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Once I realized I wanted to not only start painting again, but to start sharing and selling those paintings, I found myself wondering how to do that in a way that was cohesive with my existing jewelry brand.
Turns out I shouldn’t have been that worried, because after giving myself room to play, I’m starting to settle into a body of work that feels related to my jewelry but also has a voice of its own.
A couple of months back, I shared that I had moved this chair from my MFA thesis into my current studio. What I didn’t share is that one of my big goals (that I could never seem to get around to) was to actually share both the images and text from my thesis on my website.
But finally, only 13 years after I actually completed my thesis, I have FINALLY published my MFA thesis on my website. I’m so proud of not only the work, but the research that went into this project, and it continues to inform not only the designs of my jewelry but how I think about the world to this day.
So if you’re curious to know more about this project, you can see images and read the full text here!
When it comes to jewelry, there’s no metal I love more than steel. But in the hottest, most humid days of summer (like we’re experiencing here in Pennsylvania right now) silver is the way to go. While I’m definitely known for my mixed metal designs, I do have a few all silver pieces in my collection, like these silver stacking rings (with my distinctive welded connection) and the silver Modular necklace.
This silver Modular necklace was what I wore pretty much every day on my last trip to India (where I was sourcing stones for the Contra Collection), so you know it can stand up to the heat.
I really love the way these three paintings from my newest body of work look when grouped together. (Especially with a pair of plants in my Elizabeth Benotti planters.) I’m hoping to release this new batch of work into my online store next week, so if you have your eye on one of these paintings (or the whole group) be sure to join my mailing list!
I tried to share this image of a few new paintings in my studio today on Instagram (twice) but IG is giving me fits, so I’m sharing it here on my blog instead! Kind of makes me feel justified in the fact that I’ve been mostly taking a break from Instagram.
This weekend I went down to Southern Delaware to visit my brother and he suggested we check out the new Rise Up Coffee Shop in Rehoboth Beach, and of course I couldn’t resist snapping a pic or two in front of their great black and white walls.
I mentioned in this post that last weekend I went to Renegade Brooklyn to shop! (And to check on one of the members of my online mentorship program.) But that tiny planter wasn’t the only new piece of Elizabeth Benotti ceramics I brought home from the show!
I also picked up this gorgeous teal and striped planter. Technically it’s a hanging planter, but it looks so good on this shelf with my peperomia scandens that for now, that’s where it’s staying. It’s definitely a huge improvement over the boring plain white planter it used to live in. (Which you can see in this post.)
As I was working on this current group of paintings, I suddenly felt the urge to make a few with a bright, intense blue! So I did! And I know I’m not supposed to play favorites, but the first image is definitely my (current) favorite painting of the group!
Though I am pretty happy with these guys as well…
It turns out that succulents are super easy to propagate. You just pop a leaf off, let it chill on some dirt, and soon it start to sprout roots and then a tiny succulent appears! I pretty much propagated this one by accident, but now I’m obsessed!
I keep expanding the gallery wall in my studio as I make more and more tiny oil paintings. (Though as you can see, I am starting to paint some slightly bigger paintings as well.) This is proof that you don’t have to plan a gallery wall in advance, instead, you can let it grow organically as your art collection grows. (And you can always fill in blank spaces with plants!)