MEGAN AUMAN

Join the mailing list be the first to know about new jewelry and art, classes, and writing!

marking time

by Leave a Comment

Part way through bowl #4, I started tracing the rim of the bowl to see the progression of the diameter.  I like that it makes this reverse tree ring sort of effect – marking the history of my bowl.
It also reminds me of a chapter in Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, where he traces the history of the county by the rings in the tree they are cutting into for firewood.

4 and 5

by 1 Comment

I meant to post this on Thursday, but the day got away from me…
Bowl #4 is progressing rather slowly, because I’m trying to bring the sides up to vertical, so I went ahead and started #5.  I’m experimenting with different forms to try to see what works for me.  I keep asking myself, “what does a megan bowl look like?”

#4

by 4 Comments

When I left the studio on Thursday night, I was really disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to do any raising again until Tuesday.  And by yesterday afternoon, I was jonesing to get started on bowl #4.
I’m not sure why I’ve been so compelled to do suddenly do all this raising.  It started as a desire to remind myself that I knew how to do it.  Its been almost three years since I taught the raising class, and I just wanted to check in with my muscle memory.
But raising one bowl probably should have fulfilled that.  Instead, I moved right on to the next one.  Perhaps its because the process is so gratifying – to go from a flat sheet of metal to something that can hold water.  Or perhaps because the process is so physical compared to most of the work I’ve been doing lately.  Its really gratifying to know that I’ve wrestled that flat sheet into exactly the form that I wanted.  (Or sometimes not quite the form I’m after.)
And there’s a small part of me that is thinking if I continue out this exploration, perhaps I’ll get to a place where this works its way into my collection.  I love the new items I’ve been designing, but I feel like so many people laser cut.  I want to see if I can bring back a level of skill to my work that is indicative of seven years of higher education in metalsmithing.  I want to distinguish myself from the pack.
I don’t really have all the answers, but I plan on continuing this exploration – making and thinking as I go.

the cutest dead animals

by 1 Comment

Thanks for all your feedback on my last post!  Certainly lots of things to think about.
I wanted to share a few of the concept images that my brother made for an animation he is working on.  You can read more about it on his blog.  I just love the color palette and the simple, graphic quality of the animals.  I think he should sell some of the concept art as prints in his Etsy shop.  Don’t you?

the return of ornaments?

by 7 Comments

 
With only about 2 months to go until New York Gift, I’m really thinking hard about what products I’m going to have in my booth.  I would really like to bring the ornaments into my wholesale line, but I’ve got a few decisions to make.  I think the ornaments will be a good addition because they sell at a lower price point, and since this is an August show, buyers will be looking for holiday items.

However, I’m concerned that in their current incarnation, they won’t fit into the modern, graphic aesthetic I’m trying to convey in my booth and with my brand.  So here are my questions:
Do I just focus on imagery using my loop leaf shape so that it relates to my other work, and forgo the more obvious holiday imagery?
Do I limit the metals – just steel instead of copper?  And if I’m using steel, do I powder coat, paint, or leave them bare?
Should I use a different hanging method?  Something simpler and cleaner than the ribbon?  Or do they need a hanging method at all?  Is a hole enough, and then people can supply their own hook?
These are changes that I’m considering for a wholesale line of the ornaments – the original version could still be available in my Etsy shop.
So, what should I do?  Your thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your help!

the jig is up

by 1 Comment

When I was in grad school, I used to marvel at how quickly my friend Corey could raise a bowl.  Turns out that with a little practice and some 22 gauge copper, I too can raise a bowl in an afternoon.  Corey, I’m on to you!
(Actually, I could never hold a candle to Corey’s metalsmithing skills.  I own two of her bowls, and my bowls could never be in the same room as hers.  They would just be embarrassed.)

following along

by 1 Comment

Wow, it does seem like its been difficult to find time to blog these last couple of weeks.  My weekends have been filled with lots of bike rides and spending time outdoors.  And during the week, I’ve been wrapped up in teaching my class and playing in the studio.
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been working on the projects along with my class.  So I thought I’d share a process shot from the Pop-up Lighting Project.  The idea behind this project is to create a piece of lighting by piercing a sheet of metal and then make it three-dimensional by some combination of bending and forming, slots and tabs, or cold connections.  I’m making a pair of candlestick holders.

summer school

by 3 Comments

As I mentioned before, I’m teaching a summer session class – Jewelry for Non-Art Majors.  I’ve never taught a summer class or a non-majors class before, so I really had no idea what to expect.
Well, I’m happy to say I’m loving it.  I’m the only faculty member teaching in our studio, so I have the place to myself.  My students are fantastic – fun and curious and so excited about everything they’re learning.  Their first project was a cuff bracelet, and I’m very happy with the results.  (And I love this picture, its like I’ve got a whole class of Wonder Woman or She-Ra Princess of Power.)
In fact, I actually have time to make the projects along with them!  Its great because I get to work on something for fun, and its really helping me evaluate what does and doesn’t work in each project.
Plus, I’ve been treating the days I teach as my own mini summer art camp.  Most afternoons after my students leave, I’ve been staying to work in the studio (which I have all to myself).  Its so fun to work on things I can’t do in my own studio because I don’t have those tools – I’ve even been doing some raising!  (If you went to school with me at all, you’ll understand how crazy that last statement is.)  And I’m letting myself work with no finished product or goal in mind – just experimentation and some good old fashioned metalsmithing.
I promise to share pics of what I’m working on soon.  I’m so excited to see where all this creative freedom is going to take me!

happy weekend!

by 2 Comments

Wow, I can’t believe its Friday already!  I’ve been meaning to post these pics of my peonies all week, but it just hasn’t happened until today.  This week was the first week of the summer class I’m teaching, and between prepping, commuting, and other odds and ends, this week has just flown by.  But I’m so happy its the weekend!
I have a little confession – I may love flowers, but when it comes to gardening I have a black thumb.  Luckily, these peonies were planted by our home’s previous owner and come back strong every year.  And they were so pretty I couldn’t resist cutting a few to bring into the house.