Thank You from Art Jewelry Online

At ArtJewelryOnline.com we appreciate all of our champions that help us to continue in the tradition of fine Contemporary American Craft. Our goal is to create an online presence where craftsmanship is embraced and artists are rewarded for their efforts.Thank you for helping us to move toward our goals and Happy Holidays from all of us at Art Jewelry Online!

May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore.

Velina A. Glass, Founding Member AJO

Secretary, The Metals Guild of Maryland

Website:  www.ArtJewelryOnline.com

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Jodie Rae Bronstein Jewelry

Jodie Rae Brownstein is a skilled designer, creator, craftsman, artist and metal smith specializing in custom jewelry for both women and men. Although some of her work appears unisex it has an undeniable sensual quality.http://artjewelryonline.com/jodirae.html

KAUFMANFRANCO DESIGNER CLOTHES

   
  

  

I discovered this designer KAUFMANFRANCO at Neiman Marcus's Last Call an online discount store.  I like the way the two gentleman make sexy clothes for every age and still make the designs age appropriate.  You have to see their website.  The designs are classy, sexy and as my sons would say "so fresh and so clean". http://www.kaufmanfranco.com/ 

Homeland Best TV Since The Wire

I am not a big fan of television but when a series is well done I break my habit of reading every night and turn on the tube.  Homeland is just such a series.  Last nights season finale is up there with some of the great season finales of all times.  Unpredictable, imaginative and gripping are the words I use to describe this show.  Last week there was a scene with Damien Lewis talking into the phone and I felt as if I could taste his fear.  Season 1 is available on Demand and is well worth the time to catch up to Season 2.

About the Series

The winner of 6 Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series, HOMELAND is an edge-of-your-seat sensation. Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Emmy® winner Damian Lewis) is both a decorated hero and a serious threat. CIA officer Carrie Mathison (Emmy® winner Claire Danes) is tops in her field despite being bipolar. The delicate dance these two complex characters perform, built on lies, suspicion, and desire, is at the heart of this gripping, emotional thriller in which nothing short of the fate of our nation is at stake.

New Cloisonne Enamel Jewelry By Sheila Beatty

Sheila Beatty has come up with a new line of contemporary cloisonne' jewelry that is absolutely extraordinary.  Just when I think I know her work she takes more twists and turns that add new excitement to her work.  http://artjewelryonline.com/sheilabeatty.html

Artful Photographs of Shana Kroiz Jewelry

Shana's jewelry was included in a fashion shoot featuring clothes by Carlos Palmer and photography by Jacco Boers.  Enjoy!

Kate Spade Handbags on Sale

BRIGHTSPOT AVENUE LITTLE KENNEDY

$348.00

 

$208.00

 

SALE

more colors available

GROVE COURT LARGE MAISE

$468.00

$327.00

SALE

more colors available

Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert Massie

I just finished reading the Pullitzer Prize winning book Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert Massie. It was interesting to see that since the book was written in 1980 it is not accurate with regards to the current state of Russia.  That aside, it is an extremely well written and documented biography.  It started out slow and spent more time than was necessary on the fact that he led a dissipated life as a youth but once we were beyond adolescence the book became riveting.  The Great Northern War between Russia and Sweden is a pivotal point in Russian history and Massie brings these events to life.  At times while reading I felt as if I were there listening to Tsar Peter and Charles XII as they fought for supremacy.  This is definitely a 4.5 out of 5 star book.   

http://amzn.to/XXfaba

Art Review Walters Museum "African Presence in Renaissance Europe"

A Spectrum From Slaves to Saints

‘African Presence in Renaissance Europe,’ at Walters Museum

The New York Times did a great piece reviewing this exhibit.  I plan to see it this weekend while everyone is out shopping I'll be cruising the hopefully not so crowded Walters Museum.  

Free 24 Hour Librarian Service

ASK US NOW is a free service offered by the Maryland Library System that allows you to chat with a librarian anytime 24 hours a day.  I was trying to research the Homestead PA mill strike that led to one of the bloodiest battles in the history of labor.  Unfortunately I did not have much success.  When I contacted the chat room (at 3:00 a.m. in the morning) at Ask Us Now I was overwhelmed by the amount of information available on this subject and with the speed in which it was delivered to me.  After the chat they sent an email transcript with all of the reference links enclosed.  If you're not from MD check your state library system to see if they offer a similar service.  This truly is the greatest thing since sliced bread!

Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show

Most artists like this show because it is specific to jewelry.  If your in the area check out our friend Sydney Lynch.  I just love her work!  Shown above are Sydney's popular Graffiti  earrings.

31st Annual Smithsonian Craft Show April 24 - 28, 2013

If you are in the metropolitan Baltimore-DC-VA area you have to go to the 31st Annual Smithsonian Craft Show  April 24 - 28, 2013.  Shana Kroiz will be at the show with her groundbreaking one of a kind enamel jewelry and her fun and affordable mesh line.  Shana is not only a great artist but one of the best teachers I have ever worked with.  You may see her work on her site at http://shanakroiz.com/ or buy it at Art Jewelry Online.

Images: TopMesh Ring $70, Middle One of a Kind Floral Crown $7,000 and Bottom Regal Dancer an enamel necklace that is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Art and Design in New York.

