DATE: 10/05/2008 23:05:24 / MOOD: other

Ever wonder if the presidential candidates have an opinion about the arts? If they do, what is it? Can or will their opinions affect us as artists?

Visit my blog for more information:  jenibjewelry.blogspot.com

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DATE: 08/07/2008 21:29:21 / MOOD: happy

You can tell that I'm busy by the lack of posts! Forgive me for not checking in for over a month - the crazy schedule will lighten up in a little while, and then my fall routine can kick in. I keep telling myself there will be more time for updates then!

I've been whirling around ideas for a "Green Event" I'll be attending this weekend. I never really thought of myself as a green person, but it turns out some of my natural habits lend themselves well to earth-friendly practices. I use my old acid bath from metal working as a plant booster for the azaleas and rhododendrons in the yard, I melt down metal scraps to create interesting textures on pieces, and I'm a bit of a pack rat for certain things - trying to keep them for something other than obscurity, or worse, the landfill.

A glorified term might be... I'm a collector of nature's beauty, but let's call it what it is: I'm really more like a crow; collecting colorful, shapely, or shiny bits of things that catch my eye. I like my quirks, and lately I've harnessed that urge to save things with any hint of beauty or potential by creating something wearable out of it. Turns out that's a very "in" thing to do right now.

I've posted (in the gallery) a couple of artsy pendants I've made from beach glass around Lake Erie, and some sterling and gold scraps. I love how they turned out, and they'll be featured in my new "green line" this weekend. If you're near the flats in Cleveland this Saturday, I hope you'll stop by and say hello!

~Jeni

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DATE: 05/26/2008 21:53:41 / MOOD: happy

Eleven pieces to the Gallery, several custom orders, and an art show later, I finally have time to write!  Everything's  been going well; there are so many stories I have to tell you, but the most memorable is one of a client I met at the show.

She was drawn to a golden apple necklace (will post photo in gallery), and I wanted to tell her the story behind it.  I made it after thinking about the proverb "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" - it turned out exactly how I saw it in my head.  When she heard the proverb, she said her pastor had spoken that same passage to her several times before he passed away, and that it had special meaning to her.  She said she had lost her parents not long ago, and while caring for her mom in a nursing facility during the final days, they stayed in the "Apple" wing.  

We talked like long lost friends about caring for parents, cancer, pain, loss, and life going on.  We were so teary-eyed by the time she decided to take the necklace, the exchange of money for silver and gold seemed superfluous.  What happened surpassed anything I've ever experienced.  It wasn't business, wasn't just art expression, wasn't just a client feeling a connection to my work.  Something strangely wonderful on a deeper spiritual level will mark that moment forever for both of us.

enjoy deep happiness,
~Jeni

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DATE: 05/12/2008 20:33:39 / MOOD: in love

With a sigh of relief, the gallery meeting today went fabulously well! In the next week or so I'll have 11 new pieces in there. It feels so good! I don't know why I get worked up over things like this; there's never anything to worry about. The owner had some really good feedback, and I appreciate the patience of the two purchasers that were there. I pummeled the one nearly to death with all of my questions, but she didn't care and was sweet the whole time!

Everything was laid back, fairly quick, and to the point. Nice. I am so tired now... I think it'll be early to bed tonight and start cranking out studio work early tomorrow.

I love this work

~Jeni

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DATE: 05/10/2008 08:32:57 / MOOD: other

There's a gallery meeting peering over the horizon at me, and I'm looking for advice.  I'm excited about the potential of being represented for the first time, but a bit terrified all at once!

What should I expect?  There will be at least three people there (two owners and a purchaser rep).  I got in by being in contact w/ them for almost a year, sending in photos of my work, and then finally getting that call to come in.  They said to bring work for immediate purchase or an order form w/ samples.

It sounds good, but I have little experience in gallery representation.  Any suggestions?

 

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DATE: 05/05/2008 22:43:31 / MOOD: full of life

Isn't spring beautiful? This is a photo of the grand old magnolia seen through my eastern facing studio window. Wonderful and gorgeous!

