artist amy steinberg jewelry

I've moved....

2009-10-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

For a long time I've been thinking it was time to move to my art blog. Why? Because I think over the years this blog has gotten convuluted with too many ideas and things that relate more to my jewelry.

As of today I will no longer be actively be posting to this blog. From time to time I may come here to post something but if you want to see what is happening please come visit me on my art blog at www.amysteinberg.blogspot.com

See you soon!
Amy

Last two #MailArt

2009-09-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

I'm officially done with the #MailArt project from Twitter. These are the last two pieces to be mailed out. One is going to Alabama and the other here in California.

I'm having so much fun with this project that I am going to continue to work on this acrylic for other projects. Maybe make boxes? Books? Who knows.....

Yes, it's true....new art

2009-09-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

I have been avoiding my blog. Why? Because I don't know where my art is going nor do I know what the next chapter in my career is going to be. So, instead of just writing a bunch of rubbish I decided to wait until I had something to say.

I don't really have much to say now but I have been working on a new project called #MailArt on Twitter. A group of 50 artists were corralled together and broke in to two lists. We each are responsible for creating postcard size original pieces of art to send to each other. The piece must be original and must be mailed "as is". This is one of mine which still needs to be addressed and posted.

Created on acrylic sheet, painted with acrylic paint, ink, glimmer mist and water pencil from Stabilo. I then sealed the one side with a layer of gel medium and added the hardware eyelets.

Each postcard has a different "purely human" trait on it. Religion, faith, loving, hate, addiction and more that are in process. It's been fun.

The New Age of Website Design

2009-08-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

I can only hope we are moving web design to a more fluid format. Where navigation isn't necessarily a navigation bar but something new and different. I've run across three websites recently that offer a glimmer of hope for the next generation of web site design. Unfortunately one I can't remember BUT the other two are here.

The first image is a screen shot from Mis-Printed Type. Please visit this lovely little site, it is very interesting and the design is spectacular.

This second site is for artist Arleigh. Go visit her site. Yes, there is the navigation thing going on but I find the mouse over intriguing.

My point of all this is I am looking for a "floaty" web page. Something less structured and open to exploring more. Gives me ideas......

So much to do, so little time!

2009-07-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

I made a fun new video with my art work. If I could figure out how to embed the video here I would. I need more time...perfect example of not prioritizing, etc.

See the video HERE

Free Image - No Copyright Restrictions

2009-07-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

I love this collage sheet. Check out the tattoo lady! Ha! If you want a hi-res version shoot me an email and I'll send it to you.

Stabilo - Mixed Media Pencils

2009-07-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

Swoon!

Definition: A water-soluble pencil that will mark clearly, densely and legibly on any surface including acetate, paper, glass, metal, photo and film. Wipes off with a damp cloth on smooth surfaces and erases on paper.

Can also be used on the skin for making temporary tattoos, creating sketches for Mehndi designs or when you are feeling really brave drawing something across your forehead. My personal favorite is the giant tattoos my daughter draws on my back. Fish, people, dogs....just about anything. AND, during your next shower it rinses away. No soap required. HA!

Why even bring up this pencil? Because it is one of my new favorite mixed media implements. I have also been turned on to the Stabilo "Woody" 3 in 1. Definition: A chunky pencil that comes in 18 colors including the perfect black. It is a coloring pencil, watercolor pencil and wax crayon. Can be used for inventive applications in mixed media, encaustic art applications and can color alternative surfaces such as glass.

I have a project idea involving acetate, Woody and possibly a two part epoxy resin.

Craftside & A Few Books

2009-07-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, just as I was leaving for vacation a big heavy box showed up on my front doorstep. In my rush to pack and everything I quickly popped it open to find a small, non-descript note and FIVE brand new crafty books. The note said, "Congratulations! You won our CRAFTSIDE-MAKERFAIRE raffle. Enclosed you will find 5 of our newest craft books just ecause you stopped by our booth. We hope that you enjoy them."

I swear you could have knocked me over with a feather. I never win anything and to win something that encompasses to of my favorite things, books and craft....well it was almost as good as winning the lottery. Here are the five books I won and I can only say that I am slowly making my way through the first one with the other four patiently waiting.

I recommend checking them out and check out the Craftside blog. Lots of wonderful things to read and the blog is completely dedicated to covering crafty books. :-)

Here is a little Amazon widget of the books I currently have in my studio and either reading or getting ready to read. My list is always long.....*sigh*.

