGv-TqG5NI2I8jh1GdTVBJgr1XtMu3gMWYrz-eIjFeOToMeGL6oGOu2Q2-Dn/s320/butterfly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385071061863214914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk3h5ctmemznbf6FblyDIJCVpeXcB-4uutszSdMkPg-jceEF2WyP_BpgXnlFnyh3KcjNL91HnVwU31sCyFYa4T6ok72WWC-NerKAA6SQIuXrFHOXV3YnOJcR5J0iQds85GN3AmoQFtV4H/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk3h5ctmemznbf6FblyDIJCVpeXcB-4uutszSdMkPg-jceEF2WyP_BpgXnlFnyh3KcjNL91HnVwU31sCyFYa4T6ok72WWC-NerKAA6SQIuXrFHOXV3YnOJcR5J0iQds85GN3AmoQFtV4H/s320/scan0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385070885395198130" border="0" /></a><br />I've been drawing since I could pick up a crayon and have never gone more than a couple of months without at least trying to draw something. Faces and animals have been my main focus. Horses were the first animal that I fell in love with as a baby apparently.<br />When I was born we lived in a city called Hull, now called Gatineau, located just across the river from Ottawa. The milk wagons at the time were still drawn by horses and that was what prompted my very first words "pretty doggy", at only 9 months, according to my Mom. So horses, naturally, were my first subject. I also saw the movie "Bambi" when very small and deer with long eyelashes were another of my favorites.<br />None of my art has ever been viewed by anyone other than my family and I decided to show some of it here. I'm contemplating changing my inventory in my Etsy store to mainly original art and/or prints of my originals instead of jewelry. In the mean time I'm working on perfecting my techniques and doing research on what types of art are the most popular. In the mean time, here are some examples.<br />My little teapot was drawn from life in Corel Procreate Painter, the eagle is a charcoal drawing I did years ago to hang over my husband's dresser, and the horse pictures are from the latest pastel drawing I did, from a photo in a book on horses. I scanned the original while in progress and the finished work. The original butterfly I drew in Photoshop using the pencil and brush tools mainly and the grass was a special brush type. It was based on a photo.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-53748313831530655972009-08-29T17:25:00.000-07:002009-08-29T17:49:26.944-07:00Breathtaking Beauty Minutes from Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOs-n3apjFuG2_Us0-AR9x_0AT_IZRYn9UNXrhUAZg0H1TgAKUXkoG6CJtHWCNbaloTGAynLhP4tpowe8zAr-X8WgeVZsR0WG0w1DLjOpUes0fGST9ollUswlt7ItAJoLLMPWc517WUSl/s1600-h/English+Gardens+033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOs-n3apjFuG2_Us0-AR9x_0AT_IZRYn9UNXrhUAZg0H1TgAKUXkoG6CJtHWCNbaloTGAynLhP4tpowe8zAr-X8WgeVZsR0WG0w1DLjOpUes0fGST9ollUswlt7ItAJoLLMPWc517WUSl/s320/English+Gardens+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375551828138364482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEC2RbAPvC4UP5cCzNAlWKDkwjtgQMBrmeymfW95uWWBxFo4evb792hRzSThF27AwuQ29cCDPz70fIpaEloAmK81UG1P_gF4Cxh5QR9lAi_X3LXxvCYZ3o2UgMQIabwZvvlRfTnvEalYk/s1600-h/English+Gardens+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEC2RbAPvC4UP5cCzNAlWKDkwjtgQMBrmeymfW95uWWBxFo4evb792hRzSThF27AwuQ29cCDPz70fIpaEloAmK81UG1P_gF4Cxh5QR9lAi_X3LXxvCYZ3o2UgMQIabwZvvlRfTnvEalYk/s320/English+Gardens+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375551367461181618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngGXiAsS4PRC983L7x47hyphenhyphen7JMENXD4Paj7JDoIBGD9u0DBGD55DL2133baLWw00oNCve6R628BBx0YVMaw-PCW0h-gfaDYFU613tQGphubxM3IPhlVNKi3DJL-bgHWCoJUCnCGtkBJju2/s1600-h/English+Gardens+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngGXiAsS4PRC983L7x47hyphenhyphen7JMENXD4Paj7JDoIBGD9u0DBGD55DL2133baLWw00oNCve6R628BBx0YVMaw-PCW0h-gfaDYFU613tQGphubxM3IPhlVNKi3DJL-bgHWCoJUCnCGtkBJju2/s320/English+Gardens+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375551143792797746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP2YQKgNJ-53Z74tWQ8FlAm5Plo5n6QzMuGiMTZfRki9EKv3x-SLZvHMRxyfsql9FMlON7OvASzITvppqCzcw5xmJCbsCigmqsoZytczqz31zq8t8_VIMavZf6LWXRdFzYUjZe1axh3ji/s1600-h/English+Gardens+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP2YQKgNJ-53Z74tWQ8FlAm5Plo5n6QzMuGiMTZfRki9EKv3x-SLZvHMRxyfsql9FMlON7OvASzITvppqCzcw5xmJCbsCigmqsoZytczqz31zq8t8_VIMavZf6LWXRdFzYUjZe1axh3ji/s320/English+Gardens+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375550842290370978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLsbpkqiOV6d1rcVQ128f9B0OTY1qKq491bKH3hlvsj0hFQ-WFLD9RNeRY-Kiu8W5d4kUmUTxowSIH7bRIKRPWIQ7FzJ_gjzaqBXf7sQaADkzAWXsN_aB4gmBHQDAia_1DUYnx-EKDWcl/s1600-h/English+Gardens+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLsbpkqiOV6d1rcVQ128f9B0OTY1qKq491bKH3hlvsj0hFQ-WFLD9RNeRY-Kiu8W5d4kUmUTxowSIH7bRIKRPWIQ7FzJ_gjzaqBXf7sQaADkzAWXsN_aB4gmBHQDAia_1DUYnx-EKDWcl/s320/English+Gardens+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375550719631741394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYnSpo991smEfQps0dpWsWfiGtRRQ-514PuT9n-dybOJTeHa7-2iESgVCtH_zmF2lvXMq6gyhzu-ZcBgCtVLI2lAktE130o5KTNZs48XnuInJF-L0Xs8D-ErBE_uPKyxhV6llHB7Yif_b/s1600-h/English+Gardens+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYnSpo991smEfQps0dpWsWfiGtRRQ-514PuT9n-dybOJTeHa7-2iESgVCtH_zmF2lvXMq6gyhzu-ZcBgCtVLI2lAktE130o5KTNZs48XnuInJF-L0Xs8D-ErBE_uPKyxhV6llHB7Yif_b/s320/English+Gardens+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375550511565161650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFWM5kc6Zm6QLf8pjh9HSteE-mpvlFfQRNO198DnvmL9qcr9He4MhHlYgo2-F7eru0vVkPwjbL4OrFn-cfyN4hAhPrCizu4qoTMYU1-7R4GDZ6SG5W-dj4KZty037lN9r1v57YtE0F06I/s1600-h/English+Gardens+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFWM5kc6Zm6QLf8pjh9HSteE-mpvlFfQRNO198DnvmL9qcr9He4MhHlYgo2-F7eru0vVkPwjbL4OrFn-cfyN4hAhPrCizu4qoTMYU1-7R4GDZ6SG5W-dj4KZty037lN9r1v57YtE0F06I/s320/English+Gardens+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375550379036113218" border="0" /></a><br />For the last couple of weeks my Mom and I have been making tentative plans to visit the English Gardens in Assinaboine Park, which offer sweeping vistas of flowers in a joyous riot of color. I am fortunate enough to live only a few miles from the park and I love that such beauty as well as a large urban forest are so close to home. I especially enjoy visiting the park with another avid gardener. I get my love of gardening from my mother who has had plants and gardens as long as I can remember.<br />The weather finally cooperated today and since the flowers were late this year they are still in very good shape and we were busy taking pictures the whole time. I was lucky enough to see the beautiful Brugmansia with huge trumbet shaped downward hanging blooms in several places and will include some shots of them. I also took shots of huge dalias 'Dinnerplate' sized but called different names. Here are some of the shots I took on our lovely outing.