Rehab

Sometimes when all is said and done, it has to be re-done.
Like this druzy. She needed some work.

I loved the piece, but I think that her little "kick" there on the right seemed not right to many people. I've hung on to that "kick" for several years... ARTIST'S CHOICE!!! I have this thing for not quite making things symmetrical.

However, after all these years I took another look at her and yes, the "kick" bothered me...

Black Druzy with fused silver and gold. With a kick.

I took another look at the design...blocking out the playful "kick"...

Better...nice balance!

I gathered up my tools...from my super-sonic Walmart glasses for magnification...and other traditional smithing tools...

Marked the piece with the Sharpie and used the jeweler's saw to take out the "kick..."

ahhh...a better balance, a piece of fused silver with a rose gold granulation ball...and files.

Some buffing, polishing and a nice warm bath in soapy water (best way to clean a druzy...)

and here she is....

Black druzy with stering and fine silver. Two rose-gold granulation balls.

I'm very happy with the results. She will be making her re-debut at High Hand's Art Fest June 23 & 24, 2012!

Pieces for Week 22....

I decided that too many pieces were being overlooked with my "Piece A Week" focus...so I have decided to do "Pieces for Week......"

This week I really only had Thursday to work on pieces. Monday we were up in Tahoe, I don't remember Tuesday (!), Wednesday I spent the day up at Journey Spiritual Center (LOVE it there, I highly recommend going there if you need some meditation/energy work time)....so Thursday is when it all happened. I fiddled with a couple pieces today - but I am DONE. I need to get ready for this weekend's Tahoe adventure.

My main focus this week was on a piece that I have had in my head for several weeks now. I think to really do this piece like I envision it, I would need to have it cast. On the other hand...I challenged myself to see what I could do with fabricating the piece. The idea was a mermaid sitting on a crescent moon...her tail hanging over the edge...all flowy.

Before I share the pics with you...she was a royal annoyance. The EASY part was sawing out the shape...except I sawed out too much leaving the shape weak, with no reinforcement. So I had to change my plan...decided to fuse a full moon behind the mermaid, thus giving her some "support"...except my moon reticulated nicely with the heat....it just withered up....some choice words...then I decided to turn my withered full moon into a crescent moon. I also wanted to have some silver "bubbles" around her...so I made a bunch of silver granulation balls...all fell off of her but two. (no, I am not going to make a comment like, "My mermaid lost her balls....") At the end...somewhat success...but it was so "silvery"...it bugged me. Anyway - here is the shot of the silvery mermaid...rather difficult to make out:

Mermaid on a crescent moon...difficult to make out the details...

I really wanted some color...so I decided to rough up the silver a bit and add in some alcohol ink.

Mermaid in color!

Again, not a great shot - but I like how she looks. Her tail now looks like abalone shell! Anyway, this is one that looks better in person! She is going up to Tahoe...she needs a name...any ideas? I really like this style and will be working more with this.

I also made these yesterday and finished them up today:

Basic silver on copper dragonfly

This dragonfly was actually a "scrap"...I used the cut out dragonfly on another piece. The cut out was in silver. I took the silver and fused it on copper. Then added some alcohol ink for some color.

 Silver dragonfly. I felt artsy so this shot is in black and white!

Next week I have five full days to work on pieces. I have some ideas for rings and may focus in on that!

Kewish Designs at Rediscover Sutter Street Celebration Saturday, May 7!

Fire and Rain Gallery is opening a second location!! Join us on Saturday, May 7, from 10-2 on Sutter Street for the Rediscover Sutter Street Celebration! We will have a small trunk show out in front of the gallery! I am busy working on some new designs...flowers, hearts, butterflies, dragonflies...and whatever else we may come up with!!

Note - this is not a "street fair" with a lot of vendors. Fire and Rain has asked us specifically to do a small set up in front of the gallery...and to bring in balloons!!! 

Fire and Rain is at the end of the street in the red brick building, a few doors away from Planet Earth Rising and across the street from Chicago Fire Pizza!

Everything begins at 10 a.m. with colorful Chinese Lion Dancers, the WellsFargo Stagecoach and a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Attendees have a unique opportunity to be a part of history by participating in a community photo in the 700 block of Sutter Street immediately following the ribbon cutting.

The street will be alive with activity including James Garner's Johnny Cash tribute band on one stage, and more live entertainment on a second stage. A series of 9-foot-tall graphic totems depicting Folsom's fascinating history will be unveiled. Tours and historical re-enactments will be on-going. Vintage cars, the City's antique fire truck and project construction equipment will be on display.

For your convenience, catch a shuttle at the Walmart parking lot (Glenn Drive behind Chevron) between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., or ride Light Rail.  There will be limited parking available in the Historic District Parking Garage. 

Something Very Different (by Lisa)

Sharing something new. A collaborative piece. 

My friend, Tania von Allmen, handed me a moldavite...

I tossed in an onyx...

she said my favorite line, "Go for it...whatever you come up with."

I did some drumming and journey work and kept seeing the same vision.
I argued with myself...
"No...I don't do that kind of work..."

Repeat this scenario two more times!

At the end of the third journey session I realized that I needed to contact another to work with - and so I did.

So here is my design with the beautiful craftwomanship of North Marques. 

North did the wax carving, silver casting and stone setting. 

(Actually, she carved the hand and I did the surrounding work in wax...and she fine tuned it a bit.)

When amazing minds come together to create - amazing new life forms emerge!

Had I stayed "small" and argued with myself..."I can not do this..."

this never would have made it into the world.

End Credits:
Friend and amazing artist....Tania von Allmen... check out her work as a Symbolist.
Friend and amazing artist....North Marques... check out her artisan designed sterling silver sculptures.

Discovered in San Francisco!

San Francisco buzzes with creative energy. There are galleries everywhere with unique expressions of how to view the world. The City keeps my senses on point and my own creative ideas take on new forms...even things that disturb me, intrigue me. Like this window display. There was a lot more going on in the display - but this shot is the one that creates a whole new story in my head.

"Creepy Baby Doll Heads"

Photography by Lisa Kewish

Not only are store displays edgy and unique...there are also all the fantastic artisans selling their items out on the streets. Out of respect I do not take pics of the artisans work, however, I DO collect business cards and web site addresses and I enjoy mentioned them in as many places that I can just to support their work.

Jimothy is a leather worker with an amazing spirit. He has founded Chi Stylez, handcrafted leather goods made from recycled resources. Yes, I purchased a gorgeous clutch and a wrist cuff..and had a GREAT time chatting with him. He came up from San Diego...HE gave us the tip on how to apply to be a street vendor in San Francisco.

We discovered beautiful fine handmade silver jewelry by Emilio Sotelo...simple and lovely. Very elegant designs. We like.

ok...and some work that completely captivated me...(and woke me up a bit...I'll be getting real busy soon) is the amazing copper jewelry by Astrid Walther and Christian Gardelle. What they do with copper is incredible.
The prices of their pieces is ridiculous low for the quality and beauty of the work...but then, that is part of the gift of copper!

I did get one tip...peanut oil. Dip copper in peanut oil and then fire it...apparently amazing things happens.
I'm going shopping today for peanut oil.

(authored by Lisa)