sneak preview

busy as an elf getting ready for the Fine Line Show. I met so many nice people at the Naperville Show yesterday. Lots of comments on my unique style, which is always so nice. Also sold a few pieces, all to good homes. Here is a few of my newest creations:

Cityscape Night
Unsettled Ideas
what do you think?

shOPPORTUNITY - Holiday Shows

Happy cyber-monday.
Here are a few local holiday art shows happening this week:

Ladies' Holiday Tea & Boutique
TUESDAY - Dec. 1st at the Naperville Country Club
Boutique Sale is from 12 - 4pm {Open to the Public
a charity fundraiser for Family Shelter located in Wheaton


Christmastime at the Fine Line
December 4-12, 2009
{Opening Night – FRIDAY, Dec. 4th
Hope to see you there.

mixin' it up

last but not least - the third in the series. Gocco print (copper, silver, gold metallic inks) with the debut of the 2009 mixed-media madness papers as and accent. a bit different than the last two, instead of painting, there is zen-like doodles to create the nuances of each piece of unique art. Perfect to give or keep. The photo is a bit light, I'll try to take a picture in the morning light. So glad I finished what I started. Focus, such an amazing thing, I should try it more often. Nah, what's the fun in that. Now it's time to relax. Enjoy your Thanksgiving. Gobble, gobble.

warm woolen mittens

just like grandma made - okay not my grandma ;) but I'm sure you could find some warm striped mittens at one of the Christmas Art Shows coming up, along with these cards. Christmastime at the Fine Line starts Dec 4 - 13 OR if you are in the Naperville area, the Naperville Country Club has a holiday Boutique on Dec. 1 between 12 - 4. Come by for some holiday spirit.



The second in the holiday series. Limited edition of 28. Watercolor, Gocco print and acryllic accents. Signed and dated.

One more holiday card design to finish. Hopefully by tomorrow. Then on to more mixed-media jewelry making. I should look into hiring a few elves.

love | life holiday card

I have been handcrafting my holiday card for several years. This year I decided to make a special set available for purchase. Here's the first in a small series of limited edition holiday cards, using some of my favorite techniques:


These are a limited edition of 50. I'm thrilled with what the customer/friend who has purchase the first 25 said "...for my family and closest friends ... they will be my gifts, a work of art and a card of holiday greeting all rolled into one."


I started with an original illustration from my sketchbook, then inked it all in black. I scanned in the illustration and made it to size, printed it on a lazer printer. I mixed the special ink and gocco printed the tree. Gocco was developed in Japan. In gocco printing, a thermally imprinted screen is used to hand print liimited edition of images. Production of print gocco materials has recently been discontinued, I have limited materials. Gocco prints are now becoming an increasingly rare form of printing.


The little bird was also an original sketch. I hand carved the bird stamp using mastercarve substrate and carving tools. Now I can position the little cardinals anywhere.


painted highlights of the leaves and added splattering of festive red and spray of sparkles.



I'm finishing up a few different designs. Each edition will be less than 50, all signed and numbered. These are monarch size card (7.25 X 3.625) and come with a open end policy envelope. I'll be posting a few more handcrafted cards by the end of the week. You can purchase them through my etsy site www.clynstudio.etsy.com or email me.

perfectly imperfect

I've been a bit blog quiet. It's been an eventful and productive October, but I have a lot to talk about and many posts to get out of my sketch book and into cyber space. So here's a little look into one of my creations. When I started sketches for my piece for the Collage Sisthars Alphabetica Show my idea/sketch looked like this.
A happy angel with wings that flutter a light air about her, a heart put away in a drawer in her chest. But when completed it looks like this.

After a few unplanned but happy accidents, like my bronze bust breaking. It seems more dark, but somehow more real. I'm not sure if this an evolution in my work or the work taking on a life of it's own. Letting the dark come through, intergrating my short comings rather than hiding them. This piece was originally intended to use the flash card "woman" and depict a happy, motherly angel, but has unintentionally become a bit of a self portrait, distorted, shredding of what a woman means and the roles played. These roles are a bit tattered and worn but truthful and heartfelt. Perfectly imperfect.

retrospect realization (added nov. 10)
After reading this weekend found this quote:

"I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc, because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through." - Jackson Pollack

reminds me a bit of the process of my creations.

cherished charm bracelet

Here is the lovely charm bracelet from all the charms I received from the Etsy Metal Clay Team charm swap. I finally had a bit of time to put it together. This is a bracelet that delights my senses - a wonderful weight, beautiful sound, lovely texture and a breathtaking site. I'm so lucky to be part of such a wonderful group.