Just got done with a small art show this weekend, and met some interesting artists. I have to say the highlight was talking to John Jude Palencar, internationally recognized illustrator. Oh wow. He makes all of the dragon covers for the Sci Fi series Eragon, so if you've ever seen the very dark and regal looking beastie profiles, you'd recognize his style immediately. He also illustrates covers for Stephen King, TIME magazine, National Geographic, and holds two Gold Book awards from Spectrum. What else can I say - he's awesome! Unfortunately, he doesn't have a web site yet so I can't post his link, but here's a pic on Wikipedia and hopefully he'll get one soon so we can see his work in one place! 


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DATE: 04/28/2008 21:31:51 / MOOD: happy

Lots of people have heard of cloisonne; my latest gallery post is a related technique called champleve.   The difference is that the walls of each color section are formed differently.  In cloisonne the walls are built up or added in, for champleve I create the walls by etching into a solid piece of metal until each section is the proper depth.

I mix my own colors and add them in drop by drop using a toothpick, adding patina to create age and depth.  I love the vibrancy of the colors and especially the sense that I'm wearing a miniature portrait.

Enjoy!

~Jeni



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DATE: 04/23/2008 22:03:56 / MOOD: happy

The letter opener is finally done, and I posted the results in the gallery.  The picture doesn't capture the detail the way I'd like, but you can still see quite a lot.  I ended up adding in a sterling back plate for strength and stability, and then oxidized it to

 create a dramatic back drop.  I love how it turned out!!

I have just had a wonderful week since I last posted!  Good news seems to come in bunches, and despite getting another rejection letter, I was pleasantly surprised to get an acceptance letter to a holiday show in Pittsburgh.  On the heels of that I've been invited to show at an exhibition near Toledo that runs next month.  It's small, but nice. :)  ...And a trunk show I had this weekend did terrific and added to my list of folks who want show updates to see new pieces.  

It's been good to be this busy with orders and creating new work - I'm going to really have to step it up so that I have enough to display at my next art show (and then the gallery meeting).  That's why it's been so long since my last post.  I've been working full speed ahead and balancing my home life; going to bed exhausted only to start again in the morning.  But I'm so happy!

During my long hours this last week I also managed to run the drill through my finger not once, but twice.  The second time it happened, the thin bit broke off and stuck out near the nail - hope you're not squeamish!  I've never done anything quite like this before.  I think it's important to expand horizons and try new things (snicker, snicker!).  No stitches, thank goodness, but I'm wondering should I charge a little extra for the actual shedding of blood during the creative process?

~Jeni

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DATE: 04/14/2008 21:59:16 / MOOD: in love

So glad I whined the other day!  I'm glad it's out of my system, although I don't want to diminish the real concerns about the difficulty I'm having getting into higher end shows.  Of course, it's easier to say this after what happened the very day after I posted...

Almost a year ago I visited an upscale and trendy-ish gallery in a fairly large city.  Impressed by the flood of sales they were having (on a Monday or Tuesday nowhere near a holiday), I asked to speak to the person in charge of purchasing to see if they would be interested in carrying my work.  After speaking with her over the next several months I was able to send in a portfolio sampling.  I tell ya, the waiting was like pins and needles up and down my legs!!!  I waited as long as I felt I possibly could in polite society, called to see what they thought, and then found they hadn't viewed anything yet.  (oh gosh. must not have made much of an impression?)  

A week after that I got the most beautiful call in the world.  I screamed!  I laughed!  I was near giddy hysterics!!  An appointment with both gallery owners along with the instructions to bring either pieces for immediate purchase or samples with order sheets.  What a change from the other day (I guess I should crab more often if this is what happens)!

As for getting into the shows, it dawned on me while I was working in my studio - totally out of the blue -  that it wasn't my work that was the problem.  I never took pics of my booth display last year, so I hastily set up inside my house for a quick photo.  Probably the worst choice I've made yet.  The light was yellowed, the background not professional enough, and it was slightly out of focus.  It didn't seem to be a big deal in the moment, but it's proven fatal for my applications.  I'm just glad I finally figured out what was going wrong.  I won't make the mistake a second time, so I'll use the time off this year to prepare for all guns blasting in 2009 - watch for me!

Oh yeah!

~Jeni 

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