Magically successful.

With the difficulties I've had with the Art Nouveau Medusa, my artistic confidence was getting a bit shaken. So I was pleased to have this be a roaring success with this Wiccan business card holder.

For those of you not familiar with these symbols, the pentacle represents 5 elements: spirit, air, fire, water, and earth, with spirit being the top point. Although some Christians in modern times are suspicious of the pentacle, in medieval times it was also thought to represent Five Virtues and was referred to as being embroidered on the equipage of great Christian knights in epic poems. In the Tarot, the Pentacles are the suit of Air, Intellect, and Wealth: not bad symbols for a business card holder.
The Triple Moon symbol represents the Goddess as maiden, mother and crone. The waning and waxing of the moon has always been seen as a metaphor for the cycle of life, and the Fates found in many myths are likely a version of the triple goddess. I consider the Triple Moon an excellent reminder in today's youth culture that there are other times of life which are just as important. Those with life experience become more confident and more powerful.

Still trying...

to make a Medusa my customer actually likes. I can't wish for her to be less choosy, because a tattoo is basically forever. I do wish, however, she had a slightly better art vocabulary, to make communications with her easier.

I've got a few other little custom pieces to work on now, a necklace and bracelet set for a friend, and a Wiccan business card holder I got an order for through Etsy's Alchemy. Plus, I'm working on and off as a Kelly temp.

Money
makes the world go round,
Yet it seems
we're slowing down.

I wish prosperity to all my readers. Times are hard for many people, but I believe we can all get through this.

Custom design in progress

The idea is an Art Nouveau style medusa (with non-snake hair), who must be beautiful in a way more ethereal than sexual. I think this works but I want approval from the customer before I start to ink her.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Exhibition

The Fantasy Artists of Etsy have put together a new exhibition; the banner doesn't seem to work here, so I'll find a link...


Hmm, I added the link, but it's not displaying for me, so here's the copy/paste version.
http://fantasyartofetsy.webng.com/exhibition.html

The longest day still ticks away;
The hands of time are never stayed.
But dreams go on, and so does song
So let us never be dismayed.

Bracelets I have made

I've gotten on a site that makes slideshows easy to make, and I'm hoping it will work as well on a blog as on a journal. No poem tonight. My arm was injured recently and I think I've typed too much as it is.


bracelets

Near Neary Lagoon

Here's a photo from our "backyard". A wood duck has claimed a space on the water. You can't see the fish in this picture, but not far below the surface, there are koi/carp that are longer than he is.

Koi wait patiently;
Warmed in a California
Lagoon by Spring sun.

A New Start

Allan and I have moved to Santa Cruz. It is so beautiful here, I know I will be inspired to do much more art and poetry. For now, I'm recovering from an arm injury and don't have internet access at home yet... so I will post more once these problems are taken care of. But I have much to share.

So much charm

I had an order of a snake pendant a couple of weeks ago, and while I was trying to find a lovely snake, I discovered a set of dragons! They were so pretty, and the price was right, so I bought them to use in future items. Anyone who wants to order a custom item before I end up putting them to work in other creations, please speak up.
And since these are Asian dragons, I offer this haiku from my poetry archives:

Dragon brings the rain,
Drops like tiny pearls falling,
Seeding the rice fields.

The Custom-er is always Happy, part 2

Blame Canada-- well at least a Canadian girl with remarkable hair! Ordinary hair sticks are just too small to hold her luxurious locks so she custom ordered 11 inch, gem topped creations. We worked together on the choice of stones. Moonstone and turquoise/ malachite and pearl, on the different pairs. It's a delicate but elegant look.
And it's given me another idea. Sticks *this* long are big enough for knitting needles. And I know fancy knitting needles have their market.
Today's poem. Well, I'm proud of how things are going with my art/artisan work. So, I give you my poem on pride.







Pride

A thousand trumpets
Sing their clarion
Call to triumph,
An echo of the
Leaping soul-song.
To split the sky,
Etch names in stone,
Command the wind
Takes but a thought.

This glory must be shared!
Know, all, your beauty,
Wisdom, power, and measureless
Potential, heady as wine.
‘Til drunk with joy, we
Stop to rest, and savor
Sweet achievement.

The Custom-er is always Happy

Some artists don't really like doing custom work. It compromises their artistic integrity, or it makes them feel like a worker rather than facing it with inspiration.
I actually LOVE doing custom work, at least I have every time I've been given the chance. Of course, working with my own ideas is fun and creative, but it feels even more exciting for me to *stretch* myself by working with someone, to create something I wouldn't have, solely by my own effort. Just for instance, I tend to prefer very clear, strong colors: fuschia and cobalt, black and red; such combinations as the pure paints yield.
When a buyer was looking for an abstract with light brown, beige and light green, though, I found it intriguing. It made me think of leaves against sand, or a bit of forest undergrowth-- but she wanted geometric, not organic, design. Even more intriguing.
What do such peaceful colors suggest in a geometric style? Stability. Tranquility. But an art piece should also suggest a dynamic side, so I conceived of a sphere for stability and rays for motion.
This top picture was my initial foray, to see if that general concept would work. With a request to tone down the green (She was right-- the green was highly mixed with white, but still dried darker than wet) and approval to add a few more rays for balance, I ended up with the second and final version. We were both happy with it, and as it fit well in a priority envelope, it should be in her hands about now.