Past, Present, Future Painting

The Guiding Star (click on the images to enlarge them)

The Faerie

My muse has been visiting me again, and this time we've created a wonderful image that is part of a triptych based on the Past, the Present, and the Future. This drawing is a detail of the faerie at the cusp of her past and present, right at the moment when she succeeds in reaching for the stars and finally makes contact.

The Past is Your Teacher (Graphite Drawing)

Here's the entire image before I painted it. I love the delicacy of line in the drawing, the looseness, the flow. As she makes contact with her lucky star, she becomes empowered by the light and energy flowing into her from the star, who's a magical being, much like herself. The moon is there watching over her, as always, a constant in her world. (Yes, my Moon has elfin ears, lol)

The Image with Ink

I did the outlining with Winsor and Newton Nut Brown ink, using a quill pen with a number 512 Hunt quill tip pen. I like the control I can get with this pen, it handles curves well and will give me very thin or somewhat thicker lines depending on pressure. The paper is 140 lb Arches hot pressed watercolor block. Hot pressed means the paper is very very smooth with nearly no texture, which allows me to control the line and to get very fine detail.

The Moon begins to glow behind her.

I like to use Winsor and Newton watercolors because they perform reliably as I apply layers of color glazing to build up depth. I also applied a little masking fluid to select areas before painting in order to reserve areas I could later paint in soft bright colors.

Her Guiding Star comes alive, as her little Guardian Star  cheers, Hurray! 

The little Guardian star has been with her all her life, cheering her on. She has learned to meditate and in the peace of those moments discovers a higher connection. Her Guiding Star (the larger one) transfers energy and light, empowering her to bring her message to the world.

Detail of her Guardian Star, did you know we all have one?

The border shows that as she grew from faerie childhood into her adulthood, her little Guardian star inspired her to hold her dreams close, sleep, laugh, meditate, reach, dance, love, not to give up on her dreams, to share, to learn, and to grow. 

The Final Painting - 33 hours later

Detail of the Finished Faerie

So now that this one's done, I'm on to the second in the triptych - "The Present is Your Creation." I will post about it when it's a bit further along.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to paint paint paint because I've missed it, and I feel so many paintings pushing to get out. They want to be shared with you. In order to do that I'll most likely start another Etsy site, where I can sell the prints, and also a Zazzle site so that you can choose what type of decorated item you'd like to purchase - it could be a coffee mug or a pillow, a notepad, or a water bottle decorated with my image - I'll be figuring out how to set this up later this year. First the painting, then the production. 

It looks like it's going to be a very exciting year!

Best wishes to you as your New Year unfolds as well.

Thanks for checking in--

Namaste 

Treats for you for Christmas

Have been working on my display box for the beautiful cloisonne bracelets and it's all finished now. Lovely box, decoupaged with gorgeous photos of all things Chinese and lined with a deep forest green chenille fabric. Choosing your bracelets should be a really fun experience.

Cloisonne Bracelet Display Box

Also have finished staining the hands that will go next to the display box and making mini bracelets for them! Now one of my projects is to make a bunch of sets like the one in the box above - a set of five bracelets is $20. I'll make sets of all one color, like the blue hand on the left below, and sets of all different colors, like the one on the right. Then you can combine them any way you like depending on your outfit or mood.

Buddha hands with mini cloisonne bracelets

Have also had a great time making bead necklaces as well. These are on affordable stainless steel chains. I love the gorgeous colors of the beads.

Most of the focal beads are handmade by Beth Blosser of Pomegranate Glass

And I'm making earrings to go with the necklaces because I find that customers often like to buy a set as a gift.

Several different pairs will match with the necklaces - yay!

Color combinations match the necklaces

Lots to be done, can't wait to work on them some more!

Beads saying "Pick me, pick me!" I pick up the beads with that lovely silver spoon.

Spacer beads for the cloisonne bracelets - it's like working with rainbows!

My little boudoir doll patiently awaits her new blouse while I'm distracted with making necklaces and bracelets - she knows it's worth the wait. And in the meantime, she does get to wear her very own cloisonne necklaces : )

My boudoir doll sits in the studio overseeing the progress of jewelry making....

Check back for updates on Dreamkeeper Creations getting ready for Christmas, one of the most special times of the year : )

Namaste

Jen

Indulge in the Magic of Asia - Affordably!

I am smitten, and I think you will be too, by a new style of bead and the bracelets, necklaces, and ankle bracelets my muse inspires me to make of them! It's all about BEAUTY. I believe that beauty feeds the soul and spirit, creating joy, which makes our hearts sing - we should all be able to carry this with us at all times to soak up and rejuvenate by, no matter where we find ourselves.

