Exhibition- Searching for Home

 



Stories



  I have an exhibition coming up of my textile works.

 Searching for Home 

Opening Friday the 24th of August , 6pm

at

Mundaring Arts Centre

7190 Great Eastern Hwy, Mundaring.  

The exhibition runs to the 30th of September

Modern Relics Jewelry

I have been busy behind the scenes working on some jewelry components for sale.  They are all designed by me and hand cast in white and gold bronze. 

If you are interested in any of them, they are listed in my new etsy shop Modern Relics Jewelry

If you purchase any of the components can you send me some photos of what you make with them.  I would love to see your creations.

xxx

New Norcia- Shrines and Requilaries

Finally some photos. 

Thanks to Charlotte Sykora from

http://www.lotta.com.au/

bespoke jewellery designs

For these images,  (very creatively taken on an iphone)

Ballarat and New Norcia- Requilaries and Shrines

Hi All,

I have had the pleasure of being away for two weeks teaching my Requilaries and Shrine workshop in Ballarat and New Norcia.  This is the first time I have taught this workshop and the participants were amazing.  I was lucky enough to have a really talented helper in Ballarat as well.  Thanks again Warren without you I am not sure how we would have got so much done. 

I mislaid my camera at New Norica so don't have any photos of the finished products but I am working on tracking some down to share with you.

I will teaching this workshop again next year in Ballarat in April.  Go to Fibre Arts Australia for more info.  Even if you do not take my class have a look at what else is on offer as these week long retreat are fantastic. 

Everyone worked so hard during the week, but it was so worth it, the shrines are amazing.

The amazing Cas Duff

The uber talented Greg Stewart





Wendy Ness, What can I say there is always one.




A bundle of fun and talent Jan



Robyn who thinks outside the square

The super talented Warren Virgen, without your help this would not have happened. 





And last but not least, the brave (or native')  Leanne



Thank you all for such a fantastic week.

I have a confession to make......

Instead of blogging about our trip away I have been busy making jewelry with the goodies I brought whilst in the states. 

These pieces are a little diversion for me as I was inspired by the antique and vintage components that I brought,  especially in New York.  We went to flea markets and shops that sell only antique components so I came home with a suitcase (or two) filled with unique ephemera to play with. 

You will be able to tell that I was taken with the new tribal and bohemian look that is happening right now and some of the pieces were so striking on their own that they just needed a leather cord to wear them with and you are ready to go.  So much fun. 

I have just listed some on my etsy site if you would like to take a look and here are some sneak peaks. 

xxx

This piece was inspired by Terri's necklace that I posted about in the previous post.

 

 

New York and Art & Soul Virginia

Well,  where to start..............................................

One of my best buddys and I got home last week from two weeks in New York and one week in Virginia, teaching at Art and Soul.

I had a fantastic time and can't believe it is only one week since we got back.

The shopping was fantastic in New York with bead and jewelry supply shops lining the streets.  I was in heaven. 

Art and soul was amazing of course, with gorgeous students and fellow teachers.  Here are some photos from my capture my heart class. 

One of the students from my no solder etched shadow box class made this amazing piece with her shadow box.  You can see more of her work here  Terri

She also mixes up a very mean cocktail.

We also did all the usual tourist things like visit the Statue of Liberty. 

Thanks to everyone who made this trip amazing. 

Art and Soul Blog Hop

Welcome to the 2012 Virginia Art and Soul Artist Interview Blog hop.

Today I am lucky enough to have Lynne Suprock to introduce you to.

Lynne is teaching Metal Chapter books at Art & Soul.  and they are just beautiful. 

As a self taught artist, Lynne began Simply Pretty Stuff in 2007 by designing charms and tiaras for local shoppes and charity. From 2007 to 2011 Lynne designed and made charms and ornaments for The StoryPeople.  She currently teaches soldering techniques to individuals and groups at a local studio in Gettysburg, PA and loves to attend shows as a vendor and teaches workshops on the East Coast.  Her pins were featured in Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine and she will also have an upcoming feature on rings in the same magazine as well.

So Lynne..........

Where do you get your inspiration?

I have always been a people watcher …..always, always, always.   If I could afford the luxury of time, I would spend more actual research hours at the airport, in a coffee shoppe, or in Grand Central Station doing just that.

So, I guess I can say that people inspire me; what they say in a day, what they wear, how they walk or talk to their children or their pets.  I choose a person or two and allow my imagination to design a pin, ring, tiara, etc. for them.  Of course, the kind of media I use places my magic into perspective and sets parameters back in the studio.

