And also from the seed series,
a bird seed!
[100% sterling construction, 14 karat gold, enameled seed constructed by me and fired by me in my kiln:::i love being able to say that something is 100% handcrafted by me]
This little enameled seed managed to grow a delicate vine and then a patchwork bird with a golden wingtip.
Today I set out to continue work on the seed series and a magnificent whim or two carried me in beautiful new directions. One result is this necklace. The other results are half finished on my studio workbench.
One of the best things about my job is for the most part, I always feel free to follow those whims. They can be trusted in and they nearly always lead me into delightful new territory where the sun shines just so and the dapples on the forest floor light up the shadowed spaces with a kind of persuasion that falls outside the wavy boundaries of my naturalist vocabulary. Of course, I add the knew knowledge to the fecund foundations of my right lobe, I sketch a quick mental picture in my bulging hippocampus and if I’m especially moved, I translate the experience into metal.
I suppose that’s the point of all of this.
Translating.
I want to break those experiences down and share the vocabulary I’ve collected.
If I do the job well, there will be an organic verve to the finished product. You’ll be able to tell I gleaned the concept from the cheat grasses, the underside of rocks, the sound of birds on the wing. And then, if the translation pricks something in your heart and mind and soul, you’ll claim it as your own and carry that translation around on your body. You’ll interact with me in this way. You’ll take something that is mine and adopt it as your own. And some day when you give that piece of us to a daughter or niece or sister or friend, she’ll carry us both and the translation and definition of a design inspired by the natural world.
Piece of me.
You.
The world around us.
Emotions, lessons, frail beauty, strong winds: tethered tight to constructions of metal and stone.
Art is tremendously interesting, in this way.
In fact, I’m fascinated by the thought of how connected I am to you because of what parts of me you carry with you. Do you ever think of that? I do. When I’m swinging a hammer I can’t help but wonder who will carry the newest piece of me and how the experience will translate when carried by someone new.
This is a seed.
These are all seeds.
I’m glad to watch them grow.
xx
and this is why i [we]e support you as an artist.
i can't wait to see where this carries you jillian!!
*we.
but "WEEEEEE" sounds just about right there, too!
Amen, sister.
breathtakingly wonderful!
Truly magnificent!
My co-worker saw my new "rumors" ring and she said "that ring is ginormous, even for you. But it is really cool. Can I touch it? oh, there is something in there? oh, it's a pearl…" and a friend said it looked like a turtle.. made me laugh..it is definitely a head turner though, I have seen a few double takes and a shout out "I like your ring"…
you gather the seeds, we will carry the seeds and plant them wherever we may go….oui?
that bird is perfection!
So much freedom in your true, organic art to express who you are and what the free world around us is. No lies, nothing hidden, no contraints. I think we all long for that kind of freedom: true connection with those around us, with what is around us, our true self connecting, holding nothing back, being accepted for who we are. I wonder if that is one piece of you that each wearer of your art carries, the true freedom to break out and be completely themselves. What a beautiful, precious gift.
You take my breath away!
You have outdone yourself AGAIN!!! Thank you for the pieces of you shared with us….thank you for the depth of your inspiration of the world around…
Your work is gorgeous! I heard about you from a friend named Melissa who I met in Parker, AZ while riding my horse through there from L.A., headed to New Hampshire. She was wearing one of your pieces. I will have to get one myself once this ride is over and I am settled back in NH! Can't wait!
Lovely how you take everything to the next level, and transcend it.
I love talking art with you. It's like breathing and running and seeing and growing: just another intrinsic part of this life that naturally flows from our heartstrings.
I love these seeds.
Simply gorgeous, Jillian!!!! You inspire me to look more closely at the little things that we seem to speed past in our hurry from one point to another. It really is about the journey & what you find along the way.
Pam
Communication:
You make it, it's yours. It speaks to me and becomes mine. People ask me about it and it's ours in stories of inspiration and evocation. Maybe that elicits something in them. And so on, sown.
I love that you bond with and test drive your work before you let it go!
xx
D
wow what a lovely piece of art =)
i love how every little piece is so unique and each has a story to tell, thank you for sharing your beautiful work !
a new friend =)
hmmm……?
Thanks for these lovely comments, chickadees!
hmmn..