"Thou shalt do epic sh*t" ... that's from Jonathan Fields' "10 Commandments of Epic Business" and the idea's been weaving and worming its way into my psyche since he first posted it. There is absolutely no point in cranking out okay work ... no point in anything that falls into the "this is okay for now" or "this will do" category. If a finished piece doesn't illicit an immediate smile and make my heart sing, ditch it, take it apart, set it aside, rework it until I every time I look at it I smile and I know I have succeeded in creating something worthwhile and even, dare I say it ... epic.
And with that mantra I set to work assembling my new palette of components. It takes time to get to know new components. When I start in, I'm always reminded of Andy Goldsworthy in Rivers and Tides ... a new place, new materials, new stone, new environment ... it takes time to learn the nuances of shape and weight, to see new possibilities, new forms ... to see the true, maybe hidden potential, not just what strikes at first touch.
As I unpack my work from yesterday's trunk show (fun afternoon, good connections, few sales - ahh well), I'm smiling ... a lot. I'm actually kind of glad I didn't sell much of anything. I wasn't ready to part with this new work. It feels so fresh and inspired, I wanted to touch it and photograph it, soak up more of the delicious energy of my newest creations.
Cairns still seem to be a vital theme and I am absolutely smitten with these combinations. Steel and bronze and Basha beads and gemstones and creek pebbles and fossilized bone fragments on hand-plied nylon, linen or silk cord ...
Then I took some familiar forms, my pinched coins, and tweaked them a bit. Love love love these ... they're very fluid, nothing is 'nailed' down. Two variations of the steel, one polished and two left black - how they look straight out of the kiln.
But these next two pieces are my absolute favorites. First, another variation on my coins. These components look exquisitely ancient but reside in a decidedly contemporary design.
And this last one is truly epic. A magnificent Basha bead as the focal, a sumptuous stack of steel with bronze overlay rings and cubes and discs. The linen cord is made from single ply unbleached Irish linen - dark and rustic and perfect ...
I've also started doing a blessing wrap on all the necklaces and bracelets. I'm going to do a retro-fit on all the other pieces I have on hand. Each piece will have a scrap of silk or linen, inscribed with L I G A, lashed to the cord with waxed linen or silk. So every time someone wears the piece, they are reminded they are always embraced by love, infinite grace and abundance.
Epic indeed.
l i g a - kvk
LOVE IT ALL!
ReplyDeleteI really love the pinched coins! Sometimes the familiar just rocks the house!
ReplyDeletewhat a great range of necklaces.
ReplyDeletei must admit my favouritess are also those last 2
love the the old worn look of the coin necklace and
that basha bead is astonishing and looks superb with your other components..
truly must haves......
Thanks y'all! Really appreciate the appreciation .........
ReplyDelete