Welcome To The Hotpoint Emporium

For those of you who don’t follow my FaceBook page, My Pink Planet, I’ve recently been accepted into an artist co-op called the Hotpoint Emporium.  It’s in a lovely old eighteenth century building in the town of Bristol Rhode Island overlooking Narragansett Bay.

I went in the other day to set up my inventory, what a nice group of people, and the other work that was still coming in when I left looks very promising.  Here’s some photos of what’s been set up so far, notice my fancy new jewelry display case, and they let me put my “Prisoner Of Love” necklace in the window too!

The store opens this week, but the grand opening is scheduled for November 3, 2017.  So I hope to see you soon at the Hotpoint Emporium, 39 State Street, Bristol RI, 02909

An Update To My Creative Challenge

So my 12 week creative challenge is moving along at a steady pace, I’ve been concentrating on more elaborate pieces which take more than a day to complete, that’s why I no longer post every day now.  For today though, I thought I’d share these two pieces that are coming together quite nicely.

I’m calling this the “Warrior Angel” tiara.  I may add a few elements to it still and there are some tiny rings soldered every here and there for hanging beads from, I like my jewelry to have moving elements.  I’ve been wanting to use these cobalt blue stones and spiral beads for quite some time, there’s many old stones and beads hanging around my studio just waiting to be used in just the right design, some of them I’ve had for more than thirty years.  I think I’ll have this gold-plated, if the stones stand out too much after plating, maybe I’ll enamel the leaves like I did in this mask. 

The other piece I’d like to share is a brooch that will be part of a necklace.

This one is a commission based on this piece. 

The customer wants something more colorful, with a biological theme and in a silver plate.  I hope she likes it!

#MyPinkPlanet

Update to My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

Well I’m sorry to say that, although not over, my twelve week creative challenge has been greatly interrupted.  You see, I’d developed some pretty severe kidney stones making a surgical procedure necessary, after which there were some complications.  So with the crippling pain and the grogginess caused by so many painkillers, I was unable to produce anything creative for several days.

I did get into my studio whenever possible and worked on some items that had already been started.

I had a lot of fun with this necklace with all of its flowers and monsters.

In addition to what I’ve shown you in this post, I’ve managed to assemble a lot of small component parts, not worth showing, for larger pieces yet to come.  I’m feeling much better now so I’m resuming my creative challenge, I’ve lost track of which day I left off on so my updates won’t be as specific going forward.

Thank you for following my progress.

~Richard

#MyPinkPlanet

 

Days Twenty One Through Twenty Four Of My Creative Challenge

I’m moving right along with my twelve week creative challenge, I’m just making things a bit faster than I can photograph them so bear with me.

For day 21, I made this necklace from an old watch case I found somewhere amidst all the junk I’ve collected over the years.  I think I’ll finish it with tones of silver, gold and raw brass.

On day 22, I made this Venetian style cross necklace, carnivale is coming up in February so I hope to have a series of masks and jewelry to show for the occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which brings us to this crystal carnival mask I started on day 23.  I think I need to add a lot more dangling beads and chains, but we’ll see.

And finally for day 24, I struggled to make my way into the studio and I have only the beginning of a renaissance style necklace to show for it.

That’s all for today, I hope you’re following me on FaceBook and have a chance to check out my ETSY shop? In the meantime, take care.

#MyPinkPlanet

 

Day Nineteen Of My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

For today, the 19th day of my 12 week creative challenge, I took an old rooster head brooch I’d made back in the 1980’s, added some charms, beads, a swag and converted it into a pendant necklace.

I may still add to it but for today I’m satisfied.

#MyPinkPlanet

 

Day Eight Of My Twelve Week Project

For day eight of my twelve week Creative Challenge I did some more work on the piece started on day seven.  I may still add more to it, I’m just very distracted by health concerns and my upcoming show this weekend, but for now I’m pleased with it.

#MyPinkPlanet

Day Seven Of My Twelve Week Challenge

Today was a real struggle to get into my studio, I have a show coming up on Saturday so my primary focus has been on getting ready for that.  But I did start on this necklace which goes with my series called Linear Compositions.

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll finish this piece so as not to interrupt my Twelve Week Challenge. Meanwhile, if you happen to be in Providence RI this Saturday, December 10, 2016, check out the RISD Holiday Alumni Sale, my booth number is 324.

#MyPinkPlanet

Day Five Of My Twelve Week Challenge

Today’s project may lead you to believe I’m a bit depressed, but you can be sure that’s not the case.  The truth is I came across this old jet intaglio in my studio and it brought to mind an article I’d read, quite some time ago, about memento mori jewelry.  So I just added a skull and some flowers and here we are…

#MyPinkPlanet

A Steampunk Show? Why Not!

Well, I don’t know if you can see my name in the fine print here, but I’ve happily taken part in the Steampunk Providence show.  It’s been awhile since I’ve made anything in this genre, of which I’m a big fan, so I jumped at the chance.  Two of these pieces have been extracted from my archives so you may remember them, and the other two were made just for this show.

The show runs through the end of October 2016, so if you’re interested in purchasing any of them I’ll be posting them in my etsy shop.

A change of venue

I’ve been asked to participate in a group gallery show, and since I’ve grown a bit tired of making production jewelry, this seems to be the perfect opportunity to let loose and create some more sculptural pieces.  So, here we go.

The first is a concept piece I call “Husbandry”

I have two thoughts going on with this piece.  

One is in how I find the idea of bodily adornment in relation to self-image, and as a mark of intent, goal, or achievement to be so curious.  Whether it be to enhance one’s beauty, self-confidence, or status, the pursuit of wearable objects to achieve these goals are how the title of this piece came about.

The other is the symbolism involved with the romanticized heart representing love and all that it encompasses verses the literal heart as a body organ.  The romantic heart associated with living happily ever after, and the anatomical heart associated with just living.

As with many of my pieces there is some wordplay and visual puns going on here.  I invite the viewer to ponder the idea of a crystal heart-shaped cage, containing an anatomical representation of a heart, flanked by sprays of jeweled flowers, and the significance of its wearability.  

 

 

The first time my work was shown in an art gallery, it was in a Venetian carnival mask show at the Museum Of Fine Arts Boston, in which I took first place.  This is that mask…

So, out of nostalgia, and as an expression of my creative journey, I thought it fitting to do another mask and see how far I have come as a designer and fabricator.

I call this piece Camouflage,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have an ongoing fascination with the imitation of nature by the use of man-made materials, and the idea of improving on nature by the same means.

In this piece I’ve used the format of a mask, something typically used to hide or disguise one’s identity.   In creating an elaborate network of representations from nature, I then gilded and bejeweled it so as to create a conspicuous object of opulence.  Much of my work involves puns and wordplay which is how the title of this piece came about.  

And finally, if anyone reading this is going to be in the Providence area within the next month, well, here’s your invitation…