Combinations and permutations

spots

wash

light and dark

old favourites

The reformation period

Crochet silver wire necklace

Three piece necklace

Beaten silver pendant necklace

It occurred to me this morning as I was beating away at a brass bangle found in the op-shop, reshaping, refolding and reducing it to an intriguingly deformed object (that could potentially be a piece of adornment), that there is a tendency in my work of late to REFORM. 

Beaten brass pendant 

(reformed bangle)

I like to work with found materials and objects as a starting point, as opposed to having a concept first then looking for the ways and means to realize a piece. Sometimes this means simply breaking found objects into their individual components and putting a few unrelated pieces back together in a way that is new and fresh - I like that!

Other times and with great delight out comes the hammer and things get thoroughly beaten and flattenned .... all the while witnessing the materials being reshaped and the object reformed - I really like that!

Free floating

Woman resting on a patchwork quilt

Having decided to create my own version of a sabbatical this year, I am temporarily and deliberately working without much direction and doing as I feel (sounds pretty pretentious and pompous perhaps but I assure you I have been working very HARD over the past ten years and it's good to step back and see where things are at). 

Wire flowers in vase

I still spend most of my time in the studio but rather than working relentlessly making things with a view to selling, the emphasis is on exploring and experimenting. 

Earthenware bowls on hand dyed and stitched linen mat

(on the projects page)

Working with clay is very meditative and demands a slower pace than what I have been used to. You can't hurry the drying and firing which means at least two weeks before one can see the results. 

The jewellery-making area

And here is an area of great explorations involving much trial and error, making use of recycled materials, found and re-purposed objects - odd, unusual, gnarled and beaten are the most inspiring.

Blue Moon 

Dyed wood and silver necklace

One of a few new pieces in the SPACE range, designed for

Nell's Emporium in Mosman Park. 

Carved and Etched

Carving away designs etched into underglaze on earthenware 

A light touch and plenty of experimenting with different tools to find the one that works best ...

accidental and deliberate marks ... wabi sabi  [beauty in imperfection] ... reminds one of murals, frescoes, graffiti 

Design experiments

Ceramic cups with carved design

Ceramics

Bird looking

Bird flying

Bird asleep

Woman and the moon

I learned many interesting things today after a creative session with a friend who arrived with brushes, ink and inspiration. I have always loved the simplicity of ink wash drawings, but never thought to try it. Semi-controlled mark-making, focusing on the application of ink and the movement of the  brush. For example, dip the brush in water and dry off on a cloth. Dip in half-strength ink then dip just the tip in full strength ink. Hold the brush down on the paper and twirl in a circle. Use a pointed stick/twig and full strength ink for detail.