Is Rust a Must?

Silver Ore from Bolivia

Silver Bars from the Mines of Moria (just kidding)

Rare Silver Sword Plant from the Big Island of Hawaii

Silver Lab Puppy

Silver Platters at Auction

Things have been awfully silent at my blog for the past week--there are just so many hours in a day unfortunately...

I started thinking about the concept of "silver" today after going through the collection of packaging papers I sometimes use for collage and noticing that gold accents outnumbered silver about 5 to 1. That's funny when you realize that silver is the most abundant precious element. Or maybe that's actually why gold seems more popular in popular culture. The piece I'm working on is sort of lavender (for now) and in keeping with my new monochromatic thing I want to add some silver-ish pieces, not too shiny though. In the meantime I wanted to post a few "silver" images I came across.

For some reason, I'm not attracted to rust per se, unless it's got some kind of finish on it so it doesn't flake off everywhere. I loved this post at ArtPropelled, but rust doesn't seem to be my passion (though I've learned to never say never!) Maybe for the same reason pastel isn't--I don't really like touching either one! Is that really strange? Maybe you're the same way?

Serendipitous Opps

Diamondback Terrapin, 4 panels 6"x6", mixed media collage series, ©2009 Deborah Jaouen

Back in July, I hinted at a couple of local exhibition opportunities that I was pursuing. One of them is the Wild Rabbit Cafe and the other was the Peninsula Fine Arts Center gift shop, which is run by a most capable and engaging person, Jo. August was such a busy month for me getting my new college boy off to school among other pastimes--that we didn't really connect, so I hadn't met her until yesterday, when we had a meeting that was really a lot of fun! I had planned to take 3 small mixed media collage series for the gift shop and that was all, but at the last minute I packed a lot of recent and not so recent work and Jo liked it all. It was also a good time as she was looking for a new artist to feature--so now I will have a wall with around 18 works in the art center just in time for the Biennial opening on October 1. Everything always does work out for the best, right?

Salt Water

image ©2009 Marine Jaouen

One of my favorite quotes to begin the weekend!

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.
Isak Dinesen

New in My Little Shop

Things are happening in my Etsy shop! I'm listing more and more items, so please pop over at your convenience--I'd love your visit. This is a little papier mache box with an eggshell mosaic on the inside of the lid. Looks like I like nests, and eggs. Not so much chickens, though. Although I will admit to a weakness for bird imagery!

Fruits of My Labor Day

Yin Yang Louis XVI ©Deborah Jaouen 2010 mixed media 16" x 24"

Labor Day is one of my favorite holidays, because 1)it's always a weekend, 2)the weather is always nice, even here in Virginia--today there's a delightful tropical-esque breeze, 3)there is no cooking or present buying involved, and 4) I'm always sure to get a few days off around my birthday--I was born on Labor Day, which I've always found very clever of my mom.

This is the piece I've been working on, on and off for awhile. I'm pretty sure it's finished, all it needs are some screws to hold the hinges on securely. It can be hung on the wall or propped up like an open book. It has so many layers, details and elements--I've tried to unify them with a semi monochromatic look or else it all would have been too much. I used an oil based glaze, cast resin architectural details, acrylic, 2 encaustic paintings, the kitchen sink.... I'm so done!

Happy Labor Day!