Facebook

Facebook ,   Colored pencil & Pastel on paper , 8.5"x11"                                                              Inez Dunn©2014

Facebook or Face-off? I'm not quite sure but, I am definitely having a most pleasurable experience at re-connecting with the skill of drawing. I had no idea of the challenge, believe me I have not attempted to capture the expression of a face since I was in grade school! I challenged myself in the month of March to draw as many faces as I could. My discovery...simply not enough time in a day to unleash my creativity in this manner and secondly, just to complete an eye or nose took hours! The depiction of facial expression is red-hot right now, I mean the ex-president is doing it, and the designers at Prada. Art in the form of portraiture is nothing new, through-out history artists have been copying the human form in one way or another.  The human face is our first imprint as infants, its that one part of the anatomy we gauge our existence, who we belong to; and what sets us apart. If you haven't doodled a stick figure in some time or even a smiley face, I say give it a try and lets call it a face-off . Send me your best facial impressions and I'll post the ones with the most concentrated effort. Now go ahead and remember don't leave the house until you've put your best face forward.

Art Journaling

Face Book  Art Journal                                                                                                    Inez Dunn© 2014

Art Journaling.  Recently, I have taken-up a renewed interest in journaling. Although, I'm not filling the page with words of prose, intimate feelings, or sentimental encouragements, no I'm layering my pages with art work. I've been creating collaged pages of faces accompanied by exaggerated letters like handmade fonts of my own liking. This new artistic direction has reinforced my creative foundation. When I venture into new artistic  territory I also get the chance to view my "old" art with a new lens of appreciation, or constructive critique. I am also reconnecting with exercises of sketching, and drawing a subject I have never done before "faces"! There seems to be a growing interest in mixed media toward the depiction of faces. Faces created by hand and by computer that are either cartoonish or have dreamy haunting styles. This new interest has even made me revisit my old art supplies which, holds evidence of  me as a much different artist a long time ago. I recently sorted through crusty jars of antique paints, nubby pastels sticks, broken charcoals bits, and plastic watercolor compacts with skinny rims of brittle color. The plus is most of this buried treasure is still viable for how I  plan to use it,  "in my new journals". I've been very fortunate up to this point in my life to be able to access & harness my artistic imagination when I need it.  The art journal for me now is like harvesting all the loose change I've ever had in my back pockets. All I need to do is add it-up or let it spill-out haphazardly upon the page. Either way I'm on my way to making and  seeing art differently. And if your like me...making documentation of your expressive self is, well just something you gotta do.

Remembrance of things past

Unforgettable                                                                                                         Inez Dunn ©2014

Yes. It happened to me I forgot to sit down and write this post. My apology to all my faithful readers. I realize everyone forgets and the expression of being "too busy", is guaranteed acceptance to forget. Head in the clouds anyone? Spacey maybe? We'll that's a lifetime pass to fore go parts of your everyday experiences! Even though, in today's world we have countless electronic ways to remind us, not to forget. We still forget! I believe its easier to remember things when our head isn't so busy, the brain actually seeks out clarity; after all this is our sanity. As an avid beach walker, I walk to stretch my legs but more importantly; I walk to free-up my mind. There is something calming and meditative for my thought process to experience the unpredictable, with no presets of relying on a similar experience to guide me. The photo above was taken from one of my favorite beaches. The photo is a reminder of where I was at a certain time and what I was doing or feeling in that moment. Life is  pretty remarkable, we glide through each day either wrestling and dodging opponents or grabbing each moment courageously as its given. Our lives after all are only our memories woven together in a story line made up from what we can remember. And that's a lot of stuff when you really sit down to think about it. Just like I should have done a couple of days ago!

Inez Dunn

Mental Clay

Mental Clay                                                                                                     Inez Dunn@2014

Happy New Year Friends!
It's time to re-adjust our mental faculties and seek motivation and inspiration from right under our noses. Sometimes all we really need is to look just past our surroundings, stop focusing on the main thing as it were and really "see" the other stuff. This is how my artistic process with clay has evolved...I always begin with an idea to create some type of object and then my focus widens and I see "other" experimental possibilities!  Right now, I am attempting to make original polymer clay appear more like its really metal clay. Except, well, minus the expense and the kiln! Its totally a mental thing and a visual morphology, whereas what you see in my clay objects should really amuse you. Except, once you realize what it is, is not what you thought it was... well, that's when the splendid air of surprise goes out the door.  Its mental alright and every bit delightful and shameful that the mind has developed such an astute constitution to dismiss its first frivolous impression, only to remain faithful to its unsuspecting left hemisphere. Its true, I began working with clay believing all along it was not "Polymer". After a bit of research and reading Sue Heaser's, The Polymer Clay Techniques Book, www.heaser.demon.co.uk  my findings were set straight, thanks Sue. Metal clay and or PMC clay is a prevalent medium for many artists. But, I for one won't be visiting that world anytime soon, cuz right now I'm mentally challenged by polymer clay and by all the glorious gifts in life. (even if I thought what I was working with, isn't what I'm working with). My new outlook this year is to sharpen-up mentally and visually, and to really "see" the greater landscape that makes-up my world.

