Day of the Dead at the Art Clinic

Come to the Art Clinic on Tuesday from 5-7pm and vote for your favorite art piece. Bring a rememberance for the Alter. Food,wine and art activities.

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Jewelry studio with store front

I finally got a jewelers bench.  I needed a more ergonomic situation especially for sawing as I was sitting too high downstairs in the art clinic proper. This is called a mini bench and it sits on a table I found at a store called "Pink Trash" which is owned and operated by a mother and her two daughters who love to collect stuff.  Sound familiar?  The large drawer under the bench pin is used to collect all metal scraps and dust (silver is sooo expensive to not let any go to waste!!). I found that my saw was hitting the drawer so I use the drawer in the table to collect the silver. 

I've been wanting to work closer to my soldering station which is located on the street level landing and the back entrance of the Art Clinic.  You can see the windows that look out onto a drive that leads to public parking.

The foot traffic has been increasing since Knit Fit an arts and crafts store opened on the corner, Fresco Cafe opened across the parking lot and Art at Sevtap Wine Tasting opened up his business to share the back patio with the Art Clinic. There are people around!!!!  My friend Shelly Niro washed the windows and I painted the walls and moved my studio into the corner, left of the door.  I also painted a peg board to hold my tools.  I collaged and stenciled it as well.  I was afraid it would be too busy for such a tight space, but no--  I absolutely love it!!!

I am slowly creating a storefront to sell the wares made at the Art Clinic.  More photos to follow... if you haven't been to the art Clinic for awhile your in for a surprise.  Come by and say"hi".

Art and showing art

One Night Stand

Last Saturday in Santa Barbara there was an opening for a show called "One Night Stand".  It was a fund raiser for Art From Scrap and I heard it went very well.  Lots of money made for a viable ecological and art education facility.  I was not able to attend as I was sick in bed, not wanting to do anything- a cold caught from my family after attending my family reunion and hanging out with my mom and sisters in San Rafael, CA.

I noticed on the website for Art From Scrap under "The Morning After" heading, that a not so great picture of the piece I entered was up, indicating that my piece did not sell.  I am not too sad about that (lest the hurt to my ego), because I really liked the piece I did, and since the "unveiling" is over I can post a picture here: 

This is a tribute to how I, in the very far past, felt after allowing myself the frivolous encounter of a One Night Stand. 

I thoroughly enjoyed making this piece- something I started in Michael deMeng's class.

And though, in my life I have made choices that have not been to my greatest benefit, I am here to say that life is good, that this moment is an opportunity to make a great choice for me, that I have everything I need, including a fabulous husband, kids and extended family and that I love making art!!!! 

Metal Clay- Private classes

I have had the pleasure of hosting private parties for classes.  Below are some pictures of  the fantastic creations made. Send me an email- lifsart@verizon.net for more information if you are interested in making some incredible jewelry in 99.9% pure silver.

 This is what seven people made in a day class- 2 to 4 pendants each.

(click on photo to get a better look at the silver pieces)

 Thank you guys for all the fun!!!

Michael deMeng teaching at the Art Clinic

I know this was last month (time flies when you are having fun)- but here are some pictures of the creations from the great class we had with Michael deMeng in July. Michael is a fantastic teacher who is very generous with his knowledge and know how, and he is quite entertaining!!!

Pretty Vial Things:

 Cold Blooded Journals:

 Michael and his great and informative critique:

Shirt redesign-

I have had time to rethink this. Camp Serenity is in the redwoods so the tree should be a redwood!!!
I like this so much better.

Family Reunion

                                                     My family reunion is coming up in August.  We have a very lively and loud family, very loving and special.  Every three years we have a get together at my parents property in Mendocino County, 20 miles west of Ukiah and 20 miles east of Mendocino proper. There is a few decks for sleeping on and a large fire pit for cooking the food.  My dad built a sauna with a tradition Finnish wood burning stove to heat the rocks.  He also built, with other family members, a cesspool for one flush toilet.  You sit on the "throne" and look out over a forest of trees, redwood, firs, madrone and lots of beech trees.  I have been thinking about a design for the t-shirt for a few months but didn't have the time to work on it until recently.  I made a few designs, one of which I liked but decided it wasn't unisex so in the eleventh hour I went with a freehand sketch of a tree.  I forgot most everything I learned in my graphic software classes so I really had to keep it simple, but I'm happy with it.  Sometimes less is more, especially when you are out of time.  I hope my family likes it. 

