Natural Selection

Natural Selection                                                                                                                        Inez Dunn©2014

It was Darwin who coined the term "natural selection". It's about survival, about staying on top of ones' game. Eat or be eaten is the most simple comprehension of Darwin's theory. I think of what the Earth gives us in all its perfect forms, patterns, functions when I ponder natures beautiful bounty. I think of how some things especially rocks in all their various characterizations have and will survive us all. And I'm one of you, I see an unusual rock, shell, bone, or piece of wood and I just have to pick it up. For years I have been collecting beach Agates, wondrous, lustrous, and really, super old. Old as in millions, millions of years old which, makes me think of our snippet of evolutionary existence, and makes me think of Darwin. He was just trying to figure stuff out in order to make sense of his & our place in the general scheme of things, here on Earth. I'm crazy-curious about beach Agates, and they seem to always find me on most of my beach walks. These shinning marble-like structures are like free mini treasures in my hands. Lately, I've been playing at my soldering table (so much patience and practice) I'm truly determined to make sensible art from these glowing rock specimens. I feel like I'm giving back, maybe honoring the magical of this planet with my little known skills. I think I can relate to Darwin, maybe actually understand his drive, his mojo or maybe I too even at my age am just trying to make sense of my place in general, here in my little corner of Alaska. Whichever it is, I hope you'll stick around and continue to follow me on my journey. A new year is upon us, lets get there together!

Falling for beaches

My Kachemak Bay                                                                                                                            Inez Dunn©2014

Just 13 days ago winter arrived on the southern Kenai peninsula. And for the last few weeks winter disappeared and fall showed-up again. Late fall is definitely my favorite season with its stripped appearance and calm gesture. Of course the rain came too...but now the beaches are swept clean from those winter storms and now is the best time for collecting agates, fossils, and everything else kind of treasures.

The ebb & flow of things                                                                                                              Inez Dunn©2014

         

Alaska's beaches are rugged and active geologically. Land mass spills from the bluffs and adds to the thick glacial clay layers. Large tides take away the sandy soil and reveal huge rocks & boulders not present before. Happy fall again, and get out and do some beach combing today. Life is beautiful!

Alaskan Beach Agates                                                                                                                   Inez Dunn©2014                  

Alaskan Agate Pendants with 14kt Gold & Copper                                                                                Inez Dunn©2014

Clay Mate

Clay Mate , circular clay bead.                                                                                                       Inez Dunn©2014

In my part of the world the days are getting shorter, colder, and darker. And that can only mean one thing: its time to start baking! No, I’m not talking cookies and bread; I’m talking about “CLAY”! Clay is ideal for this time of  year and for the simplest of reasons, working with clay requires long quite hours. It’s the perfect art project when waiting for the sun to come-up long after 8:30am!

(In the above photo) My inspiration for this necklace design began with the smaller golden (Lucite) bead. As I searched for a matching bead to complete my necklace I came-up dry, and that’s when I decided to stop looking, and make my own! I love this type of challenge and I challenge all of you “lovers of beads” to do just that, make your own!!!  Send me photos of your very best and I’ll include them in next months post.

Shell Game

Shell Game                                                                                                                                  Inez Dunn ©2014

Its fall in Alaska. From here on out...what you see is what you get. The long cool shadows that grace your effortless lawn now draw a blanket of sopping moisture furthering & suspending all and anything green into flux, into submission...waiting in apprehension for WINTER.
There is no cover here, as temperatures dip, the change in the air is undeniable. Winter is that darkened alley, that odd voice that calls out to you to come closer. Most of us always feel that winter sneaks up on us...but how could she? There are so many clues, so many signs, we
like to remain in denial, as if to act surprised. But winter is so awesome, beautiful, she
renews us with the cold hard facts that the sun will be further away but, only further away for a short time. Remember what becomes dormant actually sleeps, rests, only to become more gracious more fantastic for the spring season and that's pretty cool. Somethings in winter do die and that is the spectacular cycle of life as we know it.
So as we move deeper into the quite season let us follow her rules.
1. Give Thanks
2. Be Aware
3. Love each day
4. Be at peace with what is
5. Change what it is you what different
6. A Shell is that which protects you but, a shell also keeps you from what your hiding.
7. Winter is the heavy coat, it is the truth, its what keeps you close to the Earth. It is what keeps you real.

Adornment

         Adornment                                                                                                                              Inez Dunn ©2014

Adornment.  A noun referring to "putting decorations on".  The term sings all things jewelry, doesn't it? In summer months wearing jewelry always seems so high lighted. Earrings are bigger, bolder, shinier and necklaces and bracelets appear to be statement pieces. Maybe its because in the summertime we tend to bare more skin and lighter fabric clothing, so jewelry just seems to pop! It used to be Sterling silver was the official metal of summer but, now those rules need not apply. Bold beads, mainly along the tribal vibe are very in and will take us far into the fall season. Mean while the single "object" earring has made its way to the runways of Paris & Milan. It definitely works just wear designs that are on the lighter side, as to avoid the heavy earlobe syndrome. Wearing jewelry for many of us is truly about our own individual "comfort zones". The modern day ritual of adornment now is about our rite of womanly "expression". Maybe we are carrying-on some ancestral pattern that dates back to the Sumerian's of southern Mesopotamia, or maybe our modern day expression of adornment is simply just about wanting to feel pretty. Either way its a deliberate act, an action of being female and something that none of us can do without!

Summer 2014

Summit Lake, Alaska                                                                                                                        Inez Dunn©2014

Summer is the beloved season to all Alaska's. It is the time of year when lawns and gardens explode in size. If you leave your yard for a long weekend you may not recognize it upon your return and secondly, you'll have to start all over again! The increasing light acts like a enormous grow lamp effecting all plant life to surge to maturity. Yes, that is why Alaska continues to hold the title to some of the largest veggies on earth. Just check out the Alaska State Fair and see for yourself and speaking of summer and fair events check this out:
The city of Palmer will be holding its annual Midsummer Garden & Art Faire on Saturday July 12th all day. I will be there with my handmade jewelry creations, all new and perfect for summer. Look for the Beach House Gallery tent, and stop by to say hello.  Last years event was so much fun, a day filled with fabulous food, live music, and amazing artists selling their wares.  Look for the signs and posters coming soon and don't miss out on this one day incredible ART fest!!! See you there.
www.palmergardenandart.org

The Girls Of Summer                                                                Inez Dunn ©2014

Let's FACE it to capture facial features with pencil and chalk is really super difficult.  I study my own...with plenty of CoverGirl powder and foundation but its quite the mystery to put the likes of facial contour onto paper. None the less I kinda love my girls all large lipped and wide nosed, with eyes that are just pencil lines with a graphite smear.  I also picked-up an old art book of mine, a book I purchased for a class many, many, many years ago. The book is titled " Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. Even though this book is quite dated it takes a interesting angle into the right approach when thinking about drawing the human face, and it takes the reader by the hand with some very productive drawing exercises. Try using a mirror, or even drawing your own sweet face, upside down! For me this artistic phase is all about challenge, pushing my boundaries, inhaling eraser dust, putting down pencil to paper, and tossing that paper into the garbage. And then doing it all over again! Either way facing my objective is a very good discipline, the goal is to put my best face forward, just like mom always said.