Musings On Photography

This is one of my latest pieces, from the Mermaid Amulet Series.
The gemstone is a cloudy sky blue Aquamarine nugget.I really love this necklace, it's another of my personal favourites

I've been photographing my work for a while now, and never feel completely satisfied with the results. Selling online draws even more pressure into the equation, given that the photography is key

So I have been taking a bit of time to practice with different backgrounds, and lighting angles etc. I want to get hold of some more natural materials too, and have a play with those.

Anyway here are a few photos of this piece... with a few little lighting touches that are new for me :)









Hope you like them :))

Embracing The New Dawn

The year is almost up, and I'm feeling all kinds of emotions these days about the way everything is heading

I will have a milestone birthday early next year, which I'm NOT looking forward too lol. I'm trying to keep all my successes and failures, hardships and high points in perspective. It has been a rough few years and yet that is counterbalanced by this amazing surge of creativity that has taken over my life so completely

I wondered is it enough to create things at home, and go on your own spiritual journey, without anyone seeing your work. I did this for a long while, I had boxes full of little treasures, that I never wore, and that were never seen lol

Financially I had to take the plunge really, just to be able to sustain my passion. This meant trying to sell, which seemed like a pride swallowing activity, of self promotion and soullessness. Thats what I thought anyway

However, people love my work, and the little fantasy world I occupy, and most touchingly, they want to use my jewellery to honour their loved ones on special occasions. This has been amazing. I've loved hearing the events my work has been bought for - it's been a real highlight for me

The other big plus about going public with my work, has been the feedback and support from other artists. Like minded artists inspiring each other, congratulating and commiserating with each other. I've been taken aback by how wonderful the whole experience with them has been

This year I have gone from being invisible, to publicly finding my own creative voice, having an online shop, selling at prestigious craft fairs and being made Metal clay Artist of the Month, by the years end!

Next year is going to be bringing more high end shows for me to agonise over, more face to face time with art lovers, a commission from the British Museum Grenville Shop(yes, the British Museum in London...more about that later), and possibly a magazine cover and artist profile!

How unbelieveable is all of that! ... oh well bring on that milestone birthday, I'll take it on the chin, because who knows where I'll be in a year from now :))

To finish with, here are the latest pieces in the shop today. Enjoy the pics ...

Etsy Treasury Purple Sunset

I've made a pretty Treasury based on the theme of a late Autumnal sunset, with golden and purples hues.Click the preview pic above for the full view

Making treasuries cheers me up, and I am feeling blue, having has flu for the past week and with so much work to do. I was just about to launch into my Lichen/Coral inspired piece, when illness stopped me in my tracks.

So I am to start again today with sketches to ease me in, then I'll try to actually make this piece, which is driving me mad at the mo.
Wish me luck

Samantha

Symbiosis - Algae, Lichen and Coral

I'm becoming obsessed with my new pet project.

Lichens arise in those amazing natural forms , shapes and colours because of the mutually beneficial relationship between algae and fungi, whereas coral arises from the same symbiotic reliance formed between algae and marine invertebrates

Sometimes Lichen and Coral look so similar to each other, in macro it's hard to tell them apart.

Anyway, I'm in love with this subject (blame the growing collection of coral sitting on my work bench). So. I'll be in lockdown, holed up in the studio because of this burning idea I have in mind, thats erupted from my new obsession.

My husband will be so pleased(not), he often catches me with a glazed look, and makes the mistake of asking whats on my mind, only to be regaled with the wonders of radial symmetry in marine invertebrates or some such nonsense. He's going to love my new found algae/lichen/coral fixation won't he?!

Anyway I've included some images of Corals, and Lichen colonies, and have mixed them up just to confuse you LOL. The sources for all the images (and tons more), can be found HERE at my Flickr Favourites page.







OK...so now I'll grab a bite, and head to the studio :)

Samantha Braund

Reflective Musings On The Selling Process

I haven't posted here in a little while, how remiss of me!

In truth I have been a busy little bee, starting the new Etsy shop properly, while still recovering from the mammouth London Jewellery Week

I've made exactly one ring since coming back, which is odd for me, as I do tend to work/create all the time. I think I lost my mojo for a little while there, but I'm not panicking about it...yet LOL

This morning has been spent taking a ridiculously large number of photographs for a few items, that will appear in the Etsy shop this week.

Its a weird business selling online, compared to selling in person. The online selling world is strangely sterile and quiet. I loved chatting to customers, and especially learning what occasion the jewellery was being bought for, or for whom. Even people that were not buying gave me so much in feedback and opinions, and shared parts of their lives in conversation

I am really looking forward to doing the big Contemporary Jewellery show later this year. I'll get to meets lots of people again, and hopefully will be able to impress enough, to do more shows throughout the year

Thats the plan anyway. Just knowing I'm doing the show, is already freeing me up creatively speaking to be able to make some really standout pieces of sculpture. People I'd met in London Jewellery Week, also gave me the confidence to believe in my artistic vision, so I'm going to try and take all that and put it into my work (hopefully)... but for today, it'll just be more photo editing for the Etsy shop LOL