Summershine
“Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which nature herself is animated.” Auguste Rodin
Hummel- Boy with rabbits. Rabbit fern.
Summer has come to the Studio. Morning time being the coolest will lend to it being also the most creative. Heat and I are best at remaining acquaintances.
Spring in the Fan was amazing, I can’t wait to do it again next year. So much visual beauty here. In addition to the explosion of colorful flora, I have caught glimpses of some sweet fauna critters. Cottontails abound here! So consequentially we have our first brood of babies right nestled down in the raised flower bed full of 5ft pollinators. I’m ecstatic inside. Rabbits are a lifelong love of mine. Attribute it to my memories of the bedtime reading of The Velveteen Rabbit If you’ve never, as summer is rabbit season thus a good time to read it or listen to it before you go to bed. I’ve done this recently as a revisit. It is a magical child’s tale with layers of meaning for adult ears. From the suburbs of Philadelphia to owning Dutch Lop Ear rabbits as pets in the Hill Country of Austin, now here in the Fan Rva, cottontails have been a totemic presence in my life. Memories of family rescues, later wild-life reunions, and nature in art, all welled up upon the discovery of our furry yard guests. One of those moments when you know where you are is where you’re supposed to be. Nice little ‘click”.
I’ll spare you the details of just how nature may bring these to your attention yet my Goldendoodle studio assistant on mid-day breaks shall we say is…curious by nature? Ha!
Cottontails. 2,Can you see them? One is easier to spot by the ears.
I am just amazed at the camouflage they utilize. The nest is a perfectly woven pocket out of grass and errant fur from the dog’s haircut. Seems we’ll have them nearby for another week and then I expect to come across them in the early am walks.
Because of the reoccurring presence of the rabbits in my life and their reappearance at this phase of my life, I decided to do a little current reading on the rabbits symbolism. Typically, fertility, creativity, and luck are associated. Yet I found this one perception that rung with me.
“Symbolically, Rabbit in the Underworld is therefore representative of using one's intuition: knowing how to get around "in the dark" and being comfortable traveling in "unmarked territory." By default, it can also denote having or developing trust in the "Inner Light." Rabbit does not need an outside source to illuminate his way.“ Sandy Koi
What does this have to do with my jewelry? Does this translate to jewelry as a fern earring? A bunny tail ring or bunny nose earrings? My process isn’t quite like that. For me my time spent in studio is meditative. When I am working on a miniature piece of art, studying or practicing a new technique it is my engagement of my mind and body trying to express Beauty in and through a harmony of materials and design, this is the why I am doing what I’m doing, the call if you will. In this instance creativity flows as a result of exploring the how and why of the rabbit symbolism and it’s relevant meaning in my life, or not. An integral part of my process is a contemplative practice while working. A way of observing my thoughts, ideas, memories, daydreams, and the action of letting them and their associations go. Sounds like therapy, no? I feel rewarded as such. Below the latest growth shots from this year's first blooms.
Currently, on my bench, I've been finishing, for now, the work on my Noir pieces. These are my gold and oxidized silver works. I’ll clean and polish up a remaining pair of earrings to add to the gallery on my website this month. I’m sure to add more to this line as it has an ageless and classic appeal. Typically the summer months for jewelry retail are slower. Not as many holidays to shop for. These are the months a lot of us learn new techniques, read the latest trade books, etc. In addition to these, I plan on releasing some more work. I like silver for its tone and shine in the summer. Cooling and sleek bold pieces of solo metal and gemstone pieces with summer soft light pastel colors in gold and silver. I'd love for you to check back to see. Thank you for reading with me this far. One more thing, below, my latest offerings.
Oxidized silver and 18k gold granules
14k gold, salmon coral, oxidized silver
