Journal entry for September 17, 2001

Today's summary: State of the Jen, silver fish fossil, custom stamp design for PMC multiples.

I wrote to my friends in New York to see if they were okay, back on Tuesday. Ended up getting into a big meandering email conversation with Jim, as I usually do... so, I figured it would be worth translating into a journal entry:

State of the Jen.

As for me, eh, I'm okay. I've been in this artistic limbo zone for what feels like months now (basically ever since I went to NY). Busy dealing with a bunch of other things in my life. As for the immediate also-NY-related present though, I'm still pretty spaced out, but I figure I have to just keep moving like sharks supposedly do.

So, I've been cleaning up my apartment, rearranging stuff, assembling a shelving unit for the dining room. The dining room will turn into what I fantasize will be a relatively organized studio space. I'm seldom a big fan of obsessive organization, but it's at the point where my ingredients get SO lost that I go out and buy them again... and then again... so the clutter is ungodly and I find myself unable to follow what shreds of inspiration I currently have. That's bad.

I also want to make sure I have room to optimize a photo-shooting tent so I can get PERFECTLY lit photos of my work. My parents are moving at the end of October, and they're buying a quote "really good" digital camera as a present to Mom and I. So I said they aren't allowed to buy anything without consulting Jen, the obsessive digital device guru. Not that I actually know THAT much about digital cameras, but, I know how to make sure it's a good one in terms of megapixels and whatnot. If it's good enough, I can use it not only for website images, but also for slides -- and thus, bypass film entirely until the end result. Digital "negatives" will make it SO much easier to archive and reproduce images if I want duplicate first-generation slides... or for any other kind of high-res imaging need.

Let's see, what else. Um. Hmm. I did get to order some more shadowbox frame pieces, since the first ones turned out so well (not that I have any actual bugs in them yet). Different sizes so I can make arrangements of multiple specimens either static, or interacting somehow diorama-style. The frames I already have are 12x12. The new pieces should become 10x10s, 10x20s, and 16x16s. Muaahahahahh...

Now all I need is some relevant inspiration. *cringe*

Well, actually I shouldn't cringe too much, I've had inspiration in other areas, like the soapstone sculpture from the other day.

Silver fish fossil.

Click for a larger view.

I made another "fossil" fish in pure silver PMC the other day. It's about 1 by 1.75 inches. I haven't decided what I want to do with it yet, probably drill the corners, use wire, and make a bracelet for myself.

I've enjoyed some of the jewelry-ish explorations I've had with PMC, but I've yet to truly tie it all in with my sculptural artwork. I want to make wings and abdomens and such with it, later.

Custom stamp design for PMC multiples.

Click for a larger view.

Meanwhile, I've ordered a 9x7 inch custom stamp that should help me play around with PMC multiples, silhouetted images of my insectoid work.

I'm not sure whether the fine lines will show up, but, this first stamp is meant as an experiment anyway. I can cut the stamp up and use the different shapes to make impressions in silverclay or cement, chop style.

Despite all this, I really want to get back into my insect sculptures. I currently have a bunch of new blade shapes, hooks, et cetera just waiting for me to make them into whatever they're supposed to be. Hopefully sooner than later, I'm all itchy.