So sweet

FREE Hugs!

Sorry about the two tracks of music playing. Choose either to turn the volume down on the movie or at the bottom of the blog page. Either sound track will work!

A BIG Thank you!!

First of all, I want to wish every one a big thanks for stopping by my booth at the Belfast Art in the Park fair. The show was a big success and lots of fun over all. I enjoyed talking to every one and it was so nice to hear all the really great compliments on my work. After spending so many long hours in the studio it is invigorating to bring the work out to the public and hear so many positive comments.

Since sales were so high at the fair I will need to again get right back to work! And that is great as it is my life's joy to be doing what I love. It is my wish that everyone should find something that brings them as much happiness and play as my work does for me.



My next venue will be the BelTek festival in Belmont Maine, Aug 1-3. ***non-stop fun for 48 hours!!! Oh my, I hope I am not too old for this! Really looking forward to the experience. I will be sharing a big round tent with Chris and Michelle Ruin (sp?? sorry C &M!). There promises to be lots of great DJ's spinning tunes to people of all ages from all over the country into the wee hours. There is plenty of free camping for all.

Planning to have some special glow-the-dark jewelry esp for the event.

Hope to see you all soon.

New Work and Show Schedule

Sterling silver and polymer earrings

Greetings from Lucerne! Its been a long winter, a sluggish spring, but the flowers are blooming and its May, finally!

After finishing up the Gallery Guide (my husband and I publish the Maine Gallery & Studio Guide- a yearly guide to Maine art with web site and blog.) I am beginning to get my start in the production of pieces for the summer show schedule. I have many new pieces to bring out this year and a couple of new shows that I have never done before. Should make for an interesting summer.

I am excited to be doing a show with my best friend Valerie McCaffrey of Ballard Street Studio who is doing some fantastic cement garden heads. We will be both at the Woolfe's Neck Farm Art Fest June 28th. I plan to have paintings in this show as well as jewelry.

I am venturing into some unknown territory by doing the BelTek music festival in Belmont, Maine this year. It is a free 3 day 24 hour techno music dance extravaganza Aug 1-3. I will have some far out earrings and pendants just for this crowd as well as for the Old Port Fest. June 1 in Portland.

Designing Women show in Bangor is on again for this year. That show is at Husson College in Oct.

I will again be at MECA/Sea show in Portland for the Holidays.

Currently I have 2 pieces in a show at Daniel Kany Gallery in Portland. That show will run through June 1.

Hope to see you at some or all of these shows!

Best wishes,
Suzanne

busy season

It has been a very busy time here at the studio. I have had so much to learn very quickly in order to present my work the very best I can

....not to mention lots of show forms to fill out.

IN The STUDIO
I am working on a series of little containers and learning to do transfers. Building the containers with little lids has opened up (literally) a whole new way to work for me. Having to make things fit together has been fun but difficult for me. I am working on two at the moment and am including transfers as part of the design. I have many ideas now but not a lot of time to spend on them. Such is life i guess.
Will post picts soon.

WEB SITE reBUILT again!
I have rebuilt my web site to be geared towards jewelry instead of painting. I will still post paintings here on this blog from time to time but have found that the majority of my sales have been in jewelry. I will be concentrating on the jewelry more than painting at this time and that is perfectly ok.

Do, however, intend to get the NOLAProject paintings done soon. Have an idea on how they will be done --mixed media on canvas.

New

Pendants on Silk




Conical shape necklace

Beads

Perfect for Fall. Handmade beads in browns, blues
with faceted carnelian and sterling silver.
Hand forged sterling silver clasp. 16" (sold)




Greens and Blues. Long necklace of handmade beads, silver chain,
faceted blue quartz, swarovsky Austrian Crystal and opal glass.
Hand forged sterling silver clasp. appox 26"




Shell and Petal Necklace. Asian inspired in a combination
of handmade beads and pendant with sterling silver,
handmade precious metal clay shell, pink opal glass and seed beads.
Hand forged clasp. 16"





Pink and Green. Handmade large beads (approx 20 mm)
with varied fun patterns strung with copper, dyed jade
and Swarovsky Austrian crystal.
Hand forged copper clasp. approx. 20"

RECENT WORK
Posting a few pictures of some recent beads and necklaces.

NOLA Project
Things are going well with the fund raising bracelet. I have raised almost enough to cover my travel expenses! I will still need raise funds for materials, framing and publicity for the shows. Thanks to everyone who has so generously supported me!

