GOEDES
While I continue my VERA FLOS series of wildflowers on mini underworlds, I have added crystals and geodes to the action.

Nature makes such perfect beautiful things, and it seems silly to human make them in a secondary less perfect way. That doesn't stop us creators does it!? 

In my obsessive and creative approach to flowers right now, I can't seem to stop adding elements to the finished work. There are insects, animals, rocks, plants all flowing around one another. SO why not add crystals? 
​
These geodes are porcelain and will have crystal and gold linings. The ones below are test samples for a few additional VERA FLOS pieces. Look out for them soon!

A Clutter of SPIDERS!
When showing my work to friends and acquaintances the last few years I have been told often that my spiders, snakes, and  black elements will not sell well. Its amazed me! No they do sell well, everything sells to the right audience. You just have to place your work in the right venue.

I am bartering with a fellow artist and she asked for a white garden 'crab' spider. That set me off onto a big batch of spider sculptures. They are so fun to make and yes....play with! Here is the first and second firing of the cluster of spiders...

After the final layers of fired paint, they will receive some joints (special glue knobs) and then hand painted legs and a sealant layer.

Pagan Goddess Commission 2021

Its a very rare thing for me to do a commission these days, but I love doing them. As most folks who have done commissions know, it can be tricky. You can make a custom order and the customer doesn't like the results, or you can finish a piece and it was misunderstood what the price was.

So I found writing it all down is very important. A simple agreement or contract for paid commissions seems to be a good idea. I ask for 50% payment down and will sketch two options. However, if the work is too odd or unsaleable on the open market I keep the 50% if the customer doesn't want the work.  They usually do want it but when it doesnt work out it's a bummer.

But my favorite way to do custom work is to barter! I have never had issues in this way. It's been a pleasure for me in placing a unique customer based idea into physical reality.

Above is the Porcelain greenware pagan goddess with fern antlers and lichen hair. She holds whatever one wants to place in her hands (though I am throwing in a few goodies that can work).

See below the finished work. The client gave me this old clock box, I had to sand it, and glaze it to look good. Then I antiqued it with black glaze. Adding black swarski crystals and the geode(removable) was the final touch. The client LOVED IT!!!