Value

Did a value study in a class. Value is shade, dimension and volume. Had to paint clouds so I made it easy and just did spheres. Not sure the shading of the sky and land are correct but it looks kind of other-worldly, doesn't it?

Jewelry - 3 Silver Earrings

Since I found the lost wax surprises in the basement I have been dragging out all my jewelry supplies. I made 3 pairs of earrings today, I am rusty so the ear wires need to be replaced as they are not perfect. It is fun playing with this stuff. The earrings are made of sterling silver, freshwater pearls, garnets, glass and stone.

Lost Wax Casting

I just ran across some lost wax casting silver pieces I made a number of years ago. My little sculptures in wax were kind of thick so my silver pieces came out quite heavy. I just found some of them in a box stuck away in a corner of the basement. I never finished them and made them into jewelry. Now I shall have to do so. The lost wax process is far more difficult than working with precious metal clay.

Monet in a Day No. 1

As promised, here is the first faux Monet I made. Unfortunately number 2 is I think a lost cause, I am ready to paint over. But Monet in a Day No. 1 somehow just works. I used left-over paints after doing another painting exercise and who knows why or how but it just worked. Acrylics on a tiny canvas 4x6 inches.

Monet is probably turning in his grave about the name!

Monet in a Day No.3

I am not much of a painter as those who know me are well aware. I am taking a class that dabbles in this and that and wouldn't you know it we had to paint. So I whipped out some horrid thing. Then I used my left over paint to do a mini-faux-Monet. It was pleasing to the eye although I am sure critics will shudder at the sight of it. Anyway I made a second that is horrid and then a third faux-Monet. I can't seem to get the reeds right, no matter how small the brush it either globs or refuses to transfer paint. I have tried palette knives and toothpicks also. Sigh. Oh yes this is in acrylics and is on 8" x 10" canvas. Enjoy! or not and if not and your 2 cents is worthy, please give me pointers on doing things better.

Inspiring Photographs - Droplets & Small World

There are some fabulous niche photos on the www. As a scientist, I have always gravitated towards the tiny images we saw using tools one's body did not provide to see the world in a new way. Droplets and small stuff have always been my favorite categories, I find many of these quite abstract in nature. You shall have to open the link to see pics as I am not sure of copyright issues on this artwork. It is VERY worth the effort. In addition to artwork some of the sites give info on how to create the effect or obtain the photo. General tips and how tos: http://digital-photography-school.com/category/photography-tips-and-tutorials/other_tips Droplet photos and tutorials: http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress...r-photography/ http://digital-photography-school.co...hy-water-drops/ Nikon Small World Photo contest, go to the gallery to see the pics: http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/ Enjoy - I hope this opens up new ways of looking at the world for you. blr

Periodic Table Printmaking Project

The periodic table printmaking project is up at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, so if you are in the Philly area please stop by. http://azuregrackle.com/periodictable/table/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/azuregrackle/4415192883/in/pool-periodictable http://www.flickr.com/groups/periodictable/ I worked on rutherfordium and did a monoprint with Caron d'Arche watercolor crayons. Experimental at best like rutherforduim, created by among other methods bombarding plutonium with neon. Since this is the stuff science fiction is made of, I made the print to look like a page from a 1950s comic book. Russian and American researchers both laid claim to the element which was called kirchutovium for a while by the Russians, until a truce was decided and both men honored. Anyway, this is not my best work but the table looks fabulous with it in.