Flowers from my Soul !

Happy with how my ring looks like after fired. 

I hand sculpted the calla lilies and hollow formed and carved the ring with FastFire Bronzclay. 

I fired my ring full ramp to 1550 F and hold there for 3 hours.

"Flowers from my Soul"
©2011 Lorena Angulo
FastFire Bronzclay and Gilder's Paste African Bronze.

I know some people has had bad experiences firing this type of metal but I want to let you know that it is possible to have a great experience. We need to understand that this wonderful material is very new and we are all learning with it. Every bad firing I had at the beginning was a great opportunity to learn something new, I never stop playing with the material until I got the real connection with it. I really enjoy creating with bronze and I hope all of you who had bad firings will keep on trying.

Love,

Lorena Angulo

My heart was aching

My heart was aching but I am starting to understand that sometimes things can not be as you had planned them. This does not mean things will be bad, it just means that maybe my destiny has something bigger and better for me.
I always tried to see things in a positive way, I am a true believer that all experiences good or bad are in your life to teach you something. I take all the good and try to embrace it with all my heart.
I am  human too and I had my downfall emotionally but I am BACK. The love of my husband, family, friends and the beautiful smile in my two gorgeous kids is more than enough to realize that what matters more, I already have it.


I am back in my studio and these are some of the pieces I created, hope you like them ! ♥

"Together, we'll be alright"
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Hand sculpted and carved with Creative paper clay and colored pencils

"Arbol de Vida Pasion"
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Hand sculpted and carved with FastFire Bronzclay.

"Flowers from my soul"
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Hand sculpted and carved with FastFire Bronzclay.

"Flowers from my soul"
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Hand sculpted and carved with FastFire Bronzclay.

"Those who wish to sing, always find a song."  ~ Swedish Proverb


Love,
Lorena ♥

Chains, Chains, Chains

I am always on the look out for books about chains but to be honest I have not found a book that really catch my attention, but when I got this amazing book a couple of days ago I was finally happy to see a book that had all I was looking for.
Chains, chains, chains by Joanna Gollberg and Nathalie Mornu is such a beautiful book. The format of the book was something I really like, the size of the book is 7 by 11 inches, this format makes the chains inside really come to life.
Joanna Gollberg and Nathalie Mordu collected 25 beautiful projects by 22 leading designers. Each project has a different style and use of material where you can create not only chains but bracelets and earrings. The versatility of the projects has something for everybody, you can either found a very simple and elegant design or a very chunky and fun project. 
I assure you will be happy with this book as much as I am.  The most interesting part of this fantastic book is the area where the authors talk about techniques and basic information where the reader can learn about alloys, base metals, solders, ferrous metals, work hardening and annealing and much more. They also talk about bench tools and equipment.
Chains, chains, chains is a very complete book where you can find amazing inspiration and all the information you need to start working and creating your own chains.


This is what I created after I saw this great book. I only had copper wire on hand and not my torch, but still I like how the chains look like.

What are you waiting for? You have to get this great book and hope you can share with me the chains you will be making.


Love,
Lorena

Things in life can get in your way...

©2010 Lorena Angulo
Resin and Red Chalk Pastel

I am going through some difficult times and it is so incredible to see how it affects my creativity. I always go to my studio when I feel sad or stress because making art in any form makes my soul and heart happy. 
At this moment I know things will get better and I am coming to my studio for inspiration and to feed my soul with one of the things I love the most, next to my family, creating and transforming an object into something that will bring me happiness.


Do you think that creating art is like therapy for your soul ? It is for me and I will start my therapy very soon.


"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."
  ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Love,
Lorena

What is in your work table or bench ?

I have to admit my studio right now is a little messy, well to be honest VERY MESSY, but it is because I have been busy making new jewelry pieces. 
My latest pieces are some earrings and a ring, they are all ready to go to the kiln !!

 Just finished this ring made with PMC3. I love to hand sculpt my work a lot and Calla Lilies are one of my favorites flowers to make.