New Jewelry From Lori Gottlieb on Sale

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Make-A-Dramatic-Statement-with-New-Jewelry-from-Lori-Gottlieb.html?soid=1102220973704&aid=1y2RS-qv8Pk

You Should Never Discuss Religion or Politics But Here I Go Anyway

My son and I were talking about spirituality today (not religion) since many of his friends are atheists. My point is that there are no atheists.  All people believe in/have faith in something.  What you choose to believe in becomes your religion. If you measure your success in life based on your income then you are in essence worshiping yourself and your ability to acquire money.  In my mother's family success is measured by how well we raise our children.  So I ask myself have we now come to a point where we worship our children? No answers here just food for thought. 

Here is my final artistic impression of my Grandmother's photo.  It took me it seemed like forever to come up with a style that is unique to me but also in keeping with the Warhol influence. While working on this image I discovered that what made Mum's eyes seem so large is that below her iris there is  lot of white eyeball showing before you reach the bottom lid making the eyes seem to pop out.

Randi Chervitz Crocheted Jewelry

Randi Chervitz is a new jewelry artist that we added to Art Jewelry Online.  She is known for her elegant crocheted jewelry.  Her education includes degrees and  studies from Vassar College, Parsons School of Design, Penland School of Craft & the Paris Fashion Institute. Please read her artist statement and visit us to view more of her work. 

I first picked up my grandmother’s crochet hook while taking a metal-smithing class in college. She taught me to knit when I was a child, and I always had good feelings about the individual stitches that make up a larger whole. Crocheting silver to make wearable objects quickly became my signature.

Manipulating the crochet stitches, combining them with other weights of metal to act as various weights of line, and adding stones, allow me to create satisfying visual patterns that also function as wearable jewelry.

Design-wise, I adore repetitive pattern.  Many of the objects around my home, photographs, ceramic dinnerware, picture frames and even furniture feature strong black-and-white contrasting pattern.  With this in mind, I’ve focused my exploration of pattern by limiting my use of color in gemstones.  Freshwater pearls have always been my favorite.  They’re the perfect accent to a long, smooth line of metal. I particularly love the cool, icy look of pearls against the dark contrast of the oxidized metal. My oxidized pieces offer an aggressive, “gutsy” look.

New Earrings from Lori Gottlieb

Lori Gottlieb just completed a new line of earrings that I believe are some of the best artistic earrings I've ever seen from her.  She has always used 18k gold/silver bimetal to add a rich sophisticated look to her work  while keeping it affordable. You may purchase these earrings at http://artjewelryonline.com/earrings7.html.

Hratch Babikian Sea Urchin Rings

Hratch Babikian's Red Sea Urchin's ring has to be my favorite ring.  I have shown this ring before but now that he offers it in gold I thought it acceptable to post it again.  I also like the new images of the ring from all angles.  This is something I think all artists should consider to better showcase their work.

Back To School - Self Portrait

It's been 34 years since I received my MBA and if that was not torture enough I've started back to school at Towson.  My sons couldn't believe I was going back to school to study art because as they so accurately pointed out I can not draw.  Since I consider myself an excellent craftsman this did not bother me in the slightest.  I am currently working on a self-portrait that is not a self portrait.  I am using my grandmother instead with inspiration from DiVinci and Andy Warhol.  I like the illustration image with color blocking by Warhol.  It reminds me of DiVinci's work.  My goal is to render the image of my grandmother (top) in an illustration style reminiscent of DiVinci with subdued color blocking similar to that in the Warhol print above.  A true melting pot of art!

Monet's Garden

Monet's Garden, Giverny France...Stunning

 

If you enjoy historical fiction "Here Be Dragons" is a must read.  Sharon Kay Penman is a master of historical fiction and you will find that her work is as close to historical accuracy that you will find in any work of fiction.  I also enjoyed her treatment of John Lackland as more than a sinister character.  Below is the summary you will find on Amazon .

Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England’s ruthless, power-hungry King John. Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce by marrying the English king’s beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna, who slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband. But as John’s attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales---and Llewelyn---Joanna must decide where her love and loyalties truly lie.

The turbulent clashes of two disparate worlds and the destinies of the individuals caught between them spring to life in this magnificent novel of power and passion, loyalty and lies. The book that began the trilogy that includes Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, Here Be Dragons brings thirteenth-century England, France, and Wales to tangled, tempestuous life.

The Fabulous Serpent Ring

Shana Kroiz (my absolute favorite artist) has done a series of rings that are one size fit all.  This is the first series of rings I have ever seen her make and she has really made a statement with this avant garde collection.  She is offering the Serpent Ring shown in the image above for sale online at http://artjewelryonline.com/rings1.html but she also has images on her website of a more extensive ring line. You may view them at http://shanakroiz.com/gallery_sk.html.

My Favorite Necklace

The Open Pebbles necklace by Lori Gottlieb is my all time favorite piece of jewelry.  Not only are green tourmalines my favorite colored gemstone but I like the feminine  yet bold nature of this piece. http://artjewelryonline.com/lorigottlieb3.html

Architectural Work by Josh DeMonte

This piece is from an instructor of mine at Towson University, Josh DeMonte. Made from Glass-filled polyamide.  http://joshuademonte.com/home.html