Cloisonne ROCKS!

I am head over heels in love with these beads because they lend themselves to SO many different ways of expression - I can make 10 red bracelets using the gorgeous cloisonne beads combined with different spacers and put them all on my arm with a good red dress and they're spectacular. OR I can put on (as I have on right now) black, navy blue, forest green, red, white, turquoise, and gold, for a delicious combination that matches absolutely anything and everything. 

Besides my Etsy shop, Dreamkeeper Creations, I sell my work at the Green Drake Gallery and I'm making a special display for these wonderful bracelets in the Gallery. It's soooo much fun!!! I'm all thrilled with the whole process of how cloisonne is created, the process, as well as the history of it. The beads come from China, and the history of the cloisonne technique originates in India, then moves into China years and years ago to the practice today (yay!).

Cloisonne factory in China. Somebody please pay me to do this all day!

Here's what I'm doing for the display, which I'm very excited about, can't wait to share it with you! 

Selecting Images

I had a lovely visit to Barnes and Noble in search of images of Asia that I could use to decoupage the treasure box that these bracelets will be displayed in. I LOVE creating a whole "buyer experience" so that after you get home with your treasures you have a sense of the history that went into the making of the beads and a special experience to remember as you wear them - a tiny piece of history and art captured humbly by yours truly. I love creating an admiration for cultures different from our own. Definitely something to celebrate and revere. I'm sure the publisher of this book on China never imagined its buyer would "cut it up," but I got over that in pure enjoyment of creating this display....

These images will be on the back of the treasure box.

It was way past bedtime when I finished going through this wonderful book on China and I so enjoyed the hours spent choosing just the right images to adorn the treasure box, which will be lined with black velvet and heaped with bracelets for you to choose from.

The Treasure Box

So to give you an idea of what you can do with these bracelets (combine totally different colors or do sets of all one color) I'm making "mini" bracelets to fit these beautiful wooden stylized hands that I will stain so the color on the wood lends its warmth to the display.

Stylized hands waiting for adornment.

The trick for me right now is waiting for the humidity to pass so I can finish the staining without bubbles. Am totally looking forward to making "mini" bracelets for them.

And this is what you'll have to choose from, and more....WOW, have fun!

How long is my arm and how many can I pop on?

Namaste


Jen : )

New Wine Glass Markers and Rear View Mirror Light Catchers

Classy Wine Glass Marker

I've been making some classy little wine glass markers which are now for sale in my Dreamkeeper Creations shop on Etsy. This is my favorite, with a fancy jasper carved bear bead, and maroon, olive, and blue seed beads winding around the flexible silver twisty section. When you pop these onto your wine glass stems, not only do your guests feel special, but they can tell which glass is theirs! 

Back View of Wine Glass Marker

The back of the Wine Glass Markers is just as pretty as the front! Each one has a couple of little tails that sport accent beads and seed beads to match the main twisty section. Findings are silver plated wire and sterling jump rings. They don't go into the dishwasher but can stay on the glasses if you're hand washing.

Here are a few more examples.

Carved Jasper Bear Wine Glass Marker with Onyx and Jasper Tails

Black Onyx Carved Bear Wine Glass Marker with Black Glass and Onyx Tails

Turquoise Carved Bear Wine Glass Marker with Turquoise Tails

Another sparkly item I've been making for you is the Light Catcher Car Jewelry! These are easy to fasten around the arm of your rear view mirror so you can enjoy the sun sparkling through and lighting them up.

Rear View Mirror Light Catcher

I have three in my car, a rabbit for trust, a bear for connection as I travel over the earth, and a Buddha to lend serenity as I go about my travel adventures.

Rabbit, Bear, and Buddha

Here are a few more that will be up in Dreamkeeper Creations for you.

Turquoise Bear Light Catcher with Glass Circle Beads

Cheery Red Light Catcher

Shiny Blue Light Catcher

Look for more fun treasures and jewelry at Dreamkeeper Creations!

Namaste

Jen

My Greatest Jewelry Challenge Yet - How did I do?

I went to lunch with my wonderful friend Kathy yesterday. As always, we had a great time and talked nonstop over our salads. We covered everything from education to family to personal history and many things in-between, it was great. But there's a reason I have to blog about it - there's a great story here!

Towards the end of our lunchtime Kathy drew out a plastic bag from her purse and put it on the counter. It contained two very long, very shiny silver screws. I wondered where the heck she was going with this. Then she told me the story of how she broke her ankle.

She had taken her beautiful 55 lb dog outside for playtime and the dog got a little over-enthusiastic, deciding to run towards her at mach speed, and when she realized her dog wasn't going to bypass her she tried to get out of the way. In that moment her dog knocked her down and as she twisted, her ankle broke all to hell. Please don't get the willies from the gruesome photo of poor swollen broken ankle...does that look painful or what!? Read on....

