Jury Photos

I've finished applying to all of my spring and early summer shows! What a relief. These are just a few jury photos I selected of some of my newer work.

Creative Process

So I was thinking about my own creative process and how I go about creating work and I found a really great parallel between my methods and the scientific Chaos Theory. In science Chaos theory is about finding the underlying order in apparently random data. I thought about this and how closely related it is to how I work, from nothing comes something. I took the example of assigned projects and I came up with a loose progression from start to finished product:

1) research everything even remotely connected to the topic
2) gather all types of media from all different sources that relate to the topic somehow
3) begin sketches using research and media
4) par down ideas based on difficulty, materials, and time
5) choose the strongest ideas and make maquettes
6) get feedback from others
7) begin working

although it seems orderly on paper, it really isn't in real life, there are lots frustrating mental blocks along the way and aimless tangents that most often turn out to be dead ends and many other problems and hours of just thinking. It always amazes me when I actually finish a project. I'm always wondering how I ever got to the end!

Blood Diamonds Project Ideas

After watching the Blood Diamonds documentary, I confirmed my feeling that no matter how many images I see of the Civil War in Africa I will never be able to put myself in their situation completely. It is just too horrific of an experience that I who lives an extravagantly comfortable and secure life in comparison will never ever be able to even imagine what they have gone through. This is why for my project I think I am going to explore the idea that stemmed from the diamond market being flooded with surplus diamonds during and after the African Civil War that was fueled by the mining of conflict diamonds. I want to capture the idea that contrary to everyday belief, diamonds are not as rare a find as they are made to look like. I want to depict the diamond not as an expensive rarity of eternal love but as a banal expendable commodity that no one should shed blood over. I want to show that the diamond is just a rock. my sources are coming from old toys, Andy Warhol and images of jail shackles.

Super Rings

In honor of the Super Bowl and my ongoing diamond research, I dug around and found some interesting facts about the big rings the Super Bowl champs get to show off.

- The Super Bowl will pay for up to $5,000 for up to 150 rings.
- Some rings in years past have been appraised at over $20,000.
- Many rings have diamonds shaped like the Vince Lombardi trophy.
- The 2005 Patriots ring is said to be worth the most with 124 diamonds and 3 marquee diamonds all set in white gold.

Even with all those diamonds, the rings remind me of school class rings.

Mintd Fresh

www.Mintd.com

I just found a new site that looks very very promising! Mintd is a very Etsy esque beginner of a selling site for up and coming artisans of all kinds. It is by no means as user friendly as Etsy but it is much cheaper by comparison, it is only $50 a year to list 50 items or free for the first 3 items, and more respectably for more items. I was just looking and they seem to have a really good following so far and is something I will be joining in the next few months. It is very exciting to see new selling venues for artists! Too bad I can't buy stock in Mintd, I have a feeling it will be growing rapidly in the next few years!

...o by the way, check out my Etsy supply site for some exceptional gemstones:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5175001

Etsy Buy Handmade AppusDesign

Sparkling Sidetrack

Watched Blood Diamond again and I was researching more on Conflict diamonds when I sidetracked and ended up searching for the most diamond encrusted apparel. here is what I Found: 1) Victorias Secret Fantasy Bra 2006 worth $4.5 million 2) $1 million diamond shoes 3) A $1 million dress covered in natural color diamonds. All I can say is, it's gotta be heavy!