The other place I find inspiration is in the world of little things.  Dusty, little glittery things from my childhood inspire me.  Portobello Road inspires me.  Lots of itsy bitsy glitter and little things there! The most special of my finds, fit into my pockets for the flight back home.

After Art, What Else Is Your Passion?

Hmmm… Telling people what to do…hehehe.  Honestly, I do find passion helping others to learn whatever it is they want to learn.  I also really love to write.  To expand my horizons and to earn extra income,  I was a local feature writer for The York Sunday News,  a York and Adams County, PA newspaper.  Loved that. 

What a lot of people don’t know about me is that being an artist is actually my second career.    I have a Master’s in Science degree and had published in health care journals and taught clinical and classroom nursing until 2007.  I was used to the organization and structure that went with the profession.  I also acquired and finely honed the skills needed to deal with those daily life and death situations.   Back in the classroom or in the clinical setting,  I was excited to impart that knowledge to the students.    

Perhaps it is both nursing assessment skills and teaching experience that dovetails nicely with designing or  teaching my art and art techniques.  Teaching allows me to be free and true to myself in many ways.

What aspect of teaching do you love the most?

I love that the students are diverse.  They can be anyone of these:   novice and in an art class for the first time, looking to express their inner selves, wanting to learn new technique or tools, or just wanting to meet others with like minds and go home with something cool!  It is amazing to hear students share their own stories of their artistic journeys.

I also love that art itself is so diverse.  You can use one media, or mix the media.  You can invent a new technique or pull from others and use their wisdom in a new way.   No one owns art, and creativity is not exclusive.  We each bring our own twist and turn to the artists and creative media that came before us.  Teaching helps to nurture imagination of the new artist and is a good way to pass the baton.

What is one “key” to creativity or personal discovery would you like to share?

One thing that has taken me three or so years to realize is that there is no wrong way to create art.  Art is expression that begins within.  We get inspired to create, but how we do it depends on our imagination, our stash of available supplies, and how well we can manipulate our tools.  There is no real failure in my work, but there is always room for improvement, which can give birth to more complicated pieces or new designs completely.

To see more of Lynne's work have a look at her blog and website. 

 www.simplyprettystuff.com

www.simplyprettystuff.blogspot.com

Remember to leave a comment letting us know where you get your inspiration and you go into the draw to win a fantastic goody pack by Artistic Artifacts.  Comments are open until 6th of February 2012. 

PS make sure to visit the next blog tomorrow  Leslie Brier another fantastic teacher at Art and Soul this year. 

Constructing Nature

My first solo exhibition opens on the 9th of February 2012 at Gallery East. 

See below for all the details. 

I would love to see you there.

xxx

GALLERY EAST

has pleasure in inviting you to the opening of

Constructing Nature

sculptural forms by

CHRISTINE ATKINS

at 6pm on Thursday 9 February 2012

(the exhibition runs until 4 March)

                                                               

Maiden Voyage, electroformed copper, 12 x 49 x 7 cm

Using simple elements from the natural environment, such as leaves, sticks, flowers and seeds, the artist entices the viewer to connect to the Australian landscape and relook at nature in a new way.  With this reconnection to nature comes the hope of sustainably and protection, drawing attention to the importance of preserving the native environment as precious and integral.

Lotus pods, electroformed copper, 22 x 8 x 8 cm

 The works can be viewed on http://www.galleryeast.com.au/exhibit/current/main.htm from 6 February

Directors: David Forrest & Janis Nedela

Gallery East. 94 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle, Western Australia 6159

T: 08 9336 6231 F: 08 9336 2678 www.galleryeast.com.au

Gallery East  hours: Tues - Sat 11am - 5pm, Sun 2 -5 pm  

Pewter Casting Workshop February 2012

One Day Workshop.

Come and learn how to create your own unique pewter charms, pendants and miniature sculptures using four simple pewter casting methods.

You will learn how to cast repeatable flat back charms and 3d charms, as well as creating one off non repeatable carved charms. 

You can make all of these charms at home with very little cost and equipment. 

Workshop fee $85 plus a material fee of $60
Total cost $145

Friday 3rd of February 9.30am - 2.30pm or  Saturday 4th February 9.30am - 2.30pm

Limit 8 people per class

Workshop to be held in Greenwood, Western Australia

For Bookings please contact Christine Atkins on
info@christineatkins.net
PH 9246 7448