Sheehan Commission

So I have been working on this piece for a while now and have just handed it over to the client.

What a response! I was nervous for what she would say as I had shown Sandra the cast piece – uncompleted – so I could get the sizing right for her. This is nearly always the moment where people start to wonder if I know what I am doing as the piece is in what I call the “car crash phase”. It looks bad as it is in construction and not nicely finished.

So there were some concerns that she had with the size and shape of the square but I asked her to leave it with me and when it is done I am sure she will love it.

Using the existing ring and gold that she had I forged a new band to which I soldered this and blended it into the new squared top. The stone was given to her and she was not very happy with the look of it as she did not know what to do with it. A concept was developed and the drawing won her over. There may have been a speed bump along the way but in the end she is amazed by how it turned out and over the moon!

 

 

 

 

I believe the word was “magnificent” by the time she walked out with the ring on her finger!!!

And she can’t wait to show it off!

Exhibition pieces

I’ve been working on new stock for the BIA staff show opening tomorrow night. It’s good to be back at the bench creating but this month has flown by!
Elaine and I are also preparing for the studio sale on the 1st and 2nd of December, and with the return of stock from retailers, it looks like we will have plenty on offer for all!!

Here’s a sneak peek!

Tour of Melbourne and Heathcote

I’m in Melbourne having a look at some of the work happening currently on the art jewellery scene and checking out what everyone is wearing.
I realize that my figurative work is exactly what I should be doing! Only because no one else is doing it! I’m so pumped to get that all happening and prepare for the studio sale on the 1st and 2nd of December!

Object –

Acrylic, Silver, fabric.

Creative Generations Workshop

Little Birdie

Acrylic and Silver pendant created during the Creative Generations workshop.

Kinetic Piece

Creative Generations workshop – silver and fabric with kinetic component

IMG_2825

sandwich ring.
silver acrylic and fabric to make a ring based on a sandwich!

Cloncurry

 

 

I arrived in Mt Isa at midday, greeted by 38-degree heat. A bit of a shock to the system given the temperature in Brisbane of late has been rather mild! After collecting my hire car and doing a little shopping in Mt Isa I headed out toward Cloncurry. The first thing that strikes me about the country is how dramatic the landscape is and how, from one bend in the road to another, the landscape can change so much.

 

Cloncurry itself is a small town located 1.5hrs drive outside of Mt Isa. It too was scorching hot. I was there to teach a 2-day adult workshop and a 1-day children’s workshop. The first day of the adult workshop went well. Five absolute beginners who started off making rings, but after playing with flame for most of the day and temperatures close to 40-degrees, people were dropping like flies!

The second day was much better, with the workshop being moved inside with some air-conditioning, allowing creativity to flow! There were some fantastic results and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

 

The final day of workshops was the children’s workshop. Originally with 3 children booked, I ended up with 7 craving creativity. They ate up materials like a plague of locusts, leaving nothing behind but scraps of wood, glitter and feathers in a whirlwind of giggles and glue! The glue was non-toxic!

 

For R&R I headed out to one of the dams only to be adopted by a random dog that persisted on getting me to throw a stick for him while his master went for a swim! Back and forth, back and forth, I threw the stick until all the bark had fallen off and it sank to the bottom of the dam, only to have the dog swim around in circles trying to locate it. The call of his master broke off the search.

 

Heading home, I traversed toward an ominous cloud on the horizon. As I headed closer to Mt Isa I came across roaring grass fires that made the earth look like a Lord of the Rings extravaganza. Large plumes of black and brown smoke billowing from the earth. It was amazing! Yes, the landscape certainly changes in an instant out in the bush!

 

 

 

Cue Ball out!

Another leaves the studio. Bound for Sydney!!!

Shelved

The art prize that I have been working on for the BIA was shelved today given the lack of investment from sponsors and the current enrolment situation at the BIA. There will be too much of a short fall for the BIA to cover and it is simply money that they don’t have. 

 

My position now has changed to initiate and investigate ways that we can raise our public awareness and increase our enrolments. I am now looking at ways we can do this as well as build our relationships with our donors and members. 

That should be a little easier than cold calling!!