Jane Wynn's Studio

Date with the Devil...

Well- a very dashing devilish and oh so charming gentleman ~!

I am finally getting a chance to get out to Los Angeles to see my friend Chris Cooper and I can not be more excited to get a few days to just get away.

He had asked me to come out to LA for some time now- but I just didn't think I could ever swing it- I do not know why? I seem to always put up these big mental road blocks...
However- somehow things just seem to click in my weird life...

Coop's next solo painting show opens May 29th, 2009 at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.

Thomas surprised me with a "get away weekend" otherwise known as a well needed mini-vacation. It is only for 3 days, but in these 3 days I hope to absorb lots of art and counter-culture while I am soaking up the sun.

(HA! Practicing my "I am a movie-star" look in preparation for the trip! HA!)
More about this later-now I need to finish my coffee and get a few more things finished before I pack up the studio and car and head down to Virginia tomorrow. XoX

NOTE:  PLEASE do not make BIG mental Road Blocks like I do! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! It really is... you just have to figure out what "it" is...

Namaste

I posted this on ETSY shop tonight because I felt it was time...

Every once in a while, there will come a piece of jewelry which makes a difference in something that I am doing or effects the way I am feeling.

This little bunny speaks VOLUMES to one of these "times".

I love this piece more than words and yet... I feel as if I need to let go of it. I never intended on keeping it when I was making it. I was simply making a little home for a silly plastic toy I found at a flea market. But it became much more to me when he was sitting pretty in the safety of his new home. Poor little thing, sun-bleached and over looked.

I look at him each day and think to myself- "Why have I not posted this yet?" and I move onto to other things. I see him each morning as I sit down to work (as I have him hanging on my light at my workbench and can not help but see him as I turn on the light) He is also the last thing I see before I head back in to the house after a long day of work. This is how he got his name- "Namaste". Fitting no? Ahhh the power of words...

And so tonight is the night. After a typical and very long day in the studio, with my hands aching from too much filing and sanding, I shut off my light and looked at him and thought that today just might be the day.

I came in, ate a quick dinner and went to take a nap to recharge my batteries and when I woke I thought... Now.

Here is the description from my Shop (WynnStudio.etsy.com)- If it is meant to be... then it is time.

Namaste
*++*+**+*++**+*++**+*++*+**+*++**+*++**+*++*+**+*++**+*++**+*++*+**+*++**+*++**+*++*+**+*++**+*++**+

This dear sweet little bunny's name is "Namaste"-meaning:"I bow to that (divinity) inherent in you."

I found this little charming toy at a flea market in Pennsylvania. All which was left of him was a light dusting of pink in his ears. All of this paint had come clean over the years. I took him home along with 7 of his brothers and cleaned him up and repainted him. I thought it was only fitting that I give him a very honorable home in this tiny hand-made shrine.

This little box is made from brass, has a clear plexi-glass front, and salvaged jewelry parts. One might even call it very "Eco-Friendly" or "Green" as it is 90% recycled "stuff".

The necklace measures approx- 20 inches around and is held tightly in place by strong lobster clasp.

*I made this little reliquary for someone very special. Although I do not know your name yet- this necklace will be the bridge from me to you. I hold this piece so very near and dear to my heart. I know you will give it a lovely home.

xox

Its just who I am...

Today...
While I was working in my studio, I put my coffee cup down and went inside to wash some of my bezels clean. When I returned I went to pick up my coffee cup and saw a house fly with his head almost under the sea of brown. I quickly grabbed a corner of a napkin and hoisted him out. I took a cap full of water and washed him off and began CPR on him by blowing on him. His two front little arms were all folded up and the more I tried to move him, the more it seemed as if he was a goner. I didn't give up hope and I kept lightly blowing on him. I finally just set up down and I whispered to him that I knew he could do it.

About 20 minutes passed and I got back up from my workbench and walked over to check on him. I honestly thought he had totally passed. I lifted up the napkin and took a look at him and noticed his little head move. So I began to lightly blow on him some more and his little arm uncurled. He was very slow and I placed him back down and left him to recover.