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-91958780193078673552009-08-27T21:00:00.000-07:002009-08-27T21:16:38.570-07:00My Store is on Hiatus but not my work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cz-4LWuvz-zRpLzQJOvjE4Q2MvLifmsLTxWBG10Ihx3C1zdFdcB8B5ppjpst2nbizae2qbq0r8FdeJGiFxNs44sTfeu8XzvIy6mPIuZ6PhIP8kfD85ttDPSMTuqvp4VqMZ5sy7KhART-/s1600-h/silver+chainmaille+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cz-4LWuvz-zRpLzQJOvjE4Q2MvLifmsLTxWBG10Ihx3C1zdFdcB8B5ppjpst2nbizae2qbq0r8FdeJGiFxNs44sTfeu8XzvIy6mPIuZ6PhIP8kfD85ttDPSMTuqvp4VqMZ5sy7KhART-/s320/silver+chainmaille+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374863741751807618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg0BrbrOJ15o_PhSLTIiFNKLO8zdZ2zBGR1HesoVCIiLo1EoButPeuFW8E-_VE0O5reCMTwXY0M4dNYDBte9S0Tq2VKPsTce0rOJa0wlfRKxnzKLH8Y11wPkcNZoT8HmPxzP7UKqkdNEp/s1600-h/silver+chainmaille+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg0BrbrOJ15o_PhSLTIiFNKLO8zdZ2zBGR1HesoVCIiLo1EoButPeuFW8E-_VE0O5reCMTwXY0M4dNYDBte9S0Tq2VKPsTce0rOJa0wlfRKxnzKLH8Y11wPkcNZoT8HmPxzP7UKqkdNEp/s320/silver+chainmaille+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374862917836456770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HFzqpVqiHobFAEcgxuAbLBlgRZVcz9gIVmJB-w6Wvz3Pz-Fe9UuoBVBRfYvjCn_JlaIOqDrId-2EGNbFgB0_Lp-i4vTW40ggs5K6zxTIRqpkDT9dRm5Ob3ASIWhca0GBOHeYMGdd1AE5/s1600-h/silver+chainmaille+037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HFzqpVqiHobFAEcgxuAbLBlgRZVcz9gIVmJB-w6Wvz3Pz-Fe9UuoBVBRfYvjCn_JlaIOqDrId-2EGNbFgB0_Lp-i4vTW40ggs5K6zxTIRqpkDT9dRm5Ob3ASIWhca0GBOHeYMGdd1AE5/s320/silver+chainmaille+037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374862774627362882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJVD7YAnAPbZ1xGD3cgAxX9jbgVLu8x5ze6csnM8efqq8Kg1dbSGxbk5M1RCYEz4MZ-p31OGhkmyCSapZwFDf5TPCB3ltGwwLy2g7r579IKCrGCQbB-glKs3-rZW_L_G6cTPtdK5GZpN6/s1600-h/silver+chainmaille+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJVD7YAnAPbZ1xGD3cgAxX9jbgVLu8x5ze6csnM8efqq8Kg1dbSGxbk5M1RCYEz4MZ-p31OGhkmyCSapZwFDf5TPCB3ltGwwLy2g7r579IKCrGCQbB-glKs3-rZW_L_G6cTPtdK5GZpN6/s320/silver+chainmaille+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374862592315563938" border="0" /></a><br />I've decided to take a short break from running an online store, as a seller at least, and I'm using the time to concentrate on learning new techniques and creating new pieces.<br />I really love chainmaille and want to get more into sterling silver pieces. I just finished a new sterling bib necklace in a loose chunky weave that is so comfortable that the other night I fell asleep wearing it. The links are large and bold and create a 3D effect against the wearer.<br />Today was cool and cloudy and I did some more fusing and tumbled my latest links and my newest necklaces, the one mentioned first and a long chain that I made using some of my existing chainmaille links from a previous post, new oval links and double heart links.<br />Above are some shots of my latest pieces.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-77396788580149442522009-08-09T17:11:00.000-07:002009-08-09T17:41:26.413-07:00Teaching myself how to create fused silver