RaceCar Jewelry Company

I made the trip to Pawtucket, RI last week to visit RaceCar Jewelry Company with some members of the Metal Clay Artisan Guild in CT and returned excited about the potential it may hold for those of us looking to expand our potential market.  RaceCar is a full service investment casting and finishing shop specializing in working with artists of all experience levels.  They were warm and inviting as we were given a tour of the facilities and walked step by step through the process from quoting to mold making to casting.  Jewelry Manufacturing Specialist Daniel Grandi took the time to review work that members had brought to discuss its potential for casing and what artists need to consider as they enter in this process.  The guild hopes to have Daniel join us as a future guest speaker.

Gold Accents in Metal Clay

I love silver.  I always have.  Maybe it's because I have childhood memories of traveling to the southwest and seeing beautiful silver and turquoise work.  Maybe it's because there so many cultures from so many different parts of the world that have stories of silver that are incorporated into their mythologies.  I just know it is one of the materials I have always been drawn to.  That does not by any means make it the only material I work with.  Every once in a while, a piece calls for something more.  The piece featured in this post was inspired by "Pele's Hair", volcanic glass threads that are created when molten material is thrown into the air.  They look like piles of golden volcanic hair and called for some color accents to this piece.  

                      

Before incorporating the gold, the base form was built using silver clay coils wrapped around black glass and volcanic beads.  The piece was fired in the kiln to burn out the clay binders and just leave the glass, beads and silver.  When silver comes out of the kiln, it has a matte white finish that is normally brushed to reveal the shining metallic surface, not in this case.  I applied overlay paste to the areas I wanted to accent.  Once dry, I slowly built up layers of the gold paste until it reached a mustard color.  At this point it can either be kiln fired or torch fired to burn out the binder and leave the gold.  The key is speed!  On the above right, there is an image of the piece glowing from the torch fire, once that glow appears (this is best done in the dark) you are only holding it for a few seconds.  Any longer and the gold and silver will melt together and you will lose your accent.  The more layers of paste, the deeper the color in the end.  Just like silver, after firing it will still be that matte mustard color and must be brushed to reveal its luster.

I used Art Clay Gold Paste over the fine silver to create these accents.  After firing the gold left is 22k and can be used on glass and porcelain, as well.  While this is a relatively affordable way to work with gold, at the end of the day it is real gold and you are still paying market price for it.  I initially worked with both gold paste and gold sheet in my senior certification class with Art Clay World.  The instructions that come with both are good and there are lots of great video tutorials online, but for the price of gold it is really something best introduced in a class with an experienced teacher.  It will save you frustrations and some very expensive experimenting!

Safe Passage

Safe Passage

Mixed Media w/ One Channel Video Installation

174" x 54" x 54"

The last few weeks have been spent in my sculpture studio working on a piece for the Connecticut Culture Gallery in Terminal A at Bradley International Airport (across from the American Airlines Ticket Counter) sponsored by the Windsor Art Center and on view through March 1, 2014.  Below are a few in progress images from the studio.

To learn more about this installation, please visit my sculpture site by following this link.

"Charming" for Charity

I am really proud to be working with such a great group of talented and generous artists in the Metal Clay Artisan Guild in CT.  We ended the year with a challenge for each of us to design and create a series of charms that represented our own unique artistic voices.  The charms were swapped at our year end celebration, with each person making an extra to donate to a bracelet we will be auctioning off for charity in the coming months.  My "Silver Bell" charm (which I shared the making of in my last post) is featured to the left of the bottom center charm.  The charms are set on a hand-wrought sterling silver bracelet created and donated by Bevlynn Gallant.   Proceeds for this piece will be going to Cystic Fibrosis which has recently impacted members of the guild.  

Auction information will be posted once finalized.

Silver Bells

This month's challenge for the Metal Clay Artisan Guild in CT was to create a unique charm that represents our personal work for our end of the year meeting.  The charms will be swapped with those participating with one extra created for a bracelet the Guild will be auctioning off for charity.  I created a set of "Silver Bells" based on these small dried blossoms I picked from my yard earlier this fall.  The delicate nature and size of these pieces made them a real challenge for me as I had to taylor my process to a more production-like level.  Each piece features a fine silver wire bail to hang from and a liver of sulfur patina that left behind these wonderful hues of red and green - which may have been my favorite part.  I approach my silver work as a sculptor, making unique organic forms, but this was a really good opportunity for me to problem solve from the jewelry end of the spectrum.  I think these monthly group challenges will lead to a lot more individual growth for members than I had anticipated.  Can't wait to see what everyone else creates!

Silver Accessories 2013

I was really excited to be included in this year's Silver Accessories Contest sponsored by Art Clay World.  The juried show took place in Tokyo, Japan this past October and the catalogue features really incredible artists from around the world.  What a great way to end the year!

MJSA Confab

Creating Your Own Niche:
Alex Woo,  Jessica Kagen Cushman, Andrea Hill & Lisa Jenks

This month began with a great day to get out of the studio for a road trip with a fellow artist.  We headed to New York City for the ConFab Event at F.I.T. hosted by MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelry & Silversmiths Association) on Sunday November 3rd.  The inspiring event was designed for jewelry artists to examine their business practices while learning from field experts and networking with fellow designers.  Andrea Hill set the tone of the day by leading the panel discussion: Creating Your Own Niche.  She began the discussion with the statement that "…you do not need all the clients, you just need the right clients…"as she had Alex Woo,  Jessica Kagen Cushman, and Lisa Jenks share their personal journeys and perspectives.  Andrea challenged those in the audience to really examine who we are as designers, to consider what is both unique and sustainable with in our design language and to really focus on who it matters to.  The take away message was that we must be constantly evolving within the framework of who we are as designers for longterm success.  The day went on to include sessions on:  Subcontracting Made Simple, Sales for the Selling Challenged and Developing a Digital Marketing Plan.  One of my favorite quotes of the day came from the Digital Marketing session.  As examining data was being covered, it was stressed that data analysis must be balanced with judgement calls as Henry Ford was quoted "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."  It was great to end an uplifting and information filled day on a note of common sense.  I would highly recommend this series of events and MJSA's online resources for designers of all levels.