New Studio Mate, Kate Cathey!

I have a new studio mate! Experimental metalsmith, enamellist, and fellow ECU -MFA alumni Kate Cathey. (Hers are the rings in the bottom left corner of the image) Kate has been shown all over the country and is featured in Linda Darty's book "The Art of Enameling". Kate has taught around the country as well and we hope to offer some enamelling classes out of the studio. Feel free to email me if you are interested. I shall light a fire under her! It is quite exciting for me. I have shared with painters up to now and it is a treat to have another metalsmith in the studio. The bits and pieces on her work bench are so visually stimulating. She has also been experimenting with encaustics set in silver. Quite lovely.... I hope to get a mini encaustic workshop from her soon. Interestingly the top right hand image is of a set of brooches by my former roomate, Sharon Massey. I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by such fine artists.

Making an enamel bowl

If you're interested, I loaded a new page up showing how I make a vessel. It is general of course. Being the ADD artist that I am, there are process photos missing that I should have taken but, alas, I get caught in the moment and well... you know.
Next time I shall have to be more diligent with the camera. I also had to get someone to snap the photos for me. I do however think you'll find it educational. Clicking on the title above will redirect you to the page on my website.

My new "sinking" stump

Here's a photo of my newly carved "sinking" stump. Carved for me by Scott McGhee an arborist/blacksmith here in the area. I use it for metal bowl making also called sinking. You can also see one of my new mushroom stakes. which I use to shape the bowls.

a picture of my daughter learning to pierce metal with a jewelers saw. I went for a gorgeous walk yesterday at Fort Fisher. The rocks were fabulous, covered in green floating algae, pools of water filled with little shells. Robert and I picked up drift wood, hopped across the rocks... We even trudged through the maritime thickets of yaupon and oak, following a deer path. I was irritated with myself that I didn't bring my camera! I will have to go back this time WITH my camera.

Wrightsville Beach Magazine bio about me!

Hey! I forgot to mention the article written about me by Marimar McNaughton in this months Wrightsville Beach Magazine. Go to Wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com and click on "Pushing Boundaries", as well as the More Headlines section where you would click on "Bon Voyage" an extra web article she wrote about my artistic journey.

A day in the studio yesterday... all day.... ahhhh.
I didn't have any students scheduled so the day was mine. Made two rings. One was a bear! I don't know if I was off or what. It is a square gold bezel on a silver band set with a pyramidal garnet. The bezel being square was difficult to line up just right. And Man! if it got too hot, the solder would cause the thing to slip off completely and get stuck at some odd angle... just one of those days I guess. but it was a gorgeous day. I took the plants outside the studio door and let them get sun. The following is an image of the seats at IAC in the lobby, late afternoon.

Man! Blogger is frustrating! I have trouble uploading images and putting them where I want them! ARGH! Here's more work....

Nope,
that's not snow!
Its just plain ole NC sand.
Robert and I went walking in Halyburton Park on Sunday.

Artfest here I come!

So... I have been busy in the studio and here's a sneak peak at what I shall bring to vendor night at Artfest 2007.
Artfest is so wonderful. If you're not familiar with it, here's a link: http://www.teeshaslandofodd.com/
It is a fabulous weekend of avant garde, collage/mixed-media artists gathering to take workshops make stuff and interact. Artfest occurs in late March in Port Townsend WA. I can't wait. Robert is going with me. He has plans to wander the Olympic pennisula and kayak Puget sound while I teach a class and make stuff. Then we both plan on camping some the week after.