These two neck pieces are waiting for me to finish constructing their chains made with copper wire. I always have something good to read on hand and this time is the great Metal Clay Artist Magazine's latest issue.

Some earrings I made with PMC3 are all ready to go to the kiln. The earrings with the heart design are going to be stamp after fired with some of my new tools ;o) .




What is in your bench or work table ?

My RAD Journey little book

Finally I have my little book of some of my RAD rings I made in 2010.
I enjoyed so much this great experience and I though Thomasin Durgin's idea  to create a book with some of our rings was great ! I got Thomasin's book already ! ;o)
I will love to have their books while we all wait for the Ring a Day book LARK is publishing this coming fall.
Here you can see a preview of my book, let me know what you think.

My RAD Journey by Lorena Angulo | Make Your Own Book

Playing with Gilders Paste

I am always in the look out to find new products to use in my jewelry making and this product is really fun and easy to use. Gilders Paste is a wax-based medium used to highlight metal, wood, resin, ceramic and much more.
They have a lot of colors to choose from and it really gives the opportunity to add color to metal in an easy and practical way.
Before adding the paste we need to clean our metal piece, it has to be free of dirt and oil. The paste works better in a surface that it is not very smooth, in case you have a smooth piece, you can use a fine sand paper to create some texture in the metal.
You can use your fingers, a cloth, small brush or a sponge to add the paste. You can also blend some of the colors together or thinner the paste with mineral spirits to make the paste softer to apply with a brush. 
The paste dries in 10 minutes to touch but it takes 12 hours to fully dry, you have some time to take the paste out if you are not happy with the color ;o). 
You can finish up your piece with a clear lacquer.

Here you can see some of my pieces I applied Gilders paste.

OAXACA

©2011 Lorena Angulo

Bronze and Gilders paste (African Bronze and Silver)

MILAGROS
©2010 Lorena Angulo
Bronze, sterling, coral, azurite and Gilders Paste patina.

©2011 Lorena Angulo
Bronze, brass and Gilders paste silver, Iris Blue and African Bronze.

In this picture you see how the copper mask looked before and after the Gilder Paste application. 

SPRING MASK
©2009 Lorena Angulo
Copper with Gilders Paste (African Bronze, Patina, Inca Gold and Silver.)

Bird a Week #20

I have been so busy that I have not been able to be on task with my Bird a week challenge. I will try my best to catch up with all my artists friends who are also doing this great challenge.


This time I made a ring using a bird I have made a while ago but I was not sure yet what to do with her.
Finally this week I knew the perfect spot for my tiny bird and I created a hollow ring with a nest on top where I added my bird.

NIDO (Nest)
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and LOS patina

NIDO (Nest)
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and LOS patina

NIDO (Nest)
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and LOS patina

Follow the work by other talented artists in this challenge by visiting their blogs:

Having fun with hollow rings

I have been making a lot of rings and lately I got into the big hollow ring designs. I was making them before but talking with a good friend and fantastic artist, Lora Hart, she mentioned to me the way she constructed her hollow rings and I decided to give it a try.


I have made three rings so far using Lora's technique and I have to say that I really LOVE it !!!


This was my first ring I made, adding my own design style and I like the end result.

FLOR MEXICANA
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and a Lab Ruby

FLOR MEXICANA
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and a Lab Ruby

This is my second ring, this time I did not used a stone. I love to work just with the metal and add lots of texture and detail. I am very happy with how the ring looks like.

MI PRIMAVERA
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and LOS patina

MI PRIMAVERA
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and LOS patina

It is very interesting to see how artists made pieces in different ways. We are always playing around and adapting techniques into our own way of working. Lora was a very sharing friend to let me know how she constructed her rings.
She is always giving advice and help and I am very happy to see she finally had all her expertise and knowledge available to anyone that is looking for help in their art and business of art. She created her "Mentorials" , with these mentorials you can have a one-on-one conversation with Lora Hart. I believe you will be happy with the guidance and help she can give you.