The doctors actually had to use two screws to connect her ankle bones and Kathy walked around on them for months while she healed. Owie!!! She told me she could feel things rubbing together in there and it was not comfortable to say the least. 

Well right before we went to lunch together she had, at last, had those screws removed - YAY!!!! If you've ever had an injury of any kind and gone through the body healing stuff, the emotional stuff, the limitations on what you can and can't do while it's healing, you understand her glee, and her gratitude towards those screws that made the alignment and healing possible. They're pretty special screws.

She's an enthusiastic buyer of the jewelry I so love to make - which you can purchase in my Etsy shop Dreamkeeper Creations, and it always looks so great on her. So she said to me, "Jen, can you make me something out of these?"

And you know, I love this girl, and I picked up the bag with it's long shiny screws and nodded my head, answering "Absolutely." Well, I trust my artistic muse, don't I? This is a LOT of trust....

In the car on the way home that night after work my head was full of thoughts about how to attach these screws so they'd hang straight (a reflection of my totally OCD nature - I'll write a post about that too, and it'll be fun). So I sat down at the table my husband made me in my studio and got to work. Man it was fun. These earrings came out like they were just waiting to adorn her - HA! Take a look....

Kathy's Earrings to Commemorate Healing

Pretty cool, eh? Thank you my muse! These lovely danglies include little sterling silver dog charms, wish I had a better photo for you, and some agate, tourmaline, chalcedony, and Swarovski crystals, wire wrapped to blend nicely with the steel screws.

So pretty, huh?

Whenever I do commissioned jewelry for my friends (all clients are friends - which you'll thoroughly understand if you've ever purchased and worn my pieces) I write a special note letting them know what kind of stones were chosen and a bit about the piece(s). Kathy's copy says, right at the beginning:

Custom Earrings to Commemorate Healing for Kathy

These earrings, made especially for you, include little sterling silver doggie charms because your beloved fur person got a little over-enthusiastic and knocked you down, maybe you should eat more pancakes.... (she's a tiny, beautiful woman)

The silver spiral symbolizes the eternal cycles of life, healing and growing, death, and birth, of facets of self.

The spiral is because whenever we injure ourselves there's something going on that makes us stop, or at least slow down, and turn our thoughts more closely to ourselves to see what's really going on...and that's when surprising growth happens inside ourselves, which can positively affect our influence in our outside worlds.

So there's the story, ain't it great? I feel honored to have been asked to make something special to commemorate her healing, and I give sincere thanks, always, to my muse.

Namaste

Jen

Faerie Painting in the Works!

FaerieCon Banner

 Attending FaerieCon in November was such a special experience. Very inspiring for my artwork, which you'll see a bit below. 

FaerieCon is a 3-day event which includes two balls (the Good Faeries Ball and the Bad Faeries Ball) with really great music (sort of Celtic/folk/rock), wonderful panel discussions with artists and writers, and amazing workshop sessions presented by world renown artists, truly talented artist vendors selling beautiful clothing, jewelry, artwork (paintings and prints), dolls, and all manner of gorgeous faerie related merchandise. The attendees dress in costume 24/7, which is highly entertaining, or maybe they sneak in from the bordering wild fields....

Wild Faeries Abound! Or should I say unbound?!

Vendors - If everyone wore a hat like this the world would be much more peaceful I'm sure ; )

Incredibly gorgeous "doll" or more of a decoration really.

So when my husband and I attended a few weeks ago, we had the most marvelous time, and the event is pivotal to my art career. Incredibly inspiring to be around so many others of like mind (the artists) and surrounded by such inspiration (the costumes). They also had a contest for Best Costume - a lot of fun. I couldn't decide which was more fun, watching the contestants, or the audience!

Costume Contest

I got to sit in on a panel discussion session that included Charles Vess, Helena Nelson Reed, Linda Ravenscroft, Brian Froud, Amy Brown, and Robert Gould - world renown artists sharing their artistic and business expertise with us, WOW, that was so SO wonderful.

Excellent Panel Discussion

One morning when I was having coffee outside I chanced upon a little blue faerie sitting on a bench - did you know faeries love coffee too? ; )

Little Blue Faerie Having Coffee - (Love her shadow, don't you?)

Back home in my studio I began a new drawing which will eventually be a beautiful watercolor painting based on "Sacred Law," which is the law of the Universe, or Cosmic law (Great Spirit's Laws), as opposed to human law. Here's a sneak peak (it's not done yet), and not the best scan since it's a bit larger than my scanner accommodates, but it'll give you an idea. The story/meaning behind it follows the image.

