friday from the bench

This is the inaugural post for a series I plan to update every Friday. I'll be presenting images of current works in progress in my studio and/or sketchbook - whatever state they may be in. With all honesty, it's not always easy for an artist to share images of their work before it's finished, because we're rarely pleased with how it looks in the interim and we are, after all, visual people. However, the progression of a piece from beginning to end is part of the adventure and what makes art-making so exciting for me personally. In the spirit of exploration and open arms to vulnerability I feel this will be worth sharing. So without further adieu…

Ear buds. My initial intention was to make these into a pair of earrings. A bit larger and more abstract than previous hEarrings I've made. But I've decided I want to see them become brooches instead so I plan to solder stick pins on the back of each. One is destined for the Miller Gallery in Ohio, the current body of work I'm trying to finish up, and the other… I'm not sure yet where that one will go…

Smile bud. I'm imaging this one with translucent pink resin in the petals. Again, a stick pin finding.
This is from a bracelet I took apart recently. It never really sat comfortably on the wrist anyway so I'm thinking I'll turn it into a necklace and attach chain to the loops on both sides. It will probably end up for sale on etsy. I love when "recycling" an older piece makes it even better the second time around. (I'm hoping that's the case with this design anyway!)

I'm in the middle of working out casting the silver elements for my bust piece, a form I've used in the past. I was hand-fabricating it from scratch and custom fitting each set of breasts for the heart shape, a very time-intensive process! I'm now working with a caster on 47th street and my grand plans for this piece look promising as a result. I want to cast these brooches in mass quantities and donate the proceeds to breast cancer research. Not long ago breast cancer hit close to home within my family and ever since I've felt more of a connection to the cause. I'm really looking forward to this project.