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!

September Sunday

Sun Daze                                                                                                Inez Dunn©2013

Its fall my friends and the days are filled with sumptuous colors. The once verdant and alive leaves and grasses are now toasty and brittle. And the crispness in the air influences all flora to change color.
Here in Alaska, the fall season is the bumper before the snow whispers on in. From the mountain ranges to the seashore Alaska is awash in fall colors although, muted compared to say the east coast.
The hues of burnt sienna, umber and rust paint this great state before winter arrives. So, speaking of colors and change in the air...now is the time to exchange your summer jewelry & accessories for bigger and bolder bracelets, necklaces, earrings and the like. Heavier metals, brighter beads, and even clay jewelry! (I'll be reporting more on the latter in next months post). Note: the ring necklace above
is exactly what I'm talking about. To learn more pick-up this months issue of the magazine Belle Armoire Jewelry at: http://www.bellearmoire.com and learn how I made the "Rings True" necklace. And if that weren't enough make sure you go out and bask in the celebration of fall!
Happy fall to all!!!

Branding

BRANDING
 

BRANDING is a mark, an identifier. BRANDING is a visual representation used in marketing that uniquely differentiates you and your product to the public. When I was a much younger artist I naively created art by practicing only what I knew. Sound familiar? Maybe it was my repetitive choice of colors or maybe it was my adherence to all things asymmetric. Over time friends and loyal customers validated my art, and I am ever grateful to them but I in my restless nature I drifted with the shifting sands of my imagination. After years of curious experimentation, my creations matured and I added to my artist repertoire substantially. Now, I am not the artist I once was but it is critical that the printed symbols I used then to make my first impressions still remain with me today. BRANDING. Do you remember your first business card? Oh! how old school of me, I mean, like your first web site or even this means of communication called a BLOG? What I have learned is that certain identifications need to remain, need to stay incorporated as we grown our art, our business. Even though its completely natural to desire change and a new look… its also key to keep a logo, or a color, or a quote that was once part of your original and humble beginnings in order to stay recognizable. BRANDING. The original photos I used to package my jewelry designs (11 years ago)! I still use today, although the image has visited Photoshop many a time. I hate to admit it but, its my business name that has not been consistent; The Beach House Gallery, that’s because I’m constantly redesigning cards, signs, packaging as I continue to branch out my jewelry lines. So be careful and pay attention to these waves of growth, again, BRANDING. So, as I fess-up it is a valuable reminder to me and for you to keep your original representation in some form and to repeat it in print or in words in everything you create so that who you were or where your going in the future, you and your art will be not just remembered but always recognizable! Oh, yeah, It’s called, BRANDING.

Technology

"The Fern"                         6' x 5'  Latex on Canvas        Inez Dunn©2003

Hello Dear Friends!
Summer is glorious. Gardens, swimming in a dark lake, running bare-foot on cold grass, sipping warm sun tea, squeezing hard tubes of old sunscreen, scrubbing black tar off of bare feet in a apron sink, sucking warm butter from a single ear of corn. Ah!
Then technology taps my bare brown shoulder...to announces in polite, corporate speak" Your Server is Out!
I'm just trying to get a message to you my dedicated readers. Some kind of informative communication, to say that all is right with the world here in the land of the midnight sun (except I have no internet!). Apologies for technicalities which, I have no control over. And for my own foolishness to right the cyber world of pretentiousness. I thank you.  I am grateful for you and for this iPhone. And for what I don't take for granted this afforded luxury of time, to complain. I strained this evening to post a single not so important message ( I mean this is just a blog). Eventually my internet connection will resume, so to all of you who are patient, a warm summer greeting is yours. Please return back on August 15, 2013. Cheers!

A Diary

"The Clearing"                 Inez Dunn©2013

A Diary

A diary is a daily record. It’s a written or oral account that summarizes either personal or business experiences. As a child I kept a diary, it was a hardcover generic tiny book with a fake lock glued to its cover.  It came with a miniature key, that I had to keep hidden far away from

my siblings. I wrote in my diary everyday after school. The thin-lined pages were covered in blue ink by my wavy 11-year-old hand. My scribbling included: childish exaggerations, stories of puppy love, schoolyard dramas! That was a long time ago, and a diary seems to have been replaced by what we now call a journal. What’s great about today’s journals is that they go way beyond moleskin and leather covers. There is a growing popularity with mixed media in hand creating altered books and artist books that take “journaling” to a whole new level.  The beauty here is that the written word, and the artist book end up being an actual piece of art! So rather than me suggesting the perfect beach read for summer, I’m going to encourage you to begin a bit of note-taking, a page of input, a decorative grocery list. And while you’re at it, maybe include a bit of doodling, or a sticker. And who knows, perhaps after awhile your page might begin with something like, Dear Diary. These photos are of my artist book, to see more and find out how to create your own go to www.interweavestore.com The magazine is titled, PAGES read about how I made this book on page 54.

P.S. And for anyone writing the electronic way, always use spell-check!

"The Clearing"                                                                             by Inez Dunn©2013