almost

I am not sure if this is finished, but I like the monochromatic industrial look of it right now. At first, I was concerned by my subdued palette, but I ended up really loving it.

The close up shots are of a plate that was my paternal great grandmother's. During the original Great Depression, plates and cups were given away with oatmeal. Beautiful white glass, opaque in places, raised floral designs, see through lines. So elegant to the modern eye, but considered a "freebie" at the time. Alas, they are also very fragile, and this one did not make a move. With gold leaf gilding it, the reaction behind the glass reminds me of moss.

Also contains a large metal nut, found outside of my work on a walk to get away, glass from bus shelters, silver foil, some beads, and a 1930s faux ivory piece. Various metal bits, chandelier glass, buttons, pearls, rhinestones. On found wood from one of the dozen or so cookie cutter apartment buildings going up on my street. One, I found out with this morning, blocks out most of my
ability to see the mountains and sunsets from my front yard. Ah, gentrification!

in medias res

This piece is going to take a while. The centre is a piece of wrought iron fence I found on one of my walks. Curving out from the metal is blue windshield glass gilded in silver, opaque white glass, pearls (vintage and fresh water), gold pigment and gold foiled clear glass. This, of course, is unfinished, but feels special enough to share.

Mirror for LoLa

I went to Corvallis for a wonderful visit with dear, dear Lola. I can now say I've gotten drunk with someone who used to drink with Bukowski: I have arrived. I am sharing this, because it is beautiful, even if it is on a cheap ass mirror, and it commemorates a lovely meeting of minds; I am almost tempted to move there, but space and timing are issues!
The slight nod to Haring is intentional.

Electric Blue

12" x 12" featuring bus shelter glass, broken 1950s cocktail glass, a jar bottom, stained glass scraps, cabochons, and other ephemera. On gold leafed wood.

Siblings: Fraternal Twins

A diptych of 12" x 12" pieces. Color fields of silver gilded  blue windshield glass, gold, silver and copper foiled clear glass. Ordered Chaos: What I do best.

Found Object Boxes

One old and one new. These are drawers from an old jewelry box.  The older one is a squirrel (my mortal enemies) mandible and a gold gilded glass heart. The other is a glass skull, found in the dirt near the tracks under the Hawthorne bridge, gilded with silver foil and placed in a box, lined in 1930s silk velvet.

Finally Finished this piece!

I posted the beginnings of this almost exactly 2 years ago. I finished it a few nights ago, basically just outlining some more silver foiled blue glass and painting with 3 shades of gold pigment on wood. I love the broken corner, and the intricate bead work, each placed on separately. 20" x 12" found wood background.

Seascape with Scallop Shell

Found wood, painted with gold pigment. Windshield glass gilded with silver foil. Freshwater and vintage pearls, scallop shell. 2012

Prison Panties!

Years ago (likely in 1998, given the stamp on the pants), I found these, discarded in a gutter near the Greyhound station in old town. It was pouring, but I picked them up with a stick, taking them home to boil them. They've languished in a box for over a decade. I mounted them in a box that looks like it could have been made in a prison workshop with industrial push pins. Apparently, these are no longer issued, so they are a collector's item of sorts. I can only imagine the woman who shed these, post release, tossing them into the gutter as a final "Eff YOU!" to Portland, Or., as she prepared to board a bus out of town. Ah, when old town was sleazy! *I do realize they are jail panties, but I am a sucker for alliteration.

 I don't usually do found art, but this was too good to not complete. Thanks to C & J for convincing me (with gin) to make this, finally. X

Haven't been posting, have been working!--UPDATED!

First new work photographed in awhile! I am all but finished. The edges will be painted with silver or gold pigment for a lovely antique patina, and then on to the huge landscape I will be spending the rest of the summer working shiny pieces into some kind of form.

Fritterlaries

I have a few pieces of wood shaped like halves of houses. Odd. Found this fascinating glass on a walk a few weeks back, and they looked ever so much like butterflies. Love the whimsy, which, I know, is odd for me! I photographed it on a skirt, which has dandelions and violets. Ah, spring!