Chartpak Colorless Blender Marker

2009-07-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is the Colorless Chartpak Blender Marker. What is that you say? It is a clear marker that you use to transfer anything printed via photocopy or laser jet (must be toner based) on to a surface/substrate. As you can see from the photograph we have a white piece of paper printed on the opposite side (face down) on a canvas.

Rub the marker on the area you want to transfer and it makes the paper wet. When you pull the paper up you then have a reverse image on the substrate. Does that make sense?

Quick tutorial:

1) Take a photocopy or laser print of your image, a subsrate, spoon or bone folder, and the Chartpak colorless blender.

2) Put your image face down on paper or fabric. The right side of the paper and the right side of the fabric should be touching. Cover the entire area of the image with your pen until it is completely wet and you can see your image through the paper.

3) Now use the spoon or bone folder to press firmly on the image as you would with a rub-on.

That's it. You're done. You now have a fancy transfer to use in your art. You may consider heat setting with an iron on fabric or a heat gun on paper.

*Contains Xylene® for blending colors, transferring images, and other special effects.

Steampunk Jewelry

2009-06-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

The first time I ever layed eyes on Steampunk jewelry I was skeptical. I've grown to appreciate it more and more. I very much like this whole idea of Steampunk. I have flashes of Bram Stoker's Dracula when I think Steampunk. Enjoy the video and if you want the jewelry check out http://www.steampunkcellar.etsy.com

Paperclipping.com

2009-06-22T15:05:00.001-07:00

Last week I ran across a cute and informative site called Paperclipping. The site focuses on scrapbooking and teaching all kinds of techniques to scrapbookers. But, let me just say that if you are a mixed media artist and think scrapbooking is NOT something you would EVER do let me ask you to think again. Scrapbooking and mixed media art is really a blurred line. From the mediums and media used the scrapbook and mixed media world are converging. Mixed media artists can learn a lot and find a lot of products to utilize in the scrapbook world. Forget your sisters scrapbooking, seriously there are amazing artists in the scrapbook world. Case in point, Noell Hyman at Paperclipping. Check out her site, check out her videos and see what she is doing. It really is very interesting.

Then if you are looking for interesting mixed media products visit Scraplovers with open eyes and an open mind.

1000 Markets Favorite

2009-06-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't spent as much time on 1000 Markets as I'd like and I am actually thinking of opening a store on it. Anyone with positive or negative comments are appreciated as it relates to their experience.

So, today I was cruising the site to see what I could see and came across these pretty little things. Check them out when you get a chance.

Leather and metal cuffs from Michelle Mverbeeck

Twitter Me Up

2009-06-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am driving myself to distraction with all this Twittering, Tweeting, whatever. I know, you think it is crazy but I promise you it is pretty interesting. While I consider myself an artist there was a time in my life when I worked in the hi-tech world and I think it is that part of me that is fascinated with Twitter. I still don't know what their business model is but I am going to do a little research. If you know what it is I'd be interested in your comments.

So, I am actually Tweeting for myself as charmingsam AND amysteinberg plus I am tweeting for my DH psteinberg (although I haven't done much with the DH's yet) and two others. wickedlychic2 and scraplovers2 That is a lot of tweeting. I manage all of them thru my iPhone app Tweetie and thru HootSuite when I am at my laptop.

There are some interesting features in Twitter and some of its 3rd party applications. Why did I write this random post to my blog? To see if my RSS feed from my blog will now up date several of my twitter accounts! Ha-ha! It is the wild west out here and I'm having a ball!

Looking for someone to augment your tweets? Send me a message.

Interesting Artist - Aunia Kahn

2009-06-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

A new week and I've found an interesting if not a little disturbing artist by the name of Aunia Kahn. Beautiful and detailed her work is what you make of it based on your personal perspective.

Personally I really like the art and find it thought provoking.

Visit her Etsy store!

Chillin' Productions at the Mezzanine in San Francisco

2009-06-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night I'll be at the Mezzanine in San Francisco from 8:00pm to 2:00am.

This show is a lot of fun with great music and fabulous trend designers, artists & DJ's.

Come see me and all the other fabulous designers, artists and musicians!!!

Process Sheet - How I Make It

2009-06-05T20:31:00.001-07:00

I created this document to explain how I make my jewelry. I think it is clear but I'd be interested in comments.

Italy Ring - Etsy Treasury

2009-06-03T21:30:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I got chosen for an Etsy Treasury. This is my third treasury at Etsy and a thank you to http://darkridgecreations.blogspot.com/ for including me in her very nice treasury!!

