1st Art Show Dark Art Fest Sept. 2007

Before I drift off into the ether... I thought I'd round up some of my favorite paintings I did for my first Dark Arts showing at the DNA Lounge 'meat' club at the end of September 2007. It was only for one night. I had framed a bunch of my 8.5x11 pieces as well as some larger paintings (& actually sold 3 framed pieces that night, my first)... as well as showcasing my new Altered Art Jewelry to go along with the framed prints. (which I sold a bunch of, yea!)



The first is a Self Portrait 'Twig Mask in Pink' done in Acrylic. Also shown with detail.

The 2nd is one of my FAVES is the 'Serpent Twins', and yes, it is a bit naughty. The idea was bore out of another self portrait photo I took of myself in the mirror & then later turned into this Acrylic piece on paper. I love the shadows on this piece & had created this piece at the local Sketch Tuesday (most 3rd tuesdays of the month) at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco.



The third 'Red Skull' was a print of my digital art prints on one of my favorite types of printing paper 'canvas cloth'... luv it! Then I did all the intense dark design work with Acrylic Paint... and the Red I did in a Dark Burgandy Cherry Red CRIMSON acrylic. Though actually, this piece is so Dark in real life that a lot of the detail is more subtle.

I will post pics of the actual nights event once I clean them up.
~X~

Art Clay Silver or PMC carved jewelry creations

I thought I'd post some of my mid 2007 Art Clay Silver creations. I had a lot of fun with these. Best of all, I fired them right on my Gas Stovetop on top of a Metal Mesh piece used for soldering. The First Ruby Sun Rays with art clay Gold paint accent. The 2nd is my personal piece winged skull with Loveliest Labradorite fire drop on cord. I loved this piece so much I made a Cold Cast mold of it for future creations. The last is my personal Thumb ring. Carved when dry & the actual piece was created with older reconstituded from dry old ACS. This one was a DOOZY to create with set sapphire stone eyes. For one, you are not supposed to do rings or other 3D type creations attempting to fire on the stove top. They are supposed to be done in a kiln so that they can be protected with the fabric center. One of the horns came off at some point & though I tried to slip it back on & hold it in place, eventually, I had to torch it to the piece. As well, when dried & carving/sanding, the piece broke in 4 places, thus disrupting the design carved around the band (which would have been a lot nicer if it hadn't broken). But I like a challange.

Soon to come: I will be creating custom carved design pendant frames & other bezel frames in Art Clay Silver / PMC & also sterling torched frame & bezel pieces for setting my Altered Art Collage work for jewelry. Can't wait.

~X~

Altered Art Moleskin sketchbook

It's been so cold. I shouldn't complain, it's not wintery weather in the midwest. But since I am so used to California winters... it is cold enough to where my nose hands & toes are frozen. I am leading up to the following project. Staying nestled in my warm bedroom... not wanting to leave for barely a stretch... I cuddled up with blankets, kitty & art supplies as well as the movies 'War Gods of the Deep' & 'journey to the earth's core', and King Kong Original as well as the 1976 (my fave) King Kong version.

Now that I have this new moleskin, I've been checking out what it can handle. Unfortunately, distress inks seep through. Though I tried to use them on the above pages... not too exciting & the left side is still unstarted & the Right side is still unfinished.



Tools & Techniques:

• Distress Ink pads
• acrylics
• my artwork ephemera cutouts
• moleskin sketchbook
• the original image was a photo I took of myself years ago for my first full length album cd, Dark Muse 'Sounds from beyond the Silver Wheel'...

~X~

More Altered Art Collage My Mucha Design Inspiration

Here is another of the Altered Art Collage creations I did on stampbord.
This piece is So beautiful, but so hard to capture on film.

Tools & Techniques:

• Custom Rubber stamp from my own photoshop art (photo of myself from my banner logo on the jewelry site).
• Lilac Distress Reinker (new fave) straight from bottle & applied to edges with sponge.
  
• Acrylic Paint (black, white, blackcherry red, eggplant purple, plum, silver metallic)
  
• Collaged handmade design paper ephemera
• Pearl Ex Colors (hard to see in the finish, but image not really yellow as shown, but more of a powdery white with Fushia/white pearl ex hues).
• Vintage Glass & Crystals (burgandy red carved heart leaf, faceted squares in purple & pink, faceted pointed flipped upside down & glued.)
  
• Swarovski crystals (tiny pink, fushia, black)
  
• on Stampbord
• Final Finish is a Diamond Glaze

~X~

Creating Art while vending ???

