keeping busy :)

copper bougainvillea cut-outs • silver drop outlines • silver splatter

wood & silver flame cut-outs • rivets for fox earrings • silver fox cut-outs

BOUGAINVILLEA EARRINGS

copