Pics and Drips

I haven't decided whether to publish my website or not... Not sure if my lack of enthusiasm is due to this monster head cold, the weather, proximity of Christmas... or if I just really need to read a Rex Stout murder mystery and fuggedaboudit. Here are 2 pics I took... from under my porch cover as the weather dripped coldly.

The Gold Standard

My mother wants a pendant... which is nice... in gold. I sent her a sketchy sketch of a design I thought she might like... and here are my 2 models from that design. (Carved into wax and cast into sterling silver. The models are not polished and do not have any antiquing agent applied... because they are models and will be recasted.) The first model adheres closer to my original design but I wasn't totally happy with it. The textured jump ring I made in the second picture would go with it also.

And here is my second attempt... I'm happier with it but think I might offer it to her as a silver... Gold is just soooooo expensive. I can't quite see this in gold either... I think a few more salamander and flower carvings are in my future!

New Things

I think one has to come to some accommodation with how things get made. You always want a Monet or Carrivagio or Michalangelo... and the fumbling towards the finish has its majical moments. But, sometimes a torn fingernail intrudes. (The British painter Turner grew one fingernail longer to scrape at the paint. Turner rocks. Some folks just teach you lessons in awe.) But back to the making of things... Kitty Karma, a pendant, was my fourth cat pendant. The other 3 didn't quite make it. I wish I were more succinct in making stuff, but I hope that the frustration of failure condenses the final piece and makes it finer. (Failure ought to be good for something. It's the thriftiness in me.)

Here is a bird piece that is undergoing further revision. This one is part way there... I have another sketch I'm currently working on also. (The birdie pictured has not been polished or antiqued. Models don't generally get polished.) I do have some fondness for this piece... which is probably why it has stayed so long on the to do list. However, the frustration with birdie might have helped with the other sketch.

Not a Baudelaire

Whenever one is contemplating the stupidity of ones fiscal choices in ones life, (you can see the orgins of my "ones" post), Baudelaire is useful. Frankly, I feel that if anyone can achieve the originality and conceit of Baudelaire, stupe on, as it were. The guy is beautiful. A hero, without a doubt. So when I was fussing over a new batch of photos the title appeared intrinsic with this poor bastard child of Picasso.... Not a Baudelaire.

Fishie-poo

This small fish was carved out of wax and cast into sterling silver. I consider him my good luck guy...

My House

My House. This House is a very very very fine house. What were my thoughts when I started on this image? Really now. Do people vocalize internally when they are into a form? I think not. I think its like infatuation. You can rationalize later, but frankly, you're along for the ride.
Good night.