Evolution of ‘Shapeshifter’

I originally started this piece back[and two others] in March and documented the process on Instagram[man, I love that app].  Not much explanation is needed here just follow the photos and captions beneath each image to the finished product:

 

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‘It may not looks like much, but this is how I lay out the armature for a new vessel.  It’s gonna be a beast.’

 

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‘Some beads already strung.  Down to business.’

 

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‘The all too real tangled mess that inevitably occurs at the beginning of each new vessel.  Total nightmare.  So this looks finished right?’

 

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‘4 hours and 2 solo dance parties into the weaving process.’

 

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‘Inside the belly of the beast.’

 

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‘How far 1/2 a kilo of see beads will get you.  And the Blue Lace Agate stones that will be added to the piece soon.’

 

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‘Finally nearing completion on this particular piece.’

 

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Finished!  Ta-dah!

 

The piece measures 15″ x 10.5″ x 9″ and I completed it to submit it to a contemporary basketry show in Tennessee at the Arrowmont School of Craft.  The jury has not assembled yet to determine which pieces to accept so I do not know yet whether it will be accepted in the group show, but I hope that it will!

Cue the sound of a million hearts breaking…

Everyone’s favorite piece is SOLD!  I posted one shot of this piece back in March on my Facebook page and it went VIRAL.  It was shared 98x, received 64 likes, and was viewed by nearly 13,000 people.  Those are numbers I can’t even wrap my head around.  And I have a big head.  No, seriously.  That whole one-size-fits-all business?  Not happening.  I blame my giant brain that happens to be overflowing with a wealth of information[sometimes useless i.e. song lyrics because I listen to so much music while I work] and ideas.  Anywhoooo…two weeks ago a wonderful couple bought this beauty from me in Princeton, NJ at the Morven in May show.  Here are the rest of the shots of the piece from every angle imaginable.

 

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On to the next one!

Music on the move

If you have attended or exhibited at a professional craft show you may have seen a dapper gentleman with a harmonica in hand, and several in cases around his neck, waltzing around the show floor.  It took me two years of seeing him at nearly every show I was participating in until I agreed to construct a beaded vessel version of a case to add to his extensive hand-made collection.  Artists from all over the world refer to him fondly as “Hoff the Harmonica Case Man”.  And his one-of-a-kind harmonica case collection is no joke–he has already had exhibitions of the set and will be having a book published in the future.  Be on the lookout the next time you’re at a show because you may even be lucky enough to hear him play a little tune:

 

 

Here are some informal studio shots of my harmonica case!  I’m pretty proud of this creation and I am sort of wondering why I put off making it for so long…

 

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2.0

The time has come…to edit new portfolio images.  One of the less exciting aspects of being an artist I’m afraid.  Because I have the equipment and know-how to photograph my own work I do.  Frugal–party of one!  And with expenses mounting around every corner it certainly makes sense to save a couple hundred dollars where possible.  The negative to wanting to do everything yourself is it drains your time spent creating new work.  As promised here is a far more professional shot of the completed piece I have been documenting over the past couple of weeks.

 

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I’m up for making another…who’s buying this one?

Rise of a champion

And in this corner…weighing in at an impressive 4.8 lbs.[I swear it feels MUCH heavier] with a record of 5 wins by knockout via needle nose pliers gouging my hands and a near miss to my face…wearing all the glorious colors of the rainbow…from the York, PA studio of moi…I give you BALL BOWL 2.0! [two point ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

 

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51 spheres total for those curious.