Sunday, August 09, 2009

Copper Electroforming Silver Clay Earrings

Working in multiple media is a bit schizophrenic at times. As each week unfolds, I try to make the rounds from sketching and painting to glass torch to metal clay kiln to electrochemical bath. Sometimes weeks go by with my attention focused on a particular interest.


Most fascinating to me is when collisions occur. I electroform on glass all the time, but only a few weeks ago did the idea of electroforming onto silver clay pop into my vision. I've been playing with it a bit and finally have something I'm willing to show.

I've been sketching a lot of earrings. Hands down, I buy more earrings than any other jewelry, because I wear them every day. I'd love to own a pair from every artist whose work I admire. For some unknown reason, I rarely MAKE earrings. So I'm on a quest to explore this hidden aversion. What type earrings do I like? What do I buy and why? How many variations on my recent themes can I come up with for earrings? Would I buy what I make or do I need to tweak my concept? Where will electroformed earrings take me?

Oh, I get it. I'm avoiding earrings because they are a pain to photograph! They don't lie flat, it's impossible to get them both lighted the same, and I haven't come up with a great way to suspend them. THAT's why the pros get big bucks for photos.