links<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNc9gOzHkm-k37N7lFJstNxi7Nu1KmJIRxYNaUruAcJpubNp8sOJ0qtl9zKLcugS5xxZvmT5u8FY3hHWldom5r3MPCs_a2z0tkk7NVN75YiYZE81_4Dh8mv8LeAC1RwG2xOzjZ7qjSbZu/s1600-h/silver+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNc9gOzHkm-k37N7lFJstNxi7Nu1KmJIRxYNaUruAcJpubNp8sOJ0qtl9zKLcugS5xxZvmT5u8FY3hHWldom5r3MPCs_a2z0tkk7NVN75YiYZE81_4Dh8mv8LeAC1RwG2xOzjZ7qjSbZu/s320/silver+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368128742267021938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35DyZ6Mw9XSpfHC_ZzrtXRZq8JXT05ksAbqbHP3dNnul-vBbYd7L4PC9z1QEXrl_YEExaOT1XAr8Lb2l9Ip2_8dOKjxMY5rbHiHDUKbecUD14kGWInj4sooHMWN4mnY283D4s5o7AYzi_/s1600-h/silver+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35DyZ6Mw9XSpfHC_ZzrtXRZq8JXT05ksAbqbHP3dNnul-vBbYd7L4PC9z1QEXrl_YEExaOT1XAr8Lb2l9Ip2_8dOKjxMY5rbHiHDUKbecUD14kGWInj4sooHMWN4mnY283D4s5o7AYzi_/s320/silver+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368124328421063858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div>I've finally learned some of the basics of fusing .999 fine silver. A while back I got a small butane torch and some fine silver with which to practice fusing and I'm finally getting the knack of it. I love the convenience of fusing the silver without needing all the extra items like pickle, flux and solder and having to go the hassle of cleaning off firescale, a discoloration which is a by product of heating regular.925 sterling silver. The biggest challenge for me in the learning process is learning just how far to hold the torch from the silver. When the right distance is achieved the process is quick, easy and quite fun. I love the heat that reflects off the firebrick too. It's a lovely warm hobby.<br />I make sure the window is open and the room is well ventilated, but at least with the little torch and the short time it's burning, the fumes are way less of a problem than when using MAPP gas, for example, which is what I bought to use for making glass beads.<br />Once the rings are fused they can then be shaped and for my first design I made a number of ovals and hammered, and textured some of them. Here are a couple of shots of my first successful attempt to make a number of fused rings in one session. I finished this piece, which I won't part with, with lovely Hill Tribe silver charms which were a sweet gift from my sister once she found out I was into making jewelry. My goal is to master different shapes of fused rings and creating whole chains, with all the rings fused. Chain making is really one of my favorite activities when making jewelry, both using fused rings and chainmaille which uses mainly open rings.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-22917919925800612532009-07-28T09:37:00.000-07:002009-07-28T09:42:38.546-07:00Removed my resin bracelets from my storeI made the discovery that resin bracelets made with Easy Cast Epoxy resin become really soft in the sun so it's back to the drawing board. I plan to figure out a way to make the ones I have already made more sturdy, which will be a challenge. Really, nothing beats glass for shine, transparency and durability. Resin is great for figurines to be displayed indoors I guess, but in this context, in my opinion, is not suitable for jewelry unless maybe poured into a rigid bezel.<br />I re-opened my store today but no resin bracelets will be featured unless I include a disclaimer that they soften in the sun, which to me renders them unsuitable.