Surfacing
Some of you may remember that I sell monthly subscriptions of my mini art pieces. It’s been a lovely way to challenge myself to create fresh, new designs each month, and experiment with new ideas. March’s design was inspired by my backyard koi pond. Every winter the fish dig down and go into hibernation. They pop back up at the first warm spell, starving and ready for spring! For some people, spring officially starts with their first robin sighting — for me, it’s the first koi.
Koi are a variety of Asian carp, valued for their ornamental colors and patterns. They come in an amazing variety of colors, from metallic yellow to blues to olive green. The ones I currently have in my pond are mixtures of orange and white, which was fun to mimic with the copper patina. Right after I made them, I saw the first lily pads of the season — another favorite of mine. By mid summer there will be so many they won’t even fit onto the surface of the water, and it will look something more like this crazy lovely overgrown scene:
The above photo was taken two years ago, when the cattails reached an insane 10 feet high and the waterlilies were so thick I could stand on them. (Not even kidding! Their floating roots had knit together into a giant surfboard.) Last year I cut a lot back, so I’m eager to see what shape it takes this summer. Hopefully one that’s a little more “Zen” and a less “Little Shop of Horrors” :P
But back to the Koi mini art — I made a few extras, and they’re up for grabs! Â Click HERE to purchase. And of course if you’d like a monthly subscription, you can order those as well! They are a lovely way to treat yourself (who doesn’t love to get actual mail in the mail?!), or give as a gift to a friend. Each one comes with a little story about its inspiration, and they are quite addictive little buggers. New pieces are made at the end of the month, so be sure to order a little ahead if you don’t want to miss any.
To all the teachers and students, have a great spring break!!! And to everyone else, take care, and have a great week :)
Chris