As we continue our orrery project, it is time to blow the glass planets. As the whole piece is only 6 feet in diameter, that means we have less than 3 feet to fit in 8 planets (they didn’t want Pluto). To get the planets to fit, be relative scale (impossible to be “actual” scale), and not clunk into each other, the inner planets need to be fairly small.
I really wish I had more time to myself to paint these little watercolors. I am quite enjoying them. I think it’s not only the learning a new process thing, but also that I don’t have to make them look like anything. Most of our art pieces have to end up looking like something (a rocket or portrait…) or performing some function (like holding up a table). I have always wanted to be more loose in my paintings, to paint or create more abstract or impressionist pieces, but that so rarely happens.
Now you can have one of your own. In blown glass, no less, with a flame and everything. This is the sixth in a series that has been a big hit. Who knew!?
We’ve got a couple of big ones that are really retro Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon rockets with bulbous bodies and curvy, super-pointed noses that will be coming along in the next few weeks. They’ll be about 10 inches (24.4 cm) tall when complete. This latest one is 3-finned, 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) tall and is really cool; with ribbed fins and tiny oval windows.
I made my own gear yesterday!! I’m so proud of it I could just burst.
A little background - I’m building on orrery (model of the solar system) for the astronomy department of a college in San Mateo, CA. We’ve built similar things, but of course, every new project requires new skills and stuff that we’ve never done before. For this piece - http://celestialgears.com/, it is going to be motorized with a computer driving the planets with correctly timed orbits. The whole piece is 6 feet in diameter.
Solar System Model - Orrery
I am trying new techniques in my watercolor paintings. The result I’m hoping for is to figure out which would be best for an upcoming childrens’ book that I’m writing. It has a lot of flowers and bunnies and such in it, but the simplistic, very muted colors that I see in most bunny childrens books just doesn’t do it for me. I want vivid, rich, beautiful, so I’m trying various things with these ACEOs to see what I like best for my new book.
I’ve been having fun with both the small format of ACEOs (art cards), and also the watrcolor techniques. Since most of my paintings are usually done with acrylics on glass, having the white paper as a start and then having the paints absorb into it are new for me. It takes a lot of getting used to. The biggest thing is getting used to working from back to front instead of details first like I have to do in my glass paintings. I find that I keep putting details down and then they get overrun or covered completely when I have to lay in a bigger wash of color. There are a lot of D’Oh! moments learning a new medium. But it is fun too.
Yesterday’s article was from the collectors’ point of view; what you think artists like ourselves should do. We’re weird, so a lot of that doesn’t apply. Today’s article is about what you, as an artist, are doing or are considering. Both of these articles are inspired by Alyson B. Stanfield, whom we met and follow on Twitter, in her ArtBizCoach Blog.
There are two general schools of thought that sound like a Roadblock on The Amazing Race:
Go for it! or Wait and see….
Examining the Pursuit of Career and Happiness in the
Modern Age.
Decided I’d visit it this topic myself. It is something that crosses my mind every so often; more so now in these uncertain times. It is also the topic of Joy’s blog post a few days ago. I haven’t read hers, not wanting to influence my writing here, although I do know the photos that are there and will reference them. I will read it, once I’ve posted.
Normally, the saying is: “Do one thing, do it well.”
Then there’s: “Variety is the spice of life.”
Should’ve tried again to get some night photography of the Mountain Lions last night. Went out this morning after the Sun was sufficiently high in the sky to check on the progress. Joy carried her Sig-Sauer 239, just in case a startling deterrent might be handy to have in hand. The spot to where the deer was moved two nights ago, between the rock wall and perimeter fence, was vacant! Huh? Where’d they take it? Looking around for a few minutes, I spied it; still inside the rock wall but now on the other side of the big pine between two trees. Probably better shelter from the rain under there.
Went to check the deer today and it was dragged into the rock-walled area under the big pine and next to the perimeter fence. That’s why I couldn’t readily identify it last night when I went out and peered down from the glass studio to see if anyone was around. More of it has been eaten or carried off, so it is now evident that we’re not going to call Fish and Game right away. This is a natural occurrence in the wilderness. We may be in a partially settled area but not really as far as the wildlife are concerned. They were here long before we arrived and this is their territory. We are only borrowing it. If we further impose upon them with our need for disposing of distasteful things, we will rob them of a much needed food supply. There could be cubs that need food.