Ongoing Clear Creek Project

This is part of my ongoing project of collecting pieces of wood from Clear Creek. This hollowed tree was ready to come down; it had been a home for woodpeckers and squirrels, we literally pushed it over. This is the top, about 6 feet long. This is at the acrylic stage, I use cheap acrylics first to decide on color and to fill in the rough parts of the wood.

This is a section, after a layer of oil paint.

The shape is exquisite. I chose the colors based on the waters of the creek, mossy greens, rich browns, reflected sky blues.

Then I added resin for shine. Shine is an important element in almost every piece in this collection.

Ultimately, I would like to light this from underneath. The light would shine through the knot holes. I want this collection to be observed in the dark and the light. Pieces that can be touched, sensual shapes with earthy colors, shiny watery surfaces with the lights on, and in darkness, the shapes of this once living organism can be appreciated separately.

The creek becomes a place where I am constantly hunting for natural shapes to transform.

Tree Mural

A quick project, this took two hours, I used chalk first as a guide. Acrylic

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"Artists for Peace at Home" fundraising show

I'm excited about our show! We will have a wide variety of work. I am basically emptying my studio...unfortunately I can't post these pics to my blog because my laptop is dead.

I posted all my pics to www.facebook.com/#!/artistraerussell.com

Check them out!

Artists for Peace at Home

I'm excited about this event! Peace at Home is a non-profit that helps women escape abusive situations. They provide emergency shelter and transitional housing. This is near and dear to my heart, since many of my works are influenced by my past experiences.
(Im still using my old wedding dress in some of my work.)

This sale will feature holiday gifts, paintings, photography from my sister Ashley King and collage from my other little sis, Trista McVey.
Jewelry from my super talented friend Holly Dupps Ertel! She uses a wide variety of materials in her line, each piece has an interesting story. You can check her out at : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hotzy-Totzy-Jewelry-baubles-beyond/170639626297659

On top of the wide variety of work, the great cause, we also have a great venue:
Tangelwood Branch Beer Company, on south school in Fayetteville. I work at Tanglewood on Thursdays and Saturdays. This is a place where I make a great effort to remember peoples names. We serve a rotating menu based on the Farmers Market, always fresh and gourmet! The best word to describe Tanglewood is "Cheers"
JT Wampler is the Beer Master and Owner, he will be brewing his own beer by the beginning of the year.

Lighted paintings

"New York" close-up, spray paint, enamel, polyurethane
500.00



"Buffalo River" lit from behind, spray paint, oils, polyurethane
650.00




"My Own Prison" Oil, polyurethane on my old wedding dress and lit from behind.
Vertical marks represent each year my ex-husband spends in prison. Draw in the center are herons, known for sacrificing for their offspring.
SOLD

Clear Creek Installation

Metallic Acrylic on fallen tree in Clear Creek, Painted reclaimed wood in foreground.




Close-up of "Moon" enamel, spray paint, polyurethane
600.00




Long horn skull, mirror shards, in Clear Creek
1400.00








Cow Pelvis, covered in my old wedding dress, pearl beads, resin
500.00

My Statement

Nature reflects both the will of the Creator and the passions of humans.
Nature has the ability to express both beauty and tragedy at the same time.
The themes of my work are redemption and resurrection. I use bright colors and high gloss to create contrast with the natural shapes.

I use reclaimed wood and skulls, the shells of once living beings. I want to redeem the unique beauty in each. I use my old wedding dress, full of promise and hope, contrasted with the contours of a skull, the final end. The evidence of what once was, the gracious lines, the heaviness, and lightness---all at once.

I live among a wealth of nature-made sculptures. Every fallen tree or bones of an animal reflect what the once living being had to endure. The environment shapes them into individuals.
To see beauty in the flaws, is the ultimate redemption.

The very fact that paint can affect us is remarkable. Paint has it's own psychic language. I want to light it up. I want to illuminate it, because it seems natural and holy. I want the paint to respond to it's environment, but I also want to control it. I want to let it go, and I want to pull it in.

To watch a painting almost create itself, and then to place light beneath it is a surprise of gesture and depth.



"Here is where loveliness can live
with failure,
And nothing's complete
I love how we go on"

Stephen Dunn, from Loves

Clear Creek

Skulls

Buck skull, covered with my wedding dress, pearl seed beads, and resin

in Clear Creek

Resin and mirror shards, rosettes from wedding dress and oak branches. Mold made from previous skull

Close up of resin/ mirror sculpture

Buck skull , covered in wedding dress, resin, pearl seadbeads

Background--metallic acrylic paint on fallen tree

Cow pelvis wrapped with pieces of wedding dress, accented with pearl seads, covered in resin.

Long horn cow skull covered in broken mirror.

Bottom of long horn, oil and polyurethane

New Suede earrings!

These are hand-cut suede earrings with accent chains, long and funky!

I love to wear these while I'm working in my studio.

They come in buttery beige, deep rose pink, black, lime green, powder blue and desert sand.

The pair on the bottom left are accented with feathers I found in our creek, they are my personal favorites.

25.00

New feather earrings, peacock and ostrich

These are larger than most of the feather earrings I have made, but they are light and fun to wear.

I used a combination of peacock, ostrich and coque feathers with colored wire or leather for top.

25.00

Origami Crane earrings

This idea came from my talented sister, Trista. After we made the crane, we painted on a resin-like substance that makes it glossy and durable.

10.00 each

I'm having a sale on Sunday!

I will have a booth at the first annual Block Street Show, Sunday, May 22. 1-8

Block Street in Fayetteville

Everything on SALE!!!

Hand painted leather bracelets: 30.00

Fringe leather bracelets: 20.00

Feather head bands: 20.00

Feather earrings: 20.00

Fascinators/ Ashley King Photography

20.00-30.00 each

Ashley King Photography

My stepdaughter and I had a photo shoot last weekend, showing my latest feather creations. She's a beautiful model! My sister Ashley King is the photographer.

Downtown Eureka Springs Art Fair

I'm so excited about the art fair in Eureka; I love that town! I have so much left to do to get ready, work on display, banners, finances,... I would much rather just create.

Here are a few things I did this weekend. Copper chain and coque feather earrings.
Two views of my first Fascinator, I used mallard feathers, white fluff, black biots, and small turquoise spotted feathers for center. I topped that off with an amber bead. I'm picking up supplies for a few wedding fascinators for the show.

This is a long clip turquoise feather and wood bead hair piece. I think of them as perfect accessories for a music festival.

Newborn crochet hats

These adorable caps are accented with feather clips. I have bright pink and black, and each feather clip is different. Only $20.00!