SHOW IN BIDDIFORD
I will be having a solo show of my landscapes at the Biddeford Savings Bank, Biddeford, Maine Oct- Dec

~Suzanne

I am happy to announce that I now have an ETSY site where I can sell my jewelry and paintings online. At this point I only have the "Home" bracelet listed on the site to support my trip to New Orleans. Please check it out sometime.

Suzanne

Art in New Orleans--The Nola Project

I would like to refer everyone to my new project that is explained at www.thenolaproject.blogspot.com.

Please feel free to leave me some comments and buy a bracelet to support this worthy cause!

New Work
I am off for a quick overnight trip to see some art and do some pastels. We are going "downeast" as Mainers say. This refers to going up the coast of Maine, north of Bar Harbor. Perhaps some of these works will make it into the WLBZ sidewalk art show Aug 4 in Bangor.

Thanks for visiting--Suzanne

"Moss Covered", Pastel 9 x 12

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Living on a beautiful Maine lake has offered me the wonderful opportunity to paint what I see right out side of my studio or just down the road a bit. To have this presented to me is like receiving a gift everyday. I am very happy to be able to share this beautiful place through my paintings.

Painting From Life
Painting in the natural environment has taught me how to see light and color. Living on a lake I am always fascinated by the water itself. The never ending patterns, color and reflections.




Cierra, my painting compainion of 11 years!

Life Influences Narrative Paintings
My narrative, more abstract paintings are created using what I have learned while painting from life. These paintings portray an idea of voyage, journey, transformation and self-actualization.

A transformation through difficult times or navigating changes can often be seen in the water and kayak paintings. The kayak is metaphor for the journey. The water can be treacherous or calm,
frozen solid or changing over from frozen to liquid. The going is
often difficult with a hopeful, positive place (island) as the
destination. The kayak, being a pod-like vessel, can be seen as
containing hope, desires, potential.




"Binding" acrylic 18 x 30 (in process)


Figurative Paintings
My figures are about the same kind of journeys with perhaps a bit more of a literal portrayal. My heroines or heros as I think of them, have changes to go through and difficulties. I seek to portray them as peaceful and strong individuals. Their faces serene.

COLOr~!
I use opposites in the paintings like warm and cool colors and complimentary colors (across from each other on the color wheel, such as purple and yellow, blue and orange). These opposites are used to try to push and pull the figure into and out of the canvas. These opposites work to point out the dicotomy in all humans between the feminine/masculine, the good/bad, strong/week etc. Also, to me these figures are still struggling and have a long way to go.

In all, it is my intention that they seem positive and the viewer feels optimistic about the outcome.




Visiting the Studio
My studio is open by appointment. Call anytime to arrange for a visit.

New Work and Show Schedule

Lately I have been working with soft pastels. It is an interesting switch from the oil pastels I have been doing. These are all 9 x 12, done on location.





Lonely Kayak Series


Lonely Kayak #2 -moving toward contentment, acrylic on canvas



Lonely Kayak #3-Journey-landscape in flux-ice changes to water, acrylic on canvas (SOLD)

These paintings are really exciting for me and the response to them has been fantastic. I think working from life has helped to inform me on how to do the more "inner" paintings. This theme is very interesting to me. I love the shape of the kayak. It is a pod, very organic and yet not. I am painting a lonely journey. I don't know the outcome yet. There are many more paintings to come on this. I can't wait to get some more canvases and more cadmium yellow light paint!

Working on the lonely Kayak series




My Dog Cierra, acrylic on paper




My new beads! I have been exploring bead making and boy is it fun. I will be featuring these new necklaces at some of the shows this summer and fall.



Collaged pendant with lavarock, swarovsky austrian crystal,
yellow jade and skulls necklace. The skulls are fun and make
the jewelry seem primative and magical.

Schedule as of 6-27-07

Every thurs in Bangor, 4-8, at the Kenduskeag Stream. Mostly jewelry with a few acrylic paintings on board.

WLBZ 2 outdoor art show, Bangor, Aug 4, paintings and jewelry

Art at the Beach, Lincolnville, Sat. Aug 11, 10-4, paintings

Designing Women, Oct 3, Husson College, jewelry

United Maine Craftsmen, Brewer Auditorium, Nov 23-25, jewelry and paintings

Maine College of Art Holiday Show, Portland, Dec 7-9, jewelry and paintings

Thanks to everyone who attends my shows and a special thanks to those who purchase my work. It is my wish that you absolutely love it!

Whats happening at YIKES!-A lot!

Haven't had much time for writing this blog. Ahhh... writing is not my thing but I find that I have to do it a lot more than I care to.