                                                       This is the front of the shirt

and this is the back, (Ruth's idea)

Vacation,sun and recharging creativity

Although we never played volleyball, the water was so much fun.The waves were a blast to ride and the temperature was perfect. You can stay in the water for a long time unlike the cold water of home. I spent a bit toouch time in the sun. My belly is really red! Ouch!!!!

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Art of the Cage Doll

I have been spending that last few weeks making dolls for a show at Indigo, one of my favorite galleries in Santa Barbara.  Though Indigo is not technically an Art Gallery, as they specialize in fine furnishings for the home, it is like being in a galley as the owners and buyers for the shop have exquisite taste that lean towards the east. 
Genny, one of the owners has purchased my jewelry before for her shop, and now I will have two Cage Dolls  on display (and for sale) along with 16 other artists.  The opening is 1st Thursday (that is tonight) from 5pm-7:30pm at Indigo, 1323 State Street, Santa Barbara, next to the Arlington.  This show will be up through June 18, 2011. 

Notice the egg shells in the nest which house a little book.  I made six in all that speak of the power of Crow.

Within and Without-Crow Totem

The Mouth of a Wise Woman is in her Heart

The heart is Keum Bo which is an ancient Korean Technique of bonding metals.  This heart is pure silver with 24k gold.

 

While making these two pieces it occurred to me that I was touching all of the genre of art that I love to make, from costumes (the crows robes and the crinoline frame), painting ,metal smithing, bookmaking, assemblage and something I've not done a lot of, sculpture.  I am ready to explore sculpture more, especially in Silver!!!

Sugar-The bitter Truth

 If you know me, you know that I am a self proclaimed sugar addict. I have had a sweet tooth since I can remember, and with adulthood, I have no one regulating how much I eat.  I am undisciplined in this regard as well, and as I am now in my 5th decade I am caring around an extra 30 lbs plus.  My family and I are going on vacation in June and though I do not kid myself to think I could get into a bikini- I would like to be able to wear my clothes!!!  So I started to research how to combat my sugar addiction.  I found this very throughly informative video lecture by UCSF professor, Robert Lustig.
 You have got to watch this- give yourself the gift of knowledge-takes over an hour but it is life saving information and since this epidemic in our food will not be regulated by the government, we must all be proactive for our lives (something I advocate anyway as the government certainly does not know what is best for me)!!! and in case you are afraid he will tell you that you can only eat veggies to be healthy, I'll let you in on the end diet he recommends for his patients, who are obese kids:
No sugary drinks only water and milk
Eat carbs with fiber
Wait 20 mins before having seconds
Exercise or movement min by min for screen time
Following these 4 things and they have had great success.  The thing that made it not work was drinking sugary drinks. (Gatorade and other"sports" drinks are lethal). 
this is a great video, I'm making my family watch it!!!!

 

Faces in Enamel

I'm painting faces with enamel again.  I have been meaning to get back to it as I have sold all of the faces I made previously. A kind patron, who admired my work this past December at a show in San Francisco, Bazaar Bizarre, has requested a ring in her size. I have spent the last few days making some faces for her to choose from.  It is not an easy process, painting with enamel, as there are many variables involved in getting a good face.   I have a large pile of not so great pieces that go along with this assortment of little beauties.  That is the price for not practicing the craft.   I have learned my lesson.

 Aren't they sweet?

This is a great book if you are interested in learning about enamaling

Altered Book spread,Visual Journaling Video

I have been teaching art for my daughter Ruth's 5th grade class.  We have been making visual Journals and I been using the lessons as a jumping off point for me to create some video's. I published my first attempt on the on UTUBE.  I enjoyed the experience so much I cannot wait to do the next.  I have been thinking about putting together an online version of the Journal Espirit classes I used to teach.  I have so many ideas flowing into my head.  Thankfully I now how to write them down for the time I can put the ideas out into the world.  I have been asked to offer a class for teenagers, especially kids in the foster system.  I am very excited about this adventure as I think I can offer some great tools for strengthening ones sense of self.  Life is good.
Check out my video and let me know what you think.  Please do forgive the back of my head.  I am just learning!!!