Before I shut down for the afternoon, I took one last peek at him and saw that he was moving around freely... and as I turned out the light, I thought I saw him give me a little thumbs up.

When I think of others killing things like flies, it makes me cringe as I truly love coexisting with nature.

This is how I spent my Earth Day...

Okay- back to the workbench- There are BEZELS to make!

From found object to a beloved pendant!

My dear friend River send me a box of simple goodies he had gathered for years of hunting and gathering...
In it were a lot of FUN things- including this:

A little plastic wheel with a compass inside!

I transformed it from this- to THAT!







I will now never feel as if I am lost again!

Want to know more of what is ticking in my brain!?!

• Arcangelo Productions :: Art and Life Workshops
  October 30th- November 6th 2009- Cortona Italy "Reliquary to Decadence"
• Art Retreat Workshops and Art Festival by Art and Soul Retreat
  Sept 30-Oct 5, 2009 Art & Soul Oregon
• Art Unraveled 2008 -- A Premier Art Retreat
  August 4-11
• Valley Ridge Art Studio: Specializing in Art Workshops on Book Arts, Mixed Media and more
  July 17, 2009 - July 19, 2009
• A Fort Collins, Colorado Art Boutique Featuring Eclectic Artwork by Local Artisans.
  June 5-7, 2009
• Art Retreat Workshops and Art Festival by Art and Soul Retreat
  April 30-May 4, 2009: Art & Soul Hampton Virginia

Happy Tuesday to you... more from me in a little bit- as I am working on making new work for Art & Soul- Hampton Virginia next week! Photos coming shortly.
xox

P.S. See more FUN FOUND OBJECTS HERE: http://www.flickr.com/groups/thethrillofthethrift/pool/

It's what I do...

I made these today for some New upcoming jewelry pieces- that I am making for Art & Soul Retreat- in Hampton Virginia April 30- May 4th. (They still need some cleaning and polishing... but I wanted to share a photo with you...)

I am teaching a class called "3096 - Captured! Bezel Setting for Found Object Jewelry"
***I will be sharing techniques which I have used in the pieces above- and then some!***

There are a few more openings if you are CURIOUS!!! Haa!

I am also teaching: 3097 - Pipe Dreams! and 3098 - Altered Curiosities- The Illuminated Shrine
I look forward to seeing you there- and other of you around the country this year!

xox
j a n e

You will learn so much...

If you think that I am all about jewelry?
I am way beyond that...
I try and find ways to incorporate all of these techniques in different ways- like for instance- this little dolly-

Poor little dolly... She was a mess! Missing arms, no eyes, and her hair was falling off.

So I decided that she needed a crown of sorts- so I made one for her!

Using metal and setting 3 bezels for gems.

I then found some tiny antlers and added them carefully!

I attached her arms and added back her hair.

Now I am trying out some scenery for her little environment.
Of course she needs LOTS more attention...

But she is coming along slowly.
So much to do- tone down the colors, add all sorts of things, Add my little lights and paint on eyes! Haa!

But I think my point is- The things I learn in one discipline certainly bleed over into other things for sure!

SO... if you are interested in learning more? Stay tuned!
I have SO MUCH TO SHOW YOU!
xox

On Being FEARLESS!

Maybe it is something in the air lately?
Maybe it is something inside of me...

But I decided to take lessons on how to paint like the Dutch Masters- yes! Paint...
Something I have wanted to do for SO LONG and never had the time, money, courage.
Well I am still not sure if I have the money and the courage- but now is the time!

Tell me- have you felt like your life has been on "auto-pilot"?
Goodness... do something about it!
SEIZE THE DAY!

You are not getting younger, time is not going to wait, there is never a better time than the present...

Well- those are the voices that have been swelling in my mind lately.

This time I am paying attention.
I call it SPRING!

So I am going to call my instructor tomorrow and find out the specifics.
I am excited to learn how to grind my own pigments! Mmm-pigments!

In the meantime- I finished my little odd awkward painting today- FINALLY!

and I even got back to work on this one:

"Infant of Cats"- with a cat on his head and a ball of yarn in his hands...
It is good to be so challenged in life...

So maybe this is the message from the Universe workings it way through me to you...
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today!