It's a New Year

'Girl with Pacific Frog Prince' shadowbox 6x6" graphite,
gouache, paper, wood, glass;  brooches: 'Pacific Frog Prince'
1.5" diameter, sterling silver, paper, gouache, glass lens, 'Orb'
1"diameter, sterling silver, paper, gouache, glass lens

Please join us for 'Bewitched,  Bothered and Bewildered'

This jewelry show at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle is opening February 3, 2016 from 5 to 8pm 

and running through the 23rd. 

Also, Guy Anderson and Skagit Women Print and Friends 

at Schack Art Center in Everett, WA on now and running through

February 27th.

Quality of life

'Every Dark Cloud' Shadowbox 12x10" brooches: sterling silver, graphite,

colored pencil, mica; photograph, wood, plastic; Kathleen Faulkner

Sometimes I wonder if we'll make it.  Mother has cancer, we are losing whole species everyday and there's a lot of fear and hate out there.  

Struggle, strife.. everyone I know is struggling.  The artists really have it tough.  You can't eat art.  There  is no barter system to pay for health insurance or the electric bill.  Some days it seems overwhelming.

It is a time when one has to decide on priorities. There's a fork in the road.  One path is smoother, easier,  the other path may not go all the way through and the terrain is steep and rocky.  The smooth path has it's downfalls, though.  Younger is better, college degrees help, and, of course, a stable partner.. still, it's not a given. The rough path really asks nothing except to be true to oneself. Older can be better, degrees don't matter but passion is a must. The rough path has absolutely no guarantees and it's steep terrain is dangerous. It is a precarious yet intensely inspiring path,  if you make it.

My silver lining is called freedom: the independence and the joy in doing what I do.  I'm not talking about Apple Pie here.  This isn't an American Dream,  far from it.  I have chosen the steep and rocky path  and it's hard and I get worried and wonder if I'll end up falling off the cliff but, I wouldn't have it any other way.  On my death bed I will not be filled with regret.  

Digital photo; Kathleen Faulkner

'I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living'  Robert Henri

Tribe

*'Birds of a Feather', Shadowbox with Brooch; Kathleen Faulkner

There are many thoughts among artists regarding the art community and what that means.  

Some see it as one nonstop, cutthroat competition.  Everyone wanting what someone else has/gets, congratulating, but feeling pangs of jealousy as the words come out.  Wondering out loud why one gets into a show but someone else doesn't, who deserves it and who doesn't. 

Then there are those who see this community as a 'tribe' that all artists belong to.  Most artists I know think like this.

We are all just trying to survive.  We, in the art community, all want the same things:  to be able to survive while having the time and inspiration to make art.  

That tells me that we are all on the same side and, like 'birds of a feather',  we should think about sticking together.

*Brooch: sterling silver, wood, paper, ink, colored pencil

This shadowbox is in the 'Birds' show at Smith & Vallee Gallery in Edison, WA

Dear Ruth,

*'Various Pins' various sizes and materials, Kathleen Faulkner

I was asked how I execute my ideas:  Do I draw and plan everything out before hand or do I just make it as I go?

The answer is both.  Although I mostly just make it as I go,  I sometimes draw ideas in my journal simply because, if I didn't, I'd forget the inspiration by the next day..  The pieces above were seat of the pants technique without any notes.
Shadowboxes  on the other hand, are always drawn out and planned ahead of construction.  Composition has to be considered differently  and dimensions.  I have a hard time with the construction of it.  I have to pay attention, switch my thinking.  Precision has always been a weak link and I prefer to create as I go, loosely.

Doing it my way can pose problems, though.  It is not a fun time when you've been working on something that you're really excited about only to find that the construction is not working. Craft demands excellent craftsmanship so planning ahead is required. The fish, for example, was a moment of curling a piece of wire that turned into a fish but, soldering the skin was difficult because I didn't plan it out.  


Working loosely allows me to let it go where it wants,  sometimes in a wanderlust direction.  Once it gets there I feel good.




*upper left hand clockwise:  ''To' 2.5x3", fine and sterling silver, patina; 'I Am A Fish' sterling silver, plastic, Kathleen Faulkner; 'Ridget' approx .5x1.5", sterling silver, driftwood, Kathleen Faulkner; 'Bird' sterling silver, copper, patina, Kathleen Faulkner

Window Dressing

  

'Window Dressing' 10x8x2", shadowbox, sterling silver, mica, 

colored pencil, japanese origami paper

Kathleen Faulkner

The weekend is almost upon us.  It's been a tough week.  

We've had the passing of three legendary artists*, the gulf is in ruins, it rained for 18 days straight and my garden: what didn't drown has been eaten alive. 

As all this is out of my control, I've decided to spiff up and head out to the art openings this weekend.  Nothing like seeing good art to change one's perspective.

Here's what's happening:
First Friday Art Walk in Anacortes;  many galleries and events, of note is 'Paintings and Pottery' by Cathy Shoenberg at Anne McCool Gallery,  711 Commercial
As well, the old fire station at 1011 12th,  just west of Commercial, is now an art center.  I haven't been there yet, but it sounds intriguing.  'This Woman's Work' a festival for women of our community: art,  live music and a community potluck.  7 - 11pm.
Anchor Art Center is in the midst of 'Long Drawn Out Process', a group exhibition of drawing and installation,  May 7 through June 26th,  216 Commercial
 Read about it here


Gallery Cygnus, paintings of Nick Fennel and sculpture of Robert E Gigliotti
The show runs June 4th thru the 27th, the opening is Friday, June 4th,  6-8pm
The gallery is located at 109 Commercial across from Maple Hall in LaConner.
 Read about it here


This opening is on Saturday, June 5th 5-8pm in beautiful downtown Edison:
Smith and Vallee Gallery is showing the paintings of Tod Horton, sculptures by Peregrine O'Gormley and works on paper by Chelsea Jepson.  I hear there will be musical entertainment, as well.
Read about it here


I will need Sunday to create  after all that inspiration.


*   Louise Bourgeois  
*   Tobias Wong
*   Mari Funaki

A Bird in the Hand

 

'A Bird in the Hand', 10x8x2", shadowbox, colored pencil, sterling silver, glass lens

Kathleen Faulkner

The Pacific Northwest is world renowned for it's jewelry artists. Ramona Solberg, Ron Ho, Mary Lee Hu, Keith Lewis, and Kiff Slemmons have all called this area home and the list goes on.  The Northwest is as well known for it's jewelry artists as it is for it's glass.

Lots of competition

I came upon the idea of shadowboxes as an answer to a couple questions: how to combine drawing with metal and how to create something different to bring to the table.   These shadowboxes hang on the wall, can be opened from the back and the two brooches you see above can be removed and worn.
I've always been intrigued by idioms and word play so, I thought, why not illustrate them?  What resulted is a new series of work.  We'll see where this goes..


The most prestigious art jewelry gallery in the Northwest is Facere Gallery located in Seattle... a most amazing place.

Browse Facere Jewelry Art Gallery exhibits here    

Walking on Eggshells

"Walking on Eggshells" 10x8x2" sterling silver, paper, mica, photograph, shadowbox; 

Kathleen Faulkner

I'm in the process of registering my blog.  It is a bit confusing in more ways than one.  I feel, at times, like I'm walking on eggshells.  Please bare with me and thank you for viewing my blog.