4th year Anniversary at the Art Clinic

Can you believe we are celebrating  4 years at the ART CLINIC?!!

Please come help us eat, and make art  FRIDAY, FEB 11,4 till 8ish

There will be cupcakes as well as other eatables, 

Valentine making, paper flower bouquet making, a haiku contest,

 ATC making and you can even make a little love shack. 

So stop by and join in the fun..... 1576 Copenhagen, Solvang 

Check out our blog for more info http://artclinic.blogspot.com 

Carol's Email- lifsart@verizon.net phone 588 0876

Blue Jays, Magic, Mystery and Art

This morning, while doing the Sun Salutation, a Blue Jay flew onto the little bird feeder we have in our backyard, which is barely able to handle the droves of finches that congregate there (my husband calls it the smorgasbord for the feather express).  He was swiftly knocking all of the small seeds out of the way in search of the larger sunflower seeds.  I opened the door and quietly reminded him that he was much too large for that feeder. Of course he flew off  the feeder as soon as I opened the door, but rather than flying away like the less fearless finches, he perched on the fence and looked at me quizzically.  I went back in the house and grabbed a handful of seed and proceeded to place it on the table outside while suggesting to the jay that he may find the table easier to navigate.  I went back into the house and without missing a single beat of his bird heart, the jay was on the table having his fill of sunflower seeds.

Those who know me know that I love the mystery and magic of the universe (yes, I said magic), and that everything is a sign to me.  So without a pause, I went directly to Ted Andrews book, Animal- Speak and, once again the universe did not disappoint.

Blue Jay it seems is symbolic of the Proper use of Power.  The name Jay comes from the Late Latin gāius, or gāia which is a name for Mother Earth.  In fact, in Greek Mythology, Gāia, the Goddess of the Earth (from the formless, void came the broad-breasted Gāia) not only conceived, but birthed (may I add, without the help of a male, I’m just saying), Uranus and married him to boot, the prodigy whom from said union were the Titans.  Whoa…who needs coffee when you have all this going on?

So, now I know that Jay’s name is symbolic of the Earth and Heaven –Uranus is the Father of Heaven and birds represent heaven ‘cus of there feather’s- hence the  title, messengers of God) and that speaks “much of  the intrinsic power associated with the Jay. It has the ability to link heavens and earth, to access each for greater power.  T.A. Animal speak pg.121

There’s more…

Jay is often thought of as a thief, I remember my mother lamenting the “nasty Jay’s and there git,git git” scolding voice, chasing the other birds away.  And yes, those qualities are true but he holds other lessons to look at.  Firstly, that fearlessness, not unlike his cousin the Crow, is a tremendous attribute.  Carpe diem!!!  If we live in fear we miss out on all those scrumptious sunflower seeds!!!

The Jay’s lesson to me is about not abusing or squandering my power- I’m getting goose bumps.  In Andrew’s treatise, he speaks of the problem with dabbling in both worlds, of spirit (heaven) and physical (earth), that one may dabble without becoming a master.  I cannot tell you how much I relate to this.  If you have noticed on my blog, I dabble in a lot of things.  Last year was the first time I truly committed to only pursuing one vehicle for expression, jewelry, and even that was commingled with printing and bookmaking, painting (enamel) and assemblage (albeit still under the jewelry umbrella).  And for those who read these words and do not know me, I am a seeker and I study about many philosophies about the meaning of life.  My spiritual practice is made up of a number of tools which help to keep me grounded and inspired.

And there is so much more… but I will not bore you with more details.  Suffice it to say that I have been given a gift from that Jay, not only of inspiration for art work (I’m on my way to the Art Clinic to do some drawings of Blue Jays which will eventually turn into jewelry in case you were wondering if I was wandering off my path), but also tremendous food for thought about how I have been approaching my life’s path.  Blue Jay stays around for winter so that means I have time to pursue this line of thinking and he’ll be around to support me.