Faerie Queen of Sacred Law

This image is a blend of Celtic, Native American, and Faerie world influences. The message of it is based on my favorite material - Jamie Sams' Sacred Path Cards, and illustrates the section about the Crow, who is the keeper of all sacred law. I put a Celtic spin on it because that's my own heritage and it's the way I feel best expressing the teachings of this material. In all my studies of various peoples' beliefs the thing that most fascinates me is the common threads of truth that run through them. There's a lot of basic truth in the foundations of "tribal" and "primitive" beliefs, which are very beautiful and totally applicable to our lives today, with excellent results. 

Part of what crow teaches, which is written on the page of the Sacred Law book that the Faerie Queen is holding is that "the past is your teacher, the present your creation, and the future your inspiration." I just LOVE that!

There is a candle on the left, representing the light, or enlightenment, and the candle becomes the word "law." There will be more designs throughout the lettering and when I paint the color into it, it'll pop out so you can read it easily. 

The Faerie Queen is sitting on a carved wood throne which is inlaid with sparkling jewels. The interesting thing about her is that I drew her first, not knowing what the rest of the picture was going to be, and when I drew the candle after I had shaded her in, it turned out that her shadows are backwards. In other words, because of where the candle sits, where there should be light, there are shadows, and vice versa. I like that it turned out that way, as it's an apt statement on much of society today (HA!). The story of Crow that Jamie Sams tells lets us know that Crow can "bend the laws of the physical universe and 'shape shift.'"

It'll have a Celtic border around the outside inch (which you can only see a part of in the scan). Drawing this is pretty mind boggling and takes a LOT of concentration, but is very fun too. There will also be a flock of crows flying up between the candle and the Faerie Queen. Do you like her ears? When we were at FaerieCon many of the costumes were so cool, and the people who have been attending for years and are very into it take great pride in their ears - where they got them, who the original artist was who designed them, what they're made of, and how real they look. It's so fun walking around seeing all these people dressed up as woodland faeries. 

Per Jamie Sams, the application of Crow's teaching is to "walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life's mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now." She writes, "shape shift that old reality and become your future self."

Cool Pirate Faerie Dude Walking His Talk

Faeries Being Captured on Camera - they like it!

Wow what a GREAT time! (Very good hotel, on-site with the event too.)

Quite exciting watching the painting happen. I'll post again when it's done - let me know what you think!

Namaste

Jen

Doggies watching TV - HA!

Lil Bear looking out the picture window, one of his fave pastimes.

Benjamin after he just woke up xo

Sometimes when we watch TV my two dogs, Benji and Lil Bear get real interested if there are any animals on the screen. So one night I wrote a little "Dr. Seuss" type of poem about that. Here it is...if you read it out loud to a kid it'll get you both laughing : )

Snufflepups and Grumblerumphs

Snufflepups and Grumblerumphs!

My doggies LOVE to watch TV.

They hufflejump onto our laps

 where they drape themselves to doze

 until suddenly their ears pop up

and they tremble to their toes.

They rrrumble and grrrumph

rather fiercely I say—

at lightflashing actors

with four legs or nay—

“Oh who, oh who, and how, and when

will they come through the screen

and land in our den?

Will we lick them in greeting

right on their ear?”

“Grrrrrumph! GRRRRrrrrrrrrrr    rrr   rr   r rumble! Umphsnuffle!”

they cheer.

Snufflepups and grumblerumphs!

Smart as whips, my doggies prance

around the TV to the back,

all ashiver at the chance

to increase their doggie pack—

If only

the actors

weren’t        so         FLAT—

not round, just sound— no smell,

oh well!

Snufflepups and grumblerumphs!

They dash across the room—

over the table, across the rug

 and skid to a halt.

 And sit very still.

 With one paw up.

And say to the screen

 “Hey! Hey! Who IS that

in this very strange scene!?”

“How can we tell

if they don’t have a smell

if they’re friend or foe—

and how do we know

to protect or reject

or sniff

or lick

or snuffle

or grumble

or rumph?

Umph!”

My doggies say.

~Jennifer Berghage 12/2011

Namaste

Happy Christmas

Sometimes life throws you a kick in the pants. That's what happened to my husband and me this month. He's quite young, but we experienced a real curveball when he had a heart attack early in November. All is well and he's recovering nicely, but we sure have gotten a new appreciation of life and all its beauties and pleasures.

Rob and Benji wrapped up in fake furbee

Make sure to hug your lovies and say what you want to say now. Appreciate every little minute, cause they're all so special. Hope the holidays are wonderful for you, make them so.

Namaste

Jen