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-63641759794556806832009-07-17T07:41:00.000-07:002009-07-17T07:53:31.930-07:00My Latest Labour of Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnk666SEWAUH3tspVycqShEPGKPE3FC1KkhPBeMrCDeyhdacazHwFAWnHHwi0UVrbwAt-KkCo84JH_YuEl5ld3fW2lDHwfBriDhqIe8SiC9riJzeH0GpO4Fwg_lERHnyzg6rWgqv1YAXX/s1600-h/latest+work+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnk666SEWAUH3tspVycqShEPGKPE3FC1KkhPBeMrCDeyhdacazHwFAWnHHwi0UVrbwAt-KkCo84JH_YuEl5ld3fW2lDHwfBriDhqIe8SiC9riJzeH0GpO4Fwg_lERHnyzg6rWgqv1YAXX/s320/latest+work+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359442003058118818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg63_v7KxwTP5FBU7aBlVwigHLNU7FvcWkhVtT6MwMoQXSZEzzj6O_oURanKZtP-eRH9JJAkmbs0rLml1o5Wm-pm2x1zoXmp9j6KHqXabmHDxM3UX8CpKUCoV8YytFMNnKIR8prU7SqFFT/s1600-h/latest+work+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg63_v7KxwTP5FBU7aBlVwigHLNU7FvcWkhVtT6MwMoQXSZEzzj6O_oURanKZtP-eRH9JJAkmbs0rLml1o5Wm-pm2x1zoXmp9j6KHqXabmHDxM3UX8CpKUCoV8YytFMNnKIR8prU7SqFFT/s320/latest+work+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359441779098312594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnfYitjI6h1_Aeho9X-LlVd8k2c0HyKBeWKYPqTHY-j-Xwxx6citiTeffhy6URf1BBR9NYjsAGhrxlo1OT5QCHCqLnqBjp9sDw18s3D1Zu1AKtvdtesJeN71h_p_Sc9nNDLLD00iXC2wQ/s1600-h/latest+work+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnfYitjI6h1_Aeho9X-LlVd8k2c0HyKBeWKYPqTHY-j-Xwxx6citiTeffhy6URf1BBR9NYjsAGhrxlo1OT5QCHCqLnqBjp9sDw18s3D1Zu1AKtvdtesJeN71h_p_Sc9nNDLLD00iXC2wQ/s320/latest+work+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359441672366740978" border="0" /></a><br />I had a wonderful time designing the necklace in the above photos. It too is based on one of April's lovely sets of beads and this time I went for the bling and was generous with the sterling silver both in the heavy 18 gauge .999 silver S links and the other embellishments. These beads, like all of my previous sets, can be used in designs using very little else in the way of decoration but I wanted to pull out the stops anyway and feel that the embellishments in this case don't conflict with the detail on the beads. I used black high quality faux pearls in the pendant detail and was pleased with the black on the silver. This will be my newest addition to my collection of designs based on April's exquisite lampwork beads, to be added to my Etsy store.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232416591591781529.post-91736839987395218032009-07-16T10:08:00.000-07:002009-07-16T10:24:33.551-07:00New Necklace Listed Just the Way I Made It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhjouzPz44pBLxJI8e4DCctQDqUBqtwDE7J3tk_FFq_nhhzBrRxm0MmYaHFAcs81l6fZnN8ah5qDtNP_1jqZBqR73yo9ry6K00CBweHgp3p1x-qCiH6at6Ct0ntKX82MBh9_5vj_dfCfS/s1600-h/new+lampwork+024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhjouzPz44pBLxJI8e4DCctQDqUBqtwDE7J3tk_FFq_nhhzBrRxm0MmYaHFAcs81l6fZnN8ah5qDtNP_1jqZBqR73yo9ry6K00CBweHgp3p1x-qCiH6at6Ct0ntKX82MBh9_5vj_dfCfS/s320/new+lampwork+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359109918133891170" border="0" /></a><br />I ended up not changing anything on the lovely necklace using the black crystals and the plunged lampwork beads. I started adding embellishments and, in the end I kept it simple yet elegant. Sometimes less is more and in this case I found it to be true. It is the second necklace in the photos below. The one using the set with the .999 silver decorations is one I had planned for myself from the first, and I'm totally pleased with the result. In the future I will probably design one much like this for my Etsy shop too, because, much to my delight April does custom work and I could re-order this set in the future. I still have one more set to make up into a piece for my shop so it won't be long before I have another original piece of art jewelry designed around stunning original lampwork beads.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13048481424459354497noreply@blogger.com0