'Beaming Eye of Inspiration'

I love the instant satisfaction of positive words about my work. (which is why I continue to vend from time to time). Online sales are great as well, but I need to connect physically/mentally/emotionally/ live with others to fully feel feedback sometimes.
So far I've introduced my new line of Altered Art & Collage jewelry creations last September, and had been working hard on creating & honing the resin work and such months prior.
There have been over 400 pieces created. Each a different piece of wearable art. Literally!
With Resin set images spanning from my photos, actual miniature paintings, collages, vintage altered pieces, drawings, photoshop/digital art etc.
It's been pretty fulfilling hearing people comment on my art (not just my jewelry art) but my literal art/paintings/photography & aesthetic in color & arrangement. It's funny how calming & artistically well rounded I feel doing this sort of jewelry creations.
The downside so far is that I haven't posted any of my work for sale online, and I've been selling them to fast to post.

Tonight, what I call my little poopoo (term of endearment) scissors design sold twice over. As well as one of my Serpent Twins locket & my fave Cthulu Skull print set in sterling.

So I've decided to now bring a small assortment bag of art supplies with me to vend. Not just my standard jewelry tools for quickie adjustments... but some of my smaller hand carved rubber stamps, ink, coupla paints & my new Moleskin brand sketchbook. I actually created a beautiful piece tonight & was surprised I could do so in a crowded loud & somewhat smokey goth club.
I just got to the point that I didn't care & just started to massacre my new book, until luckily it all fell into place & began to flow (I was a little nervous for a while).

'Beaming Eye of Inspiration'

tools & techniques:

• Collage my digital art self portrait
• laid on painted black journal page
• Enhance Beaming rays by painting Silver Acrylic
• stamp Eye with handmade carved rubber stamp w/black mica ink
• Color with shimmers of silver paint wash &
  silver ant. pearl ex
• color with more pearl ex & powdered eye shadow colors for peachy/pink hues
• hand stamp bottom with part of my handmade/carved rubber stamp of my octopus (tentacles flipped up)...
• hand paint details...

So to re-cap:

1. Dark Club + jewelry making = bad lighting = not very inspiring = not a lot done! but . . .
   
2. Dark Club + Art Supplies (ie: paint, paper, stamps) = Calm, Fun, Focus (unbelievably so), Fluid, Flow!!! (though I can see how this might not be for everyone :)
   

whodathunkit!

~X~

ATC party collage #1 & #2

'Flaming horned Icon of the Sacred Heart'
(1st image is the 2nd piece I created for myself, the 2nd image is the 1st version that my friend Stephen now owns).

This Altered Art Collage took forever to get started. I had my first Altered Art mini party & invited a select few over for fun & frolic (too much frolic within green tea & mini pumpkin cake bites & Berries oh my)... but by the end this horned icon piece was finally finished.

'Horned Icon'
Tools & Techniques:

StampBord, Custom Rubber stamp, Black Stazon, Lilac Distress reinker, collage design paper bits, Acrylic, Vintage Burgandy Leaf Glass, Copper sheet, Pearl Ex 'pearl' & Red Russet, Diamond Glaze for sealing.

The main black ink design of the Horned icon is actually a Custom Rubber stamp I had made from one of my paintings.
I loved the final outcome so much that I created a Second one for myself. She turned out slightly varied, & I am sure with my stamping of her, that she will not be the last.

Everyones work is posted below as well. Noting that at the end of the day, we threw our names in a box & drew someones to receive one of the ACEO pieces to take home. I received my friend Stephen Powers piece called 'Secret Forces'.

Basically, I asked that everyone try to utelize new & different materials than what they were used to & also asked them to bring not only their favorite art tools of the trade, but also some random ephemera that others might be able to bring new life to.

So I cleared out the kitchen, opened up the table & set out most all my art supplies for everyone. I had so much to dive into it was almost overwhelming. Everyone had such a great time that I forgot to take pictures of everyone while they were creating (next time).

~X~

Altered Art Collage party #1

The First

I have been on an altered art book binge. Taking in some new inspirations.
For a long time I've been feeling so stagnant with my art & am finally finding my voice again in being to combine many loves to create new works.

Current Book to horde (for today):

'Secrets of Rusty Things' by Michael DeMeng

Ok, I have to admit the work is Sensational & I was automatically drawn to the images of his work. The little stories to go along with his process were just icing. The Dark & Rusty & Ancient aesthetics drew me in. It is hard for me to only view it as inspiration when I am so drawn to the process that it feels familiar.

This one book opened up many doors for me. I am thankful.

~X~