While reading through the August 2008 issue of American Craft I came across an article about ten emerging artists entitled "The Courage to Create". As an artist I found that I could very much relate to the introduction of this article and would like to share it with everyone.

"Being an artist takes fortitude. It requires you to leave the comfort of the 9 to 5 working world and journey into the unknown. It's often a lonely profession with hours spent in solitude at the workbench. And, especially in the early years of one's career, there is plenty of rejection. It takes passion and drive to transform oneself into a professional artist, and many who try never "make it." That's what makes the stories of those who do succeed so compelling."

One of the artists mentioned in the article that caught my attention was glass artist and sculptor Zac Gorell. The sculptures are very fluid and organic and almost seem to be strange and beautiful prehistoric creatures coming to life.

Emerge by Zac Gorell

Good Luck to all the emerging artists out there. I'm right there with you and all we can do is try our hardest, keep creating as best we can and be persistent. We will be noticed and successful!
Happy Wed!

A Walk Around the Hood...

Today has been a strange day. The weather has been dark and rainy and then sunny and beautiful and now it is clouding over again about to let loose. During the 2 hour sunny streak this afternoon I took a walk with my pooch Addie to help clear my head. Here are a few snapshots from our adventure.

this plant had a strange yellow fleshy growth on it

Camo Addie

such beautiful colors

Sorry for my absence...I have a tight schedule right now (probably like may others) trying to juggle between my job, getting my work done and playing outside in the beautiful summer weather (it has been mid seventies and sunny this entire week in Chicago, very unusual but fabulous!).

So for now, a quick post showing some new feminine summery pieces that are available in my etsy shop here.



I'll be adding some more pieces this Sunday evening so please come by and take a look.

Have a great weekend!

If You Don't See it Then it Doesn't Exist...

I think it's safe to say that this is a very common way of thinking for most human beings. Out of sight out of mind. Recently green living has been becoming more popular and prominent. My brother directed me to this video, Garbage Island, about plastics and the way we use and dispose of them. An unbelievable amount of garbage, mostly plastics have been collecting in the north pacific causing massive amounts of damage to sea life. It's very informative and very scary. Please watch it and pass it along. I'm going to try to do my best from now on to use less plastic (take my own reusable bag to stores, drink from a reusable water bottle, drink from cans and glass bottles and be more consistent about recycling).

The Big Apple cont...

I wanted to share with everyone some art work (jewelry, sculpture and glass) that I really admired at SOFA NY this past weekend. There is so much talent at the expos. and they are quite inspiring. If you ever get the chance to go I would highly recommend them (NY and Chicago).

Marian Hosking

represented by Charon Kransen

Jacqueline Ryan
represented by Charon Kransen

My pieces on display
represented by Charon Kransen

Ito Hirotoshi
represented by Keiko Gallery
I found this sculpture very playful and strange (almost uncomfortable) at the same time

Steffen Dam
represented by Heller Gallery
I love the glass specimen that Dam creates and have admired his work at SOFA for multiple years now.

A Trip to the Big Apple...

New York is different than Chicago in many ways...It is bigger, faster and really is the city that never sleeps, a city with such rich history and the best place to go people watching. Here are a few photos from my trip.

Bryant Park in Midtown

my mom and I at a karaoke bar (planet rose) on the lower east side

Inside Grand Central Station

A rainy afternoon (view from the 48th floor)

The Chrysler Building

Tomorrow I'll share a few photos from SOFA. Hope everyone is having a great week so far.