Monument Valley Inspired
Driving thru the West, often hauling horses,
listening to my country faves,
George Strait, Brooks and Dunn,
Blake, Brad, and Toby, is freedom.
The first time I rode a horse in Monument Valley
was with a young Navajo girl I met
while painting murals in a hotel in Kayenta, Arizona.
The landscape just blows me away.
Several times a year, I get to drive thru the valley.
I love how a little rain changes this arid dessert
to a deep vivid red and blooms.
I have seen the snow and clouds lift off
the clusters of sculptural sandstone buttes at sunrise.
The light changes continuously and
never ends being a source of Inspiration.
Being in this expanse, feels to me like
I am a part of everything, past and present.
This part of the world speaks to me
when I am working with wood
and juxtaposing materials
that create diversity and depth.
Til Next Time,
"Live Creatively"
xx
Andrea
Fired Up In The Studio!!!!
Every surface in the studio has a different piece or
series of pieces in process.
I am excited about my new series of
"Stacked Bracelet" end tables... below,
They really are jewelry for the home.
Also, 2 benches , a door and hand crafted steel handles.
I am having a ball.
Nothing makes me feel better than to be productive
and seeing progress.
Sometimes trial and error and sometimes an epiphany.
Figuring it out.....
common sense, experience and
even dumb luck play a part in the process.
This week .... metal work,
which always includes a few scrapes and bruises.
I used my cutting torch to cut steel door handles,
which will have welded texture and lots of grinding.
The handles will emulate the marble veining
that has been carved on the door.
If you missed that video Click here.
The veins will be inlaid with gold leaf, the handles will match.
That’s the plan....
Here is a short peak in the studio, sparks and all.
Til Next Time
"LIVE CREATIVELY"
xx
Andrea
Canyon de Chelly Inspired
Canyon de Chelly is a breathtaking canyon
in the Navajo Indian Reservation near Chinle AZ.
Civilizations (Pueblo, Hopi and Navajo) have inhabited
these canyons for over 5000 years.
I spent a lot of time on the reservation
painting murals for a few hotels in the 90's.
Chinle, Kayenta, Monument Valley and Page
This was a dream client!
The landscape, the sculptural sandstone walls and ruins,
even learning Navaho etiquette,
lit a fire under my creative spirit and
continues as an inspiration for Andi-Le.
Canyon de Chelly is historic and spiritual.
You can feel the past and hear the ghosts in the wind.
The southwest and the textures of it's canyons,
mesas, buttes, plateaus and desert lands
will excite your soul.
I fell in love with the rock formations and prehistoric rock art.
In fact, my first metal sculptures were a series
of 6-8 foot tall petroglyphs.
( AHHHH! The olden days! from the 1900's )
Til Next time,
"LIVE CREATIVELY"
xx
Andrea