Seeing beauty in the design and aged patinas of ancient objects, Modern Artifacts looks to juxtapose unique textures with a modern aesthetic. I draw inspiration from my experience working on an archaeology dig in Houston’s Historic Freedmen’s Town, as well as my time as a Curatorial Assistant for the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Stone Fort Museum of Nacogdoches.
I received my BFA from Stephen F. Austin State University where I studied a variety of cultural and historical metalworking techniques as well as advanced chemical patination processes, now specializing in creating my own patinas that I paint on with a torch. I work with sold 14K gold and gold filled materials, sterling silver, nu-gold, bronze, copper, and shibuichi and transform the materials into anthropologically inspired contemporary jewelry.
Conflict free raw blue and black diamonds, fossils, geodes, lapis lazuli, buffalo turquoise, and other stones are sprinkled into my work to enhance the minimal yet bold look of the collection.
Using crisp lines and simple geometry as a vehicle to celebrate the beauty of the raw materials in different states, the pieces appear both polished and new, as well as worn and aged. Whether using patina, a sandblaster, or 23K gold leaf, contrasting finishes define my work and give it the graphic quality which lends it its identity.
My appreciation for color began at an early age as I watched my late father create in paint and wood as part of his many hobbies and interests. While obtaining a degree in education from Texas A&M University I realized I excelled in art – primarily sketching and painting – and went on to obtain a minor in art along with an elementary education degree. I dreamed then of focusing on art for a living but instead began a career in teaching. Fast forward a quarter century and through the blessing of a long marriage and raising three great kids I found myself in my late 40’s finally able to fulfill my dream of producing art for the enjoyment of others. I have since worked in many mediums and have for now settled upon colorful abstracts executed in resin as my primary form of expression.
I truly enjoy meeting personally with those interested in my work and hope I can help you fulfill your quest for unique andhigh-qualityy art!
I create images of the wilderness embedded in our urban metroplex, letting light and shadow define my subjects. My photos document my walking journey, where I have slowed my pace to really look at my neighborhood in inner loop Houston and to capture moments of beauty that stir the soul.www.pennyraerobinson.com
My new book!
The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is a 17.5-acre wildlife preserve in west Houston, Texas. The sanctuary photographs, taken over a seven-month span, feature native birds and wildlife, and display colorful southern seasons. The pictures are accompanied by some of Edith’s writings selected from her small diary. Edith’s words describe her life in the woods, the land that she loved, and her log cabin home.
A look inside:
Title PageInside PageBack Cover
Bio:
I
grew up in a neighborhood that had been eked out of prairie grasslands
in North Dakota. Dramatic seasonal changes impacted all my senses, from brilliant sun-sparkles on crisply drifted snow,
to the soft sound of undulating prairie grasses in the evening breezes;
from the bitter taste of red rhubarb plucked from our garden to the
breathtakingly sharp smell of twenty below zero. I have touched the wind
and felt the immensity of the sky unrestricted by all except puffy
white clouds in azure summer skies and grey-blue bleary smudges of
winter’s early evenings. There is my heart home.
I have been away from home for over three
decades now. The gentler Houston winters provide grounds for lush
gardens; the soft springs invite long walks and camping trips; the
intensely humid summers force air conditioned hibernation from the
oppressive heat, and the autumns may revive us again with the brilliant
foliage of native trees if we are blessed with a cold kiss from the
north. These southern charms have lodged also in my heart.
It is in the four seasons where I begin to see the eternal creative thought of God. Days and weeks pass by, each one revealing new aspects of God’s wisdom, glory and love. No matter where I find my lodging, I will keep seeking the trails of His beauty to capture expressions of His likeness.
Come by and say “HI” to Edie and Morgan, They will be happy to give you a taste of our Snake Bite this weekend! Snake Bite is a blend of Riesling with Lime and a hint of Orange. This is a wine-arita, a well-balanced mix of sweet and tart!! houstonwinery.wine
As far as I can remember I always had a lot of fun creating art. Making drawings of crazy characters has always been my way of generating smiles around me. In the year 2003 I began to paint. My basic idea was to transport the characters that I drew on paper to canvas. Starting from scratch, I experimented with oil paints for two years, painting wildly away without a lot of direction. Good times. Then I met this wise man named Jan Buytaert, who taught me how to use acrylic paint. This was the most important change in my painting style. Acrylics were the tools I needed to shape my own little world and bring my little weird characters to life. My main aim while painting is to have fun and enjoy the moment. I want to capture this good vibe in my paintings and transfer it to the public. This usually results in joyful works full of color and positive energy. With my paintings I like to invite viewers to look at the world through the eyes of a child and to revisit a childhood past of curiosity and enthusiastic discovery.
I create remarkable jewelry from antique and vintage architectural elements, including hinges, keyholes, chandelier parts and doorbells. I also repurpose musical instruments, clock-parts, vintage tools and postage stamps. I search high and low for castoff pieces of the past, then reinvent them. I frame them in classical jewelry settings, to highlight their hidden and often unintended beauty. The result is a striking and adventurous synthesis of industrial strength, history and glamour.