Wanted to make a note here about my very new and very very interesting beads (to me anyway) I have delved into the world of polymer clay and am totally addicted to the stuff. I am so thrilled to be able to use color and pattern in my very own beads!! It has been a lot of experimenting and I have so many ideas going through my brain. Can't make things fast enough.

Will have scans here for viewing soon.

Also, have started a new body of work in pastels of all things. Though I have always liked oil pastels, the chalk pastels never appealed to me before. It is very interesting to work with them. It is like the opposite of the oil pastels in that i am always bumping up the color as opposed to bring it down when using the oil. My work has loosened up.

updated web site

If you arrived here via the updated Yikes!Studio web site then you already know that it has been revamped and hopefully is functioning better. The new site has an emphasis on the paintings but I hope to add more jewelry at a later time. I have removed the Paypal shopping as many people don't like to use it anyway. I think if someone is interested in my work they will just contact me through email anyway.

Besides doing my regular job at the Maine Gallery and Studio Guide and creating web sites, I have been busy doing a lot of paperwork and filing out forms for the upcoming show season. Hoping to get back to painting soon--need to get back to it soon!!

Working on some new jewelry for this year. A lot more silversmithing and creating my own beads too. It has been interesting and fun.

Besides the appearing in the usual WLBZ Show in Bangor and the Holiday show at MECA
I will be appearing in a Designing Women show this year and also the some United Maine Craftsmen shows. It should be a very busy season. I will post a schedule when I know more.

The lake has been gorgeous!
There is nothing like Maine light in winter.

New Logo

New Logo Design for YIKES!Studio

Watch for the t-shirt. I may have a few for the Holidays

Working on getting ready for the MECA Portland show first weekend in Dec. Will have tons of new stuff. Working like mad on suzijewels. Really exxccited about them. If you haven't seen them yet check out the previous post for an example. The newer ones, however, are a little simpler but just as funcky.

Have a great Thanksgiving

Suzanne

Paintings and Jewelry

The Hair Change, acrylic, 2006

Welcome to the new blog for YIKES!Studio and Beads & etc. I am really excited to finally be getting some new info and images up on this web site and maybe kick things up a notch as far as keeping clients up to date on the things I have been making and experimenting with lately. The blog seems like an ideal medium for this --a lot less time consuming than updating the web site leaving me more time to concentrate on what I do best!

Soon I will be dropping the Beads & etc name and will continue to work under YIKES!Studio. I think it is just too confusing to use both names and Yikes is really the best of the two I think. The site will continue to be hosted at www.beads-etc.net for now.

For those who don't know, Anthony and I have gotten married! (Sept 6, 2006) We had a beautiful, little wedding with perfect weather. It was so much fun! We celebrated with friends and family from near and far. We honeymooned in Paris and Venice. Absolutely awesome. While in Venice we took a tour of the famous and very old Murano Glass factory and needless to say I will be doing some work soon with Murano glass beads. I have a new wonder, fascination and appreciation for Murano glass. I didn't do any painting while away but came away with much inspiration and many photos.

Upcoming shows
Philips Strickland House Fall Fair-November
MECA Alumni Show Oct 6-Nov 17
"Hold Everything!" Oct Maine Discovery Museum Auction-painted bench
MECA Auction Nov 10-Kumbala Jasper Necklace
Philips Strickland House Fall Fair-November
MECA/SEA Holiday Show-Dec 1-3, new location at the East End Community School
CancerCare at EMMC Show Feb 2007

New Work

Ever since planning my wedding I have been interesed in making jewelry that is a bit more romantic and more dress-up. I have been very drawn to the Swarovski Crystals and want to incorporate lots of sparkle but in new ways that I hope will continue to excite people about my work.

silver flower necklace with Swarovski crystals,
garnets and cherry quartz sold


My paintings continue to move in directions that I enjoy and I hope will appeal to others. The landscapes and still lifes on the small boards are really fun and people seem to like them. I call them my kitchen art. The landscapes are still captivating me and I am anxious to get out and paint soon. Things have been a little crazy since the wedding and getting Maine Gallery Guide back on track has taken a lot of my time. The colors now are really magnificent and the air wonderfully clear. Yesterday it was misty and really lovely too.

I am interested in doing more figurative work. I feel I can really get at the center of things when working in this form. It is something that I feel calls for bigger canvases and am currently working at around 36 x 28.

Thanks for looking at my work! Till next time....Suzanne


Suzijewels necklace - mixed media

Binding, 2006 acrylic





















Water Sparkles, 2006, Oil Pastel