Perfect Cleavage

My colleague Jack Bigio did me a huge favor by sharing his in studio photography set up today. Who knew what plastic and a glue gun could do. It's a kunzite stone that was one in a friend's gem collection. It is very soft (because of it's perfect cleavage, which is pretty funny stone speak) so said girlie has to be extra careful with this one. I carved the band in soft wax and created a flame-like texture along the side, lightly hammered look on the top and a branchlike finish along the bottom. I then cast in 18k green gold. Wax carving is so rewarding!

My first blog...a tribute to Malice

Welcome to my inaugural blog! I've created this space in an attempt to document the things and people that inspire me and my work. And, a day before my birthday, I thought it appropriate to dedicate the post to my mom, M'alice Wimmer. In the past few years I have been most drawn to her silverpoint drawings. Even though she named this nest after my older brother, I find it to be a sublime rendering. I love the subject matter as well as the process. She uses a tip of sharpened fine silver and draws onto paper that is prepared with gesso.  The marks oxidize and darken over time. The stark composition combined with the complexity of the nest make this very appealing. I wish I had moms patience to draw, much less the talent, but I can most likely thank her for my obsessive need to work with my hands and much of my aesthetic sensibilities. Thanks, M'Alice! Here are some other favorites, courtesy of her gallery, Tori Folliard: