News!

So, today I found out that my Pollen Bracelet will be on display from January 23-March 15 in Mesa, Arizona as part of Mesa Contemporary Arts' 30th Annual Contemporary Arts exhibition. I am, needless to say, super pumped about this.

Now, on to the picture part of the post. These are process shots of a new piece I'm working. It will likely be a brooch when I'm done, unless I decide it needs to be a neck piece, which is a possibility. The base of this enamel is a copper chasing of a gecko. During the process I discovered that in the next piece I use this technique on, I need to really exaggerate the chasing so that I don't lose details when I enamel.


This is the piece after I have enameled one coat and then applied a layer of silver leaf.


At this point, I have fired another layer of clear over the silver leaf and then painted on china paint.


The colored china paint has been fired on, the black china paint has been applied, and then scratched through. This is just prior to the final firing, after which, the black china paint will be glossy.

I'm fairly pleased with this piece, mostly due to the chased form. I have probably overly ambitious plans for my next piece, which I will inevitably fall short of, but since I'm reaching for awesome, it should at least be good.