Little Alters Project: The Beginning, My Spot

01/31/2013

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I was invited to participate in the Little Alters project with a group of amazing artists.  It's a project where you create a little piece of art for each person based on what inspires you.  We each have a typeset style drawer with funny little compartments where each mini alter will be created.  The intent behind alters is that often in our lives we collect objects and gather them together on table tops, nooks, and crannies. Why not create more art and alters at the same time? "Cool!" I thought. I can do that. "And what fun to be part of such an eclectic group!"  

Source: joggles.com via Gwen on Pinterest
We all started with our own box (Box A), the biggest spot in the drawer, which is not a square, not a rectangle, but it's a square with a square cut out.  Grrr... there goes the even, orderly, balance & structure.  Getting started on a group exchange project is often the hardest because you feel it sets the tone for what everyone else has done, but Peg, our fearless leader, has encouraged us to not follow a theme, but rather just to create what inspires us. 
Whee! Free reign. Oh, wait - that can be unnerving to people like me who have learned to work within a structure.  Structure creates freedom to be creative. Ok... so I'm starting with no theme and very little structure.  So, I gotta consider the box shape my "structure" rather than rules.  This leads me to my inspiration for my box, Box A.  
This year, upon opening a ripe pomelo, I discovered it's delicious floral scent, much like that of walking through an orange grove.  Pleasantly surprised and captivated, I had to have more. I wanted to bottle it up and wear it every day.  The pith is what holds the richest scent.  The pomelo flesh, is also very tasty - like a cross between an orange and a grapefruit and delightfully pink. 
 When cut in a cross section, the contrast between the bright green rind, the pithy white and the cheerful pink pulp of the flesh segments is so inspiring.  I love how the pomelo segments aren't even in cross section. They remind me of flowers drawn by kids. 
So inspired to bottle up this scent, I went out and bought mason jars and all different kinds of citrus to make lemoncello, floral waters (via vodka) and vinegar for cleaning (thank you pinterest! click the pic above to get a recipe to make your own). So, now that my counters are stacked with mason jars and the multitude of citrus offerings, the inspiration to draw these wonderful fruits happened. 
Well, it took a while before I was hit with inspiration.  This box, being less than evenly balanced on all sides jarred me so much that I couldn't create. I made that worse by berating myself for not doing anything, then was concerned that my artists block would continue long beyond just this one box into every other box I attempted.  Damn that cut out square!  But, I put the whole project into a drawer while frustrated and took the day off.  I let myself relax, enjoy, and napped. Then, the day after the full moon, I just sat down and started drawing all the citrus that I had brought into my life.  I let it all hang out and anchor near the lower right corner. Let the fruit fall where it may!  Lo and behold, it behaved! I was able to cut a square out and still maintain the integrity of the art I created. Whew!  
My favorite part about this was discovering the cross sections of each fruit.  When I look at it, my heart skips a beat over both the pretty pink & green pomelo flower cross section and how I really captured the pink ripening spot on a grapefruit. I think, "Wow, I did that.... I did!"
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Featured Artist: Kimberly Kostal

02/06/2012

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Today I’m introducing you to Kimberly Kostal, the jewelry artist known as Lazy K Beads & Stampede Jewelry and a credit pro in the fishing industry.  Here’s a little trivia about her business name.  She’s not lazy per say, it's actually her brand, as in cattle (leaning k). Plus, she and her family have a cabin in Stampede Pass.  It’s a place she loves to create.

I first met Kimberly through the Northwest Creative Spirits PMC guild.  I heard wonderful stories about her amazing creations and her personal adventures.  I’ve been fortunate enough to observe that she approaches art with an open mind and a tenacity that you don’t often see.  I recently taught our guild how to carve stamps and she went so far as to use the stamps she carved and even a few of the decorative table wear (napkins) to create a thank you card for me. It was very touching and said a lot about her devotion to art.

I asked her a few questions to help you learn more about her as an artist.  One thing I really like about Kimberly is that she gets straight to the point.  I often see this pondering look in her eyes when I’ve asked her questions in-person, but she doesn’t dilly dally.  Rather, she’s thoughtful and purposeful.  Having known and met so many who are glued to their smartphones and can’t break away to even converse with you, her moments to ponder your question are refreshing.  Without further ado, here’s our email interview: 
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GG: Tell me a little about how you became an artist.
KK: I guess you can say I've been creating for a long time. I danced most of my youth with softballl & cheerleading. In college, I earned an AA in Fine Arts and taught dance through City Parks & Recreation and even danced at Bumbershoot a couple of times. 

In my mid 30's I stopped dancing and looked for new medium to express myself with. Glass, wire, PMC and as many classes I could find fit the bill. I took a glass bead class at Pratt early 90's. I was very lucky to get in on the Fusion Beads store classes with now national glass bead teachers. I put together a small studio in one of our bedrooms and bought a kiln, then started making beads. I took wire jewelry classes then met the Queen of Possibilities [Peg Gyldenege] and my love of PMC was created.  I’ve sold my jewelry at the Woodinville / Kirkland public markets, Burien Strawberry Festival, Mill Creek Festival & Northgate Festival.   

GG: No two muses are the same.  What inspires you to create? 
KK: Life inspires me. Everyday we see, hear, smell & feel our way around.  Don't use earbuds! Like my bracelet with the dog/cat charm. I started to make it a cat but that little Yorkie made her way into my inspiration.  
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GG: What kind of person do you see wearing your jewelry? 
KK: I see my jewelry gal/guy wanting a one of a kind piece of jewelry. They're not afraid to pay for quality work/premium product.

GG: What is the meaning behind your jewelry?  Or, what do each of the pieces represent to you?
KK: It represents to me that I can connect with my customer a same sense of whimsy or design.

GG: How would you define your style of jewelry?
KK: Mostly whimsical style has been mentioned by customers at the Public markets and festivals I've done.

Thanks for sharing with us today Kimberly!  I wish you joy and prosperity on your artistic adventures.  Keep on creating and bringing your “Lazy K” whimsy to the world.

Connect with Kimberly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lazykbeads 

If you’d like to be a featured artist on my blog, please contact me by email.    
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