2019 into 2020

Continuing to electro-etch copper, brass and silver.

Played with granulation and fusing techniques (no solder) for developing strong pattern and textures. I fused fine silver to sterling silver for the bands, fine silver to fine silver for the bezels, and added a little 24K for the touch of gold. I found the thin plate of silver with “friendship” stamped on it when searching for a little lift for the stone in the setting… especially meaningful as the marble beach pebble from Greece was given to me by my good friend Jan.

More recently I have returned to enameling to add color to the etched copper.

SURF/SAND/SILVERSMITHS

Members of the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild (MBMAG) will be exhibiting a collection of fine jewelry and miniature sculpture at the Pajaro Valley Arts in Watsonville. Details, a map, and a list of participating artists can be found on the postcard below.

Each artist may exhibit up to three pieces for the show, plus up to 6 additional pieces for sale in the gallery shop. My own three pieces for the show, plus images and information related to the inspiration for the work, are below.

“Talisman for the Journey” – a necklace featuring an ammonite with a glowing amber stone tube riveted to it. The wire prong setting is built on a frame that I made many years ago and just discovered is a perfect fit for the ammonite.

The photo above shows the back of the setting with the tube rivet for the amber cabochon.

The length of the necklace is adjustable from 18″ to 21″. The “weight” at the end of the extender chain is one of my lampwork glass beads.

Spiral Galaxy – a galaxy in which the stars and gas clouds are concentrated mainly in one or more spiral arms.

The spiral is probably the oldest known symbol of human spirituality. The spiral has been in rock carvings thousands of years old, on every continent in the world. The religious significance can only be guessed at, but it has been found on tombs, and almost certainly has a connection with the sun, which traces a spiral shape every three months in its travels.

“Flores del Mar”- silver ring with 18K gold

The design for the ring was inspired by the photo of a slice of agatized coral.

“Aqua Pools” – bracelet – silver, turquoise, tourmaline, chrysoprase, and Peruvian blue opal

“Brain imagining indicates that proximity to water floods the brain with feel-good hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol actually drop. Scientists have also discovered that ………………….. water increases our ability to focus.” Wallace J. Nichols

The meaning of the color turquoise is open communication and clarity of thought.

For thoughts on the bullseye symbol, see my previous post  for November 9, 2015.

Blue Halibut

I am participating in the MPC Jewelry Sale once again. This is a three day event that takes place in early May and in early December. I’ve made lots of new work for this sale, including the “Blue Halibut” brooch above and new earring designs featuring the keum-boo technique on roll printed fine silver.

Monterey Peninsula College 19th Annual Mother’s Day Art Sale

Students of the Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) Jewelry, Ceramic, and Printmaking departments will be presenting their work for sale May 5, 6, and 7 on the college campus at 980 Fremont Street, Monterey.

Hours for the sale are Thursday May 5 from 5pm to 8pm, Friday and Saturday May 6 & 7 from 10am to 5pm. Jewelry and printed cards will be located in the Art-Dimensional Building, Room 106. Ceramics and glass will be located in the Art-Ceramic Building studio room 107. Both buildings are adjacent to Fishnet Road and signs will be posted to point the way to the studios. Follow signs on campus to parking lot B. Parking is free during the hours of the sale. No charge for admission.

Stop by and visit this pop-up art extravaganza showcasing a wide selection of unique one-of-a-kind works of art. Buy local art and help to support the MPC Jewelry, Ceramics, Glass, and Printmaking studio programs, which offer a supportive setting and a mentoring environment for talented students to showcase and promote their artistic creations. This is a great opportunity to find that special piece of art, meet the artist, and see where it was made.

RECENT WORK – “Bull’s Eye Pendant”

This piece went through many changes before arriving at its final “completed” state, yet once it got there it seemed so obvious. The work was photographed before I researched the symbolic meaning of the various elements and I was very pleased to find that the accepted symbolic meanings spoke to me in a very real way. Perhaps when I am wearing it I will be reminded to focus and center myself.

“Bull’s Eye Talisman” – Carol Holaday

“Bull’s Eye Talisman” – detail

back side of Bull’s Eye Talisman

Symbolic Meaning 

Bull’s eye type emblems are symbolic of focus or concentration.

Native Americans have been drawing these type symbols for eons. For the Native American, these circles within circles represent various forces within the universe converging with The One…the one spirit, the one energy that animates all that is (God, if you will).

Other cultures have drawn concentric circles to illustrate the same thing. The inner circle may represent the self, consciousness, the soul, or the mind…with the external circles representing the waves of influence our center has over everything else.

The very nature of this symbol commands our vision to focus.  As we look at it our eyes tend to immediately concentrate to the center…that’s the beauty of this symbol (and primarily why it’s been used by sharp shooters of all kinds in competitions).  As such, this symbol stands for focus upon the center – focusing on the one thing.

information above found at:

http://www.symbolic-meanings.com/2007/08/28/mandalas-hit-a-target- symbolism-of-the-bullseye/

Metaphysical Properties: Feldspar is said to assist one in detaching from the old, encouraging unconventional, exciting methods to attain ones goals. It can also assist in locating misplaced things.

Chinese Writing Stone is made of feldspar, and is sometimes referred to as Calligraphy Stone because of the white formations on a black background, which can look like Chinese script or calligraphy writing characters.

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Talisman

tal·is·man   – noun: talisman; plural noun: talismans

an object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.

New Work for “Adornment 2015” Exhibit

The two pieces shown below are work I created for the upcoming “ADORNMENT 2015” exhibit at the Z Folio Gallery in Monterey, California. The opening is December 4th, with the artist reception on December 6th, 3 to 5pm. The show will feature new work from the members of the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild.

“Reflection” necklace featuries a beautiful labradorite stone, a small blue green tourmaline, and two of my lampwork glass beads. The special light reflecting properties of the labradorite reminds me of how the changing colors of the sky reflected on the waters of the bay can so dramatically change the colors of the surface.

back of “Reflection”

“Sea Foam” Bracelet

The “Sea Foam” bracelet features serpentine beads on a forged silver wire link bracelet.

More photo background experiments

Green Sea Star on photo

Green Sea Star enameled brooch photographed on print of stock photo from http://tigers-stock.deviantart.com/art/480-underwater-partition-01-294143847 … an experiment to compare colorful background image to no color for background.

Liver of sulfur on silver

three rings with LOS

Bird in a Bush ring

Three new rings created for the recent sale at Monterey Peninsula College. Showing these as examples of the colors that can be achieved on silver using liver of sulfur patina.

Liver of Sulfur for a rainbow of colors on silver –  adapted from instructions provided by Katherine Palochak.

2 C. hot water

about a half teaspoon of LOS gel (or can use dry lump form)

1 Tbsp. clear, plain ammonia

1 tsp. salt (I use kosher)

Dissolve the LOS in the hot water, then add the other ingredients. Stir well. Color of water will be yellow.

Dip piece to be patinated into a container of very hot water to pre-heat the metal, then briefly dip into the LOS solution.

Next dip it in a container of ice water to stop the action and set the patina.

Repeat as necessary to achieve the colors you want. Best to build up color slowly.  Color will develop beginning with straw gold and ending at total black. Left too long in the LOS and the black can become too thick and flake off.

This recipe is particularly good for the dark purple and blue iridescent colors although I have achieved some remarkable orange and magenta colors as well… as seen on the ring at right in photo.

Try different amounts of ammonia and salt (iodized salt gives a different color than kosher salt), and make color patterns by selectively dipping just certain areas of the piece into the LOS solution.

Allow the patina to dry and set before rubbing it off the high areas of the design with a fine polishing paper or pumice. I also use this process for copper and brass although the colors achieved will be very different. Mostly brown to black.

Photographing on white and on black

I photographed the recently created “Bird” cuff on a white background and on a black glass background as a test to see what works best for the piece. Both seem OK to my eye… just very different. The black is dramatic, the white seems more contemporary.  If I were to list this in my Etsy shop, I might also photograph it with some props from the garden. A leafy branch or two for instance. Plus I need a photo that shows the out-side of the ends as an alternate view.

The brass sheet was originally photo etched to use as a plate for roll printing onto silver, however, I decided it would work better used directly for jewelry. I am now wearing the cuff to see how the polished surface might change over time. The dark background is a heat patina that developed naturally when I annealed the metal for forming.

Bird cuff 1

Bird cuff 1 on black

Jan’s earrings

Birds in a Tree

I made these earrings for my friend Jan in memory of the many happy hours we’ve spent together watching the birds in our shared garden. She helps me to identify the different birds that come and go here.

I photo etched a brass texture plate and used it to roll print the design onto a silver. I then selected and cut the discs to feature two facing birds. The lapis beads were chosen to match a necklace Jan wears.

Business card 4-2015

business card one 4-2015

Ordered a bunch. Sure hope I like them!

Update: cards are OK … just not as thrilling as hoped for. Elegant but dark. Next card design will be much brighter and perhaps with a white background. Fortunately, the back of the card tells more of the story.

back of 4-2015 card

If Staples ever offers the great deal again, I might also order this one:

Sunflower bracelet business card

While it also features a dark background, there is a lot more color to brighten it up.