Thursday, December 11, 2014

New Lampwork

More New Work
Here are some new lampwork glass beads I've been working on, all available at the craft fair in Beacon this Saturday and at the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade in New York City on Sunday.
Large etched organic abstract lentil beads to be worn on a choker or turned into pendants
These Victorian Baubles are ready to be turned into pendants or watch fobs
Glass headed flat head pins are a great little stocking stuffer for your needleworker, very handy for sewing or just decorating a pincushion. I made the little sea monster just to show off the pins.  It looks a bit perplexed.  After all, what has it done to deserve all this poking?





Jody

a Studio by the Sea










Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Craft Fair Weekend!

Craft Fair Weekend

It's time for the only two craft fairs I'm doing this season!  Come see my lampwork glass based crafts (no arts or prints) at either of these two fairs - Saturday in Beacon, NY, and only on Sunday in Chelsea, NYC.  The links are at the bottom of the page.

This is your chance to see in person some of the new things I've made. Here are my miniature glass seascapes!  I make each sea anemone, shell or sea star on the mandrel and then assemble them together with epoxy and fine sand.  I haven't seen anyone else making these yet on the internet, so come get something really original and one of a kind!  The cherry or walnut wood blocks they are on  is only 1.5" square, to give you an idea how tiny they are.






My Saturday Fair
My Sunday Fair


Jody

a Studio by the Sea







Sunday, December 7, 2014

Holiday Gift Tags - Free Printable

Seasons Greetings!
This year a little fennec fox named Luna joined our family.  In honor of this newest member of our household, this year's gift tags show our little girl being naughty and being nice.  Like most little ones, she is a bit of both.




Click on link below for Naughty & Nice pdf
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4emWuO6AltReEc0eEZfWldyNXM&authuser=0

Instructions:

  1. Print out the downloaded file on a sheet of card stock
  2. Cut out each tag along the pale blue lines - use scissors, x-acto knife & ruler or paper cutter.
  3. Punch out holes with a hole punch or just attach to your gift with tape or glue. I also drew in gold marker along the edges for more decoration.



All images © Jody A Lee 2014
www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com
This gift tag sheet is for your personal use only
All commercial use of them or these images is prohibited

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Jody 


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Illuxcon 7

Illuxcon 7

Jeff Jones
Imaginative Realism is the new name for fantasy art.  That covers all the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and gaming art that took realistic painting or sculpture in the direction of things only seen in the imagination.  In September I was lucky to attend Illuxcon7, the premier convention for Imaginative Realism, created by Patrick and Jeannie Wilshire.  The Allentown Museum of Art is inundated every September with artists, collectors, and students of the fantastic from all over the world.  Only non-digital work is allowed, so the galleries are filled with the most amazing work in traditional methods - oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphite, and the three dimensional work is beyond description, especially because I haven't the faintest idea what they are using to create their strange and lifelike beings.  There are also wonderful classes and discussions going on in the nearby Baum Education Center, and a stream of students getting their portfolios reviewed by professionals.

Allentown Museum of Art

Here are some of the artists I met and the work that I saw at Illuxcon7.

Stephen Hickman


John Jude Palencar
Bob Eggleton

Marianne Plumridge

Bob Eggleton & Marianne Plumridge

Richard Hescox

Ruth Sanderson

Annie Stegg

Travis Lewis




Justin Gerard

Rebecca Guay

My art display
Mermaid: Blue Eyes


I only have photos of a small part of the show, but more and larger views of the artists' work can be seen at:

http://www.illuxcon.com/#

Illuxcon is thoroughly inspiring for me.  I love seeing work this good, and find it gets the creative juices flowing in ways that just working alone does not.  It's a pleasure to meet the artists, the collectors, and the fans in an intimate and low key setting.  We all wander around talking and chatting and having a great time.  We also sell some art, which is always good too.

A close up of a painting by Jeff Jones, one of my favorite artists.  Very Whistler like treatment.  There was a special exhibition of Jones' work owned by Robert K. Weiner at Illuxcon.


My room mates Kat and Ingrid



Jody







a Studio by the Sea

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Stickley Museum

Stickley Museum
Some times you head off the beaten path and you discover little unknown treasures.  In the summer I was looking for inexpensive flooring for a room I was finishing, and found I could get some at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in New Jersey.  On the drive to Morris, New Jersey, I passed a sign that said "STICKLEY MUSEUM."  My head turned, as any one who loves the Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States knows the wonderful furniture made by Gustav Stickley.  Of course I had to find out what this museum could be. It turns out that there was a beautiful property in New Jersey that Stickley bought, and then built as a school for boys to learn a trade.  The school never took off, but he lived there with his family for a short time as his country estate when he was at his most successful, furnishing every room with pieces designed especially for himself and to his specifications.  I took a tour of the lovely grounds and the building with an agreeable and knowledgeable old docent. Below is the main building, called the Log House, which is filled with many of his original pieces, wall hangings and decor.  Every room has been loving restored, right down to an old Cornell pennant on the wall of his daughters' room, as it was seen in photographs.  Inside, the fireplaces are of brass with typical arts and crafts style mottos beaten into the metal.  Everywhere are small soft golden electrical lamps hanging from posts or the ceilings, lighting the dark rooms.  It's like stepping into an illustration for a proper home from the Arts & Crafts Magazines of the time.  I was so pleased to come upon this hidden gem!

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms

The tour entry
A box of the beautiful joinery used by the Stickley craftsmen.  No nails!
The gift shop is in the old kitchens.  There was a giant stove and ice room because he thought he would have a school here.
I wasn't allowed to take photographs inside so you can get a better idea of the treasures within by visiting their website: 
http://stickleymuseum.org 



Jody

a Studio by the Sea

Friday, June 13, 2014

The Fields of Wrath

The Fields of Wrath

This is the finished art for "The Fields of Wrath" the sequel to Mickey Zucker Reichert's "Flight of the Renshai." I used oils on Crescent illustration board, and the interlace circles (also my own design) were added digitally.  Though I love the contrast of gold or silver metallic elements in my art, it is really difficult to photograph and then control the color of said metallic.  Digital takes care of both of those problems.  Retracing the steps, I started out with the figure drawings below.





Then combined them with the interlace circle


Offered two color comprehensives to the publisher.



And because I understood the figures pretty well from the sketches, enlarged the sketches straight to the board.


I completed the faces first, then moved from left to right, top to bottom in completing the clothing.




Jody


www.astudiobythesea.com
www.jodylee.org