Redwood Coast Creative Arts

I am ready to tackle some studio time

So, I have finally finished my book, La Sombra Del Viento by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It was a really good book.  I had a hard time putting it down.  It is a dark tragedy with a plot within a plot that weave together successfully creating a suspenseful thriller.

I cleaned the house and I am ready to tackle some studio time.

I have been spending a little bit of time each day with Tim McCreight's "Jewelry-Fundamentals of Metalsmithing" . I am very inspired to bang on some sheet metal and twist some wire. I don't have a definite project in mind. I just want to get in there and make some noise, blaze up the torch, twist some wire and see where things go from there. I highly recommend this book if you want a broad overview of many metalsmithing, jewelry techniques.

Here are few other favorites that you might like.  Not listed in any particular order.

 

 

 

 

My Next Project

I am still reading the novel I started on a few weeks back, La Sombra Del Viento by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I was having a hard time focusing and finding time to just sit and read. I've been home sick with stomach flu for a couple of days which gave me a chance to pick the book back up and start at it again. It is getting to be very interesting!  I am on page 234, I have 237 to go.  I'd really rather stay home and finish reading one more day but, I am really not feeling sick anymore, I hope I am not sick anymore, and I have lots of work waiting at the office. 

I also have my next project in mind.

A Shell Fae, a la Dawn Schiller, the Odd Fae http://www.oddfae.com/. I am taking an online workshop at www.dollstreetdreamers.com/. Aren't they cute? 

I promise to take pic's and post as soon as I am done. I have conditioned my clay, purchased and washed my shells, well two of them anyway. One has sea creature parts still in it and it smells really bad. In tried boiling it and baking it. I think that I will have to put it out side to dry out in the sun. Does anyone out there know how to get critter parts out of sea shells?

BronzClay Bells

I took a BronzClay Workshop with Kathy Davis in September.  These are my first few projects in BronzClay.  I plan on doing lots more.

I recently received an email inquiry asking, "Where did you come up with the idea for them, especially the design for the maiden"? I though I would post my response here to give you all a little bit of insight to my delerious, creative thought process.

Here is my response:

Thank you for the compliments! My Mushrooms are blushing! Where do my ideas come from??? Lots of opiates! No, just kidding!

I really don’t pull ideas from anywhere in particular. They come from everywhere and every thing In fact I can't make them come if they don't feel like it and I can't make them stop when I am either not in the mood or not able to act on them (journal it out or work them out in some other way).

I just condition the clay and start sculpting. The characters come together eventually and as they are coming along they tell me their story. Handle, the Mushroom Troll, was very forceful with his story. He had it all out before his head was completed. He told me all about the mushroom maiden too.

So, that is how their stories come about. The design work is a little different. I basically get a feel for the mood and emotions behind each character and just go at it. I have no plan. I usually don’t sketch anything out or have any preconceived notions of what or who they will be. I think that it stifles creativity and sets you up for failure if you try to force the clay into being what you want it to be rather than just letting it evolve into what it is.

As I complete one step I am thinking of where I will go next. Because I don’t plan anything out I often end up stumped with technical difficulties. Propping the Mushroom Maiden up to heat cure was extremely challenging (and I had to do it for multiple cures). She suffered a few minor injuries (mushroom parts broke off and cracked in the cure). These injuries required lots of spackle (polymer paste), paint, glue and objects and polyester batting support to indure several extra rounds of heat curing. I had my moments of doubtbut, chose to work through them despite my negative, anxious vibes. In the middle f the night, while the world sleeps, I am able to let go of "real world" inhibitions and just go with the flow. When things go wrong I just keep on working through it.

If you are asking for my sources of inspiration in general, there are many; Brian Froud art, my woodland garden, my true love of mushrooms and fantasies. I hope this makes sense and is helpful in some way.
Peace out!
LaLa