With Gratitude,
Inez Dunn

Transcendental

Transcendental                                                                                               Inez Dunn©2013
Its nearing the time of the celebrated solstice my friends. And here on the southern Kenai Peninsula the days have been very dark with only glimpses of illumination provided by stellar constellations. Twinkles of sparkles cast questions gracefully lighting -up an otherwise wintery, un consolable Alaskan landscape. A paint brush mark of a sliver moon rapidly morphs into its waxing lunar completion and soon we begin anew. Time is flying by!!! I am still completely transfixed with all things CLAY. And translucent clay is my favorite of favorites! I was recently engaged in a buying opportunity when JoAnn Fabrics published a clay sale of $1.00 each per 2.oz package. Regularly priced around $2.30, $ 3.49 per package.
So what did I do? I panicked of course, I kneeled  down hard, almost splayed in front of the Sculpey,
Premo display...All the colors choices blurring my eyes, my breath became shallow, my eyes watering hoaxing my perception, my rational thinking displaced. I was in my own little world oblivious to all the other JoAnn devotees lining up to get their fabric cut by the perfect yard.  The real jewel "translucent" clay 2.oz. squares were nowhere to be found, and I quickly shuffled and tossed the small clay packages around like milk chocolates surrounded by dark chocolates. I needed my fix, I traveled 220 miles for this shopping extravaganza and I wasn't leaving till I had conquered my quest!
The outcome: An palsy $18.00 sales ticket. What you say? Ok, I felt over indulgent once I amassed the last remaining 8 exquisite translucent clay packages, I really did. So I grabbed 10 additional colors of clay and then took my place in line, like some guilty addict, pretending not to be a clay
addict. The truth, there are days when professing to be a artist isn't all its cracked -up to be.
I create because I do, and clay takes me to some transcendental other world, a world of experimentation, fascination, and endless possibilities. And so as solstice closes in, I enter it openly, joyfully, with promise for enlightenment, and transformation to what was once only an playful encounter. Happy Solstice to all!

The Nutcracker

All Cracked-up: Clay and enamel jewelry creations                                                              Inez Dunn©2013

The Nutcracker. I'm not referring to my gluten-free snack choices but, rather the spirit of story telling. It's that time of year when holiday festivities begin with one of the most popular ballets around; yes
The Nutcracker! And speaking of story-telling, I have been wrapped in a bit of wonder-land myself. I  am still completely enthralled with playing with clay! And I haven't stopped since last month's post! The rectangle pendant above in a swirl of purple and black is comprised of clay. And the two super-shiny squat beads attached to the tassel necklace are also made of clay! I just now have become observant of how many times in this post I have used exclamations points and hyphenated words. Can you feel my excitement? Or maybe its just  a precondition to the onset of "cabin fever" because, here in Alaska the days are sure condensing.  Okay, back to The Nutcracker...if your in the area the arts & crafts faire will coincide with Homer's own stage production of the ballet on December 7th & 8th at the Homer High School auditorium. This years faire promises to be chalked full of delightful handmade wares perfectly themed to take care of all of your holiday shopping. Further information regarding the event:
www.homerart.org                                                   
                                                                Hope to see you there!

Clay Date

Clay Date                                                                                                                 Inez Dunn©2013

 

Its fall its time to turn inwards and get out all those crafty projects that have been on hold all summer. Finish some, discard others, and learn about new stuff. Here, in Alaska fall begins and takes with her hours of daylight as the season pushes toward winter. What does that mean? It means creating art in the dark!!!  And I have been doing just that!

These days early hours won’t see the crack of dawn till nearly this side of  9:00 am.

But that just fine for kneading clay, and that exactly what I’ve been doing since I took a class titled, Bead and Jewelry Making with Polymer Clay by Ben Smith.  Ben taught several methods that involved intricate layering and conditioning of the clay. The result produces a variety of surprising and dazzling complex colors. Note: The bead in the photo with the crazy green and gold swirls, yup I learned that from Ben. Thanks Ben.

Its been over a month since I took the class and I have immersed myself whole heartily in all things clay, everything from baking it to not baking it to painting clay and to even creating molds. Next months post promises to expand all these subjects and more. Till then I encourage you to get out those fun projects and get movin.

Oh, and another reminder its not too early to start on Christmas cards either!