I Made This for You Before We Met

It happened again today. I’m at an art show with my Parts of Art jewelry. Now mind you, my inventory is pretty extensive, since last year we went into pause mode on shows and I spent extra time making wearable art. Still though, sometimes at the end of the day of making jewelry I look at the work and think “Oh. My. God. What was I thinking? Who would wear this?” So on and so on. That inner dialogue can just go like a runaway train. But then, I go to a show and put out my wares, and sooner or later here she comes.

We had a wonderful time sharing our love for wearable art as well as a few laughs. She had spotted it right away in my display case, and although I showed her a few other pieces, this was clearly the one I made for her before we met. And we both knew it. There were earrings that matched the bracelet, but she said that in her opinion “matching” is for older women. Then she added that “When I turn 70, which is soon, I might come back for those!”

Another delightful moment for me was this lovely woman who wanted to look through all of my inventory. Thought nothing of sitting on the grass in my booth and going through each of four bins of earrings and brooches. It was a treasure hunt, and she emerged victorious with several pieces to give as gifts. Once again, I made this for you before we met, and you just had to find it!

It’s so gratifying to be back at shows and to meet my customers and help them find the perfect piece. This weekend I’m at the Crosbey Festival of the Arts in Toledo wearing my signature black and white. It’s great that the show is at the Toledo Botanical Gardens, which is an absolutely beautiful place. My next show will be August 7th in Noblesville Indiana. Come on out and find the one I made for you before we met!

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Where it All Started

I have always believed that people love to see behind the scenes in the artist studio. It’s like looking behind the curtain and seeing what goes on backstage, to see how the art is crafted, what tools and materials are used, and how the artist thinks. To this end, I am thrilled to unveil a new video that tells my story of the origins of Parts of Art. A big shout out to the producer and videographer @Moguefilms . Here are some of the pieces seen on the video. Want to see more? visit my shop here

Just add paint!

It’s just that simple when painting with watercolor. This is how I start my day in the studio. Open to a new page, fill a brush with sparkling clean water, and fill the page or pages. Then, add watercolor paint and let it do its thing. The daily studio routine is this: clock in at 9 and paint that page in my journal. I realize that the painting on this page could become a beautiful fabric design, a batiked collage, or an amazing painted wall hanging. But my POINT is that I start my studio day with water on a page and go from there. As far as the illustrated journal, yes it’s true. Any thing done on these hallowed pages could become some great masterpiece someday. But that’s clearly not the intent. The journal is the place to play, to experiment, to express, to answer the question “what if ?” It’s about the inspiring and refreshing place my mind enters once that water on the page turns to color. It’s where it starts. Does it matter

Best advice ever

I was eagerly, breathlessly waiting outside the door of the 3rd floor painting studio, anticipating my turn at the hallowed easel. There, the renowned and venerable professor would lovingly and patiently teach me how to paint with oils. Now here I was, in the very studio of my dreams. And all I would hear from the renowned and wise professor was (after a long and awkward pause, her looking over my shoulder) “Well, finish this one and go on to the next one.” Embarrassment. Heartbreak. Doubt. Anger. All these stirred up inside me while sitting in front of that easal. How was I to finish this one and go on to the next one when I didn’t know HOW? Could you just SHOW ME HOW? Looking back now, I fully realize that was the best advice I could’ve gotten at the time. After all, the only way to learn how to paint is to paint, paint, paint and paint some more. Now that I am a mixed media collage artist, that advice sounds in my mind every time I pain

Parts of Art

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