You can link directly to my Italy Ring on Etsy here - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23054437

Art Travel Jewelry

2009-06-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

I have some wonderful new art travel earrings in sterling silver Like them? Email me for a special code to get 50% off!

amy@charmingsam.com

Make & Take @ Maker Fair this weekend - mf09

2009-05-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, this weekend I will be at Maker Faire. I swear I think this is my favorite show of the year. It is just so interesting and the people are always happy and easy going. Seriously, most shows are somewhere between worried vendors and a lot of hot and grumpy people. Maker Faire is just different, it is sort of a Burning Man but a little more organized. This year they'll have the life sized mouse trap, food demonstrations, needlepoint people, robotics people, 24 foot high wall streaming live Twitter and robotic warships. You can always count on a few things that involve fire, music, food and all the sponsors pull out the very best of stuff. Freebies, freebies and freebies! All maker vendors are required to either provide some sort of project you can make or they have to be demonstrating what they do.

I'll be there with some art and jewelry PLUS I'll have a fun Make & Take. Come see me at the Charming Sam booth to make a collage key ring.

I'll have everything you need from a selection of fun papers, miscellaneous bits and baubles PLUS all the glue you could possibly want. O.k., maybe not that much glue but you'll walk a way with a fun key chain for yourself or to share with your peeps.

Check my Twitter feed and as soon as I find out where my booth is I'll tweet it. I hope to tweet as often as possible but honestly I'm want to be so busy I won't have time to twitter. I am excited!

Hope to see you there!!

Two New Earrings

2009-05-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

How has a week gone by since my last post? Argh! I'm getting ready for the Maker Faire in San Mateo this coming weekend and just a working fiend. My lovely DH is leaving this week to which sort of puts a wrench in the whole thing with work and my daughter. That's o.k., it will all work it self out.

Anyway, I got some new necklaces and earrings up on the site this last week. My favorite earrings so far are the ones shown in this post. Oh, I like the others too but these speak to me.

Come visit me at the Maker Faire!!!!!

Where Am I Monday?

2009-05-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have a new contest for you Twitter and Facebook folks. It is called "Where Am I Monday".

As you know, my work revolves around travel destinations so what a better way to win something cool and explore destinations around the world.

The rules are simple.

1) Follow me on Twitter or Facebook every Monday. I'll post a Latitude and Longitude of where I am (or wish I was). You need to be a a friend or follower to win.
2) Send me a private message via Twitter or Facebook with your answer. Please be as precise as possible. If the Latitude and Longitude are on a beach, what is the name of the beach? Or if the lat/long is in the middle of a city am I in a building? If so what building is on that lat/long?
3) The contest runs from the time I post my lat/long on each Monday until 6:00pm PST of the same day.

Now, what do you win? Every week it will be something new so be sure to search Twitter for #whereamimonday.

That's it! Good luck and tell your friends!!

Cupids Span

2009-05-17T16:46:00.001-07:00

I love San Francisco!! It is by far one of my favorite cities. I love its quirkiness. Yes, it is beautiful to but it is the quirkiness of the sites and people that I really love. There really are things I swear you only see in San Francisco. Anyway, I've had a thing about the sculpture on the Embarcadero called Cupids Span. It makes me smile so I've finally gotten it in a perspective I like, added the heart because of all the heart sculptures in the city and the colors are there. I just have to finish the details, add some collage pieces I have and somehow I may try to get the labyrinth from Grace Cathedral in there.

I have been working on drawings for this painting for a couple of weeks along with some drawings of NYC and New Orleans. We'll see what actually makes it to canvas but if all goes according to plan I'll finish this painting this week and if I am really lucky I'll start and finish one more before Maker Faire in two weeks. I'll write more about Maker Faire as it gets closer but you gotta come out if you are in the bay area. It is so much fun and you are really supporting the indie community by coming to see all the craziness. Get your tickets early , they are a bit spendy at the gate and last year the lines were an hour long!! Totally worth the price of admission for the whole family.

Sgt. Pepper went to India

2009-05-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've gone to college twice. Once when I was right out of high school and once about five or six years later. The first time I went to college I dropped out and moved to Hawaii. We can just say that my grades were not the greatest in the world. It was basically a giant waste of money and time. I didn't take my education seriously and I really wasn't mature enough to take the responsibility given to me.

