This piece kicked my ass all the way to Sunday. I almost gave up a dozen different times — when I melted the face when trying to solder it — when the neck just wouldn't work (who knew some copper canNOT be soldered?!?) — when it looked just too rough even for me — and yet? I persevered. Kinda like Women. We are stronger than we know. Art > Life.
I like making birds. I like making them using all manner of studio detritus. In these pictured, all the heads are cut from metal. They could be silverplated plates that your Granny served Christmas cookies on. Or copper sheet. Or brass. Even metal flashing that your carpenter left behind. The bodies are fashioned from wood or wire or resin, lake driftwood become wings or the edges of brass charger plates. Bones and wire wrapped hearts, mirrors and rusty ramekins. Hung from behind or dangling from handmade chain. I like making birds. Here's an assortment for your viewing pleasure!
I've been having weird and wonderful conversations with photos of people long since passed. When I flipped through these albums I found during our move, I noted how so many, particularly Tom's Aunt Mildred's, were of only females. This was during or just pre-WWII so I guess the guys were gone? Or maybe Millie just liked taking photos of all her girlfriends. FWIW, the family rarely called her anything but Mildred. I have a feeling there was way more "Millie" than we knew about. And these photos were a glimpse into HER world.
For the past few months — maybe even years — I've been pondering the meaning of "home". Physical, metaphysical and spiritual. This nugget has been swirling in my subconscious with brief, tenuous touchdowns in my conscious brain. My art has reflected this, the house shape coming up in journals and paintings and assemblages over and over again.
A few months back, I bought a bunch of Experiment Supplies. Included in this batch of stuffs was Goldens Digital Ground which I've been playing with, discussed here. Another product was Liquitex's Pouring Medium. I think, maybe, as a substitute for self-leveling gel?
Y'know how on the interwebs you follow one link, which leads you to something else and before you know it you're reading someone's website or blog with little recall on how you actually got there? Well that's how I discovered Jane Davies. I landed on her website, fell in love with her work and almost immediately bought one of her online downloadable classes, Extreme Composition.