wire art Archives - Solamente

In the doghouse

July 24, 2018 1 Comment

I wear lots of hats—artist, farmer, dog mom—but this year the farm has moved from the back seat of life to the front. Correction: The farm is actually driving.

For that reason, it’s remarkable that I’m still managing to work on an art piece for an upcoming show. In fact, it’s one of the more fun pieces I’ve created in a while. I’m sharing it because it’s cute and also to hold myself accountable for finishing it, no matter where the farm takes me.

A weekend with my art group

For a busy artist, there’s nothing more helpful or encouraging than time away with other creative souls to get stuff done. There’s fun, banter, and conversation while each person creates her own project.

When I spent a weekend with my art group recently, I started a new piece for the 25th annual Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts Show put on by the Madera County Arts Council or as we say, “the Ag Show”. This is a juried show with five competition categories all related to agriculture and it even has cash prizes.

The theme is “Agriculture’s Animal Friends”. I imagined a black-and-white farm dog in a rustic dog house, resting in the shade. In terms of structure, my inspiration was the woven owl box piece I created for the 2017 Ag Show (recognized with an Honorable Mention and sold!), only larger and more rustic.

When you create art with wire, you have to think beyond its finished appearance to the sturdy internal frame on which you build color and embellishments. Not only does this piece need to stand up on its own, the doghouse itself will hold a pendant when it’s not being worn. A hanging pendant needs good support, so I am considering a base of antiqued wood.

The engineering of a piece is often the biggest challenge. Creating component pieces that work together and display art jewelry for everyday enjoyment is an especially fun challenge.

The dog bead (made by the lovely lampwork artist, Tammy Mercier) will have a red collar made from wire I special ordered. I was at a local craft store when I found some really unique blue wire, but I really wanted red. Imagine my delight when an online search revealed a line of 12 colors in the same style. Eureka!

While I proceeded with weaving wire into the structure I built, it looked too fragile. I debated taking it out and redoing it, but things have a way of working out. I tried switching to thicker, 21-gauge, half-round wire. Now it looks sturdier, and the different color wires give it a rustic feel.

I created a prototype to put grass and plants in front of the doghouse. Although the copper one I created looked great, I remade it in green wire. This conveniently covers the smaller-gauge wire too. I love it when it works!

When it was time to add a roof, securing the textured copper sheets proved challenging. The doghouse has a steep peak with a lot of space between wire. Without too much trouble, I used the vertical wires to create rustic-looking nails, wrapped down even and tight.

The pendant itself will be simple with a collar under the face and a dog tag. I’m also considering paw-print earrings to complete the ensemble.

Want to see the dog house when it’s finished?

Be sure to follow me on Facebook! I will submit it to the Ag Show by August 1. Hopefully it will pass the jury, and you can see it in person at the opening reception on September 13. Wish me luck!

As designated queen, shouldn’t you have a tiara?

March 2, 2017 1 Comment

Over the years, I’ve made many different kinds of art jewelry pieces for the neck, arms, and earlobes, but this time I am inspired in a whole new direction.

Can you see it taking shape on my work bench?

Tiaras!

Like some of my favorite projects, I didn’t plan what happened—which made it even better.

Mixed Messages Gallery was putting on a themed show for a book signing. In honor of Laura Sidsworth’s newest kids’ book, Spoiled Pink, they threw a pink princess party. I was invited to participate, and when little girls’ pink tiaras came to mind, I made several for the event.

And were they ever fun to make! They were full of sparkly Lucite beads and spiral wire—light to wear and fanciful! After making those, I started to think about bringing that playful sparkle to every day life.

Shouldn’t grown-ups have tiaras too?

Tiaras, everywhere!

I asked myself: What if you were queen of your life? What if you ruled over your domain with benevolence and dignity? And a sense of humor? Well, you would have a royal title and a tiara for everything, of course!

Inspired and following a wild creative path the goddess work set me on, I’m making sparkly, collaged tiaras with regal titles for everyday activities. “Our Lady of the Laundry,” “Sultana of Sear,” and “Goddess of the Golden Rule”. Working in every spare moment to capture the energy and the idea—adornment, acknowledgment, flights of fancy and fun—in service to everyday, mundane, and life at our simplest and most common.

What if?” I wondered. And I tried it. “What if…” and I tried that too. I love when creative work seems to take on a life of its own!

Her Serene Highness of Hearth and Home

Our Lady of the Laundry

Having fun with soap bubbles and froth!

Countess Penelope
This royal lady is in charge of the household budget, dollars and sense, and pinching the pennies.

Goddess of the Golden Rule Tiara

Sultana of Sear

The Supreme Sorceress of the Spicy Kitchen

I’m getting so many ideas!

Each tiara are sparkly and humorous, fun and fanciful. The pieces are wearable, yet over-the-top enough to be displayed as art pieces.

The fun of collage is making a variety of materials work together. I love faceted Lucite beads— which are too big, too loud, colorful plastic—paired with gorgeous Swarovski pearls. In others, I’m using tulle puffs and sparkly ribbon with colored art wire.

Despite being a first for me, the style is consistent with my body of work with wire, coils, and really unique materials. The designing has been fun, and the execution fun too (which isn’t always the case). I’m having a blast. It almost doesn’t feel like work.

Come see!

These tiaras will first be exhibited at the new show, “Reflections,” at Circle Gallery in Madera starting March 2, 2017. They’ll be on display (and for sale) along with several others not shown here. If you’re in the area, please come by to take a look!

If you were queen of your world, what would your title be?

Capturing Found Objects – Caged Wire Wrap

May 18, 2012 Leave a Comment

Walking along the beach you find a beautiful shell or rock, it would make the perfect pendant or focal bead. How do you put it on a chain when there is no hole? Rummaging through your stash you come accross a big bead with a poorly drilled hole, you cannot get it oriented to suit your design. The last time you went to an art sale you bought the most beautiful artist marble, you would like to display it, but nothing is working.

To solve your challenges with three dimensional pieces that do not have a hole, I teach a class called Caged. This is a wire wrap technique that enables you to capture the piece in a cage of wire, then create a bail and embellish with wire coils and springs. For an elegant pendant you simply slide it on a chain; for a more complicated design, you can use it as a focal element.

I am teaching this on June 16 at one of my favorite bead stores, Creative Castle If you have not taken a class there yet, let me recommend one. Carole, the stores owner, is a gracious hostess and her store is stocked with a good variety of wire. You can use silver for this project or while you are learning, try the less expensive copper, or art wire.

In this class you will create a finished pendant, or have only a few embellishments left to complete. Instant gratification!