"For the Birds" is a themed group show   presented by the artists of Down the Street Art Gallery, in Payson, AZ.
Each of us was given the theme of "Birds" with no restriction of media, size or content, other than "Birds". It is always fun to see what the individual artists come up with. These are my two entry s for this show. I have been working on the           " NOIR" collection and in Steel, so the natural progression was to do my favorite bird, the RAVEN, in Steel, as it would blacken nicely with the lovely steely blue black that is RAVENS. I wanted him to be carrying something so I chose a bright green emerald from my stash and some 14k gold and created a branch for him. I had to hand carve steel stamps for just the right feather shapes. I am very happy how he emerged and want to do more...I'll keep ya posted with that! 
The second artwork is a work in series ( upcoming Blog topic here)  combining my Aspen Paintings on copper foil with gold & silver leaf. My last one was calling out for something...a focal point or a spot of color to catch the eye. I considered a red cardinal ( too expected) or a blue Jay, but they just didn't do it. So I went back to my old friend the Raven to help me out. I put a couple it the corner and that was all the work needed. Liking it a lot, I took a photo of the detail and in looking at the photo, I thought : Wow; That should be a finished painting!! So the next one WAS a finished painting.  I am happy to note that it has sold pre-show, with the understanding delivery would be when the show ends .
So if you get a chance, go to the Gallery ( 703 W. Main Street, Payson AZ 85541). This "For the Birds" show will open First Friday. May 1st and close near end of June. Who knows, one of our birds just may want to go home with you!

While "Orange is the new Black" is hot on TV,  Black is the hot look in metal.    And Whoo Hoo...YELLOW GOLD IS BACK! not that it was ever  "out" in my world, but the Fashion magazines, bridal jewelry and jewelry stores must  have had a divorce from it I guess, because it was nowhere to be seen. I have always loved gold, PURE Gold: Rich yellow and glowing like nothing else. King Tut had it right. Beautiful and wonderful to work with.                     White GOLD...now that's an oxymoron....if its white, how is it gold?? Now  I love Silver.  Platinum isn't bad, if you don't have to melt or polish it. There are other white metals, pewter, aluminum and steel, they all have their place but white gold is only good for setting diamonds in my book.  But no one asked me so.... I'll get back to YELLOW gold. It looks great contrasting with the Black, that is the new trend. So to answer:  Why Noir and why now? .... Why not? It"s partly  because of how great it looks with gold,  but black and white  (silver) go so well together and with lots of other things too. I have created a new collection: "Noir".  Noir is black in French , and " dark and mysterious" in Flim genre. In my collection I blacken silver, with gold or polished silver accents. I blacken copper, because it does so well and creates a deep rich black. I blacken Steel because it contrasts so well with the rich high karat gold I fuse to its textures surface. I love black diamonds and textured black stones. We wear a lot of black these days  because it's easy and we don't have to "match" things. Black & white (and/ or gold): suitable for corporate wear or dressing up a pair of Jeans and a white shirt. Check it out and let me know if you like it.
PS I am a featured artist and debuting this collection  during the month of APRIL  ( my month) at the Sedona Arts Center, in Sedona AZ. 

Selling our own work is one of the harder things we do. It's easier to sell your friends or competitor work because you can usually describe what you really like about their creations and or how they came about. Why is that so hard to do for ourselves? Well to start with, we feel and sometimes sound like an ego maniac when we toot out own horn. But really, who better to toot? If we take a deep breath and describe how we got excited about a interesting rock or stone and how we immediately envisioned a finished setting that would compliment it, and every time we pick up that piece the memories or feelings of excitement comes back. Wouldn't your best friend be fascinated to hear the story. Then why wouldn't an interested collector?  BUT, keep it simple and LISTEN to the response, whether it be words or body language. If it appears this person would rather be looking elsewhere or for the nearest door, then respect that and back off with a smile. If they ask more questions, then you can share info but don't  over do and grab their arm physically or metaphorically . Don't state the price apologetically when asked.  You worked hard, and materials aren't free.  If  customer exclaims the price is high, don't take it personally, but smile and explain what is involved in the technique or the high quality of materials used. If they insist the price is too high, you can always smile and  use the Bruce Baker line;, "Well yes, My work is not for EVERYONE".    Never be in a huff about anything or burn bridges.  People talk more about negative treatment than positive.  Move on to share your passion and its story with someone else.

 Hammers...what kid doesn't like to bang on things? Fortunately I was allowed  to investigate tools at a young age at my grandfathers feet as he puttered about in his workshop. There were old tools, odd segments of pile fittings( which I assembled and dissembled  endlessly), scrap wood, nails and HAMMERS!   whoo hoo kid heaven.!

Later, in College I took a metals/ jewelry class and was required to buy some specialty hammers and accidently got a great planishing hammer that I use to this day with joy. It is well used and refinished by polishing many times, and it gets even better with age. ( like me. haha)

My 2nd major hammer was a  large cross peen with a square flat head on other side. I think it was called a boxing hammer but I used the cross peen end for forging.  A square hammer face was of no use to me so years later, given access to belt sanders,  I rounded it and made a high polished dome out of that square flat end and have used that more than any other hammer , except for my beloved planishing hammer. I made what I called "puffed cuffs" long before the term "synclastic" forming was popular  to describe this form. I taught others how easy it was to form bracelets with a hammer and a piece of wood, but there was a small problem: you could not buy a hammer like mine because I had altered it to its favored form. Believe me I searched everywhere and even approached a couple of people to make them for me. Fortunately ,I crossed paths with Chuck Kennington of NC Black Co. I own many of their fine quality, made in USA, hammers so I asked Chuck if he would consider making my fav hammer.  Chuck was patient and cooperative, after several prototypes and testing sessions the "April" hammer was born. This bad boy hammer is big, but not too heavy; which is important so you don't wear out your arm when hammering.  It has long "neck" between the 2 polished high domed faces of different diameters. Its long "neck" allows you to work INSIDE the bracelet as it curves around during forming. The other benefit of this hammer is you can clamp the head in a vise and use it as a polished stake and shape your form from the outside. Plus, Chuck made it AFFORDABLE! What a great Guy, who has a great company and made us a great hammer. You can check it out, as well as all the other great hammers  NC Black makes at www.ncblack.com.  I usually bring some to classes & workshops so you can try it out and fall in love for yourself.  Here is a link to NC Black company and the "April"  Hammer, named after.....well I'm sure you can guess.               http://www.ncblack.com/product/april