I moved to Hawaii and quickly took an interest in world religions. I grew up with very little knowledge about other cultures and religions and moving to Hawaii was a culture shock. Moving back to the mainland was a culture shock in reverse but that is another story. When I went back to college I took several world religion and cultural anthropology courses and became fascinated with religious iconography but because I was not an artist yet I didn't feel I had any way to express some of these thoughts.

When I began my series of paintings, Passage to India part of my exploration of the culture was between the Lotus and the Ohm symbols. The question is really, "what came first?" Ohm or Lotus? The next question I had was "what was it like for people traveling the Silk Road through India 500 years ago?" And last, "what was it George Harrison and subsequently the Beatles went to India to find?"

Yes, I realize these are disparate thoughts or seemingly. But honestly they are not. I think the people of the 14th century traveling on the Silk Road were looking for answers to their questions just as the Beatles were looking when they went to India in the 60's. So, what came first? Ohm or Lotus? What gave birth to the other? Did Lotus come down from the sky and open to Ohm? And how was this all related to Shri? That symbol you see in the painting is Shri, see my previous post for more info.

These are the things I ponder and my painting Sgt. Pepper was really a way of exploring my modern life in relation to these questions. I still don't have the answer or answers to this but I will continue to explore these concepts through my art and have fun naming my paintings.

Passage to India

2009-05-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

After my daughter was born my husband and I sort of went crazy, sold our house and moved clear across the country. It took us less than two years to realize we made a mistake so we moved back to California and bought our old house back from the people we'd sold it to. No kidding.

During the time we did not live in California I did four series of paintings, one of which was called Passage to India. The series originally had 14 paintings and all were at least 30"x40" in size. I sold many of the pieces to a gallery and some to collectors. I do however have two of the series still in my possession that I'd sort of forgotten about. Not because I don 't love them, they both were hanging in my house but because I'd just gotten use to seeing them.

A few days ago a couple who purchased one of the paintings from this series contacted me to see if I had any pieces left and after running around the house I realized I had two. The one here is called "Eve Never Sinned" and was the second in the series. I painted this when my daughter was about six months old. There is a lot of symbolism in this piece for me personally.

The form of the woman's body is shown as the tail on Lotus with Shri in the center. I realized after my daughter was born that women are really the center of being and thus if you are Christian then my commentary would be that "Eve Never Sinned". Of course as part of a series about India this brings in the Shri and a walled city at the end of the Silk Road. I could spend a lot of time talking about this concept and I'm sure I haven't given the concept justice in this post. Hopefully you get the idea.

The Shri shown in the center of the lotus and then stamped randomly on the canvas is from a wooden stamp a friend brought back from India for me. Actually, the funny thing is he didn't bring it back but had is mom hand carry a shopping bag full of wooden blocks from India to California for me. Many blessings to his mother!

So, in short that is the story of Eve Never Sinned. One of my favorite paintings.

Making Charming Sam Jewelry

2009-04-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Incorporating my art in jewelry has been an exciting experience and sharing the process is just as fun.

This photo was taken last week after I'd gotten all my images in bezels and was getting ready to pour the first of two layers of resin. Yes, that is a bed of rice under all the pendants. The rice creates a base that is easily manipulated for any size piece to insure the resin pours evenly. After the resin is poured it takes about 24 hours to fully cure and then I can begin the process of assembling each piece of jewelry.

Here is a quick tutorial on creating resin filled bezels.

For me over 1/2 of the process is creating the art that goes in each bezel. Painting and mixed media art is what makes my heart go pitter-pat. I love nothing more then to have a new white stretched canvas on my easel. The bigger the canvas the better and I love working on 30"x40" canvases and larger. Of course the size of my studio limits to some degree the size I can work with but I've been creative in the past and combined multiple smaller canvases that hook together to create one large canvas. Combining acrylic, oil pastel and paper is my absolute favorite media to work with and of course I am inspired by places all over the world and I endeavor to bring these places in to my art. The smells, sounds, colors, textures, people and culture. I don't want to just be a tourist, I want to see and feel a place as if I've lived there my entire life.

After I have finished a piece of art work then I begin the process of making my jewelry. Depending on the size of the art I will either have a professional photographer take high resolution pictures or I'll take the canvas and have it drum scanned. It really depends on the size and detail I want out of each piece. After I've gotten my art digitized I then start the process of deciding what part of the piece I want to be a focal point for jewelry. This can include zooming, cropping and light adjustment in CS3 before I adjust to the bezel size I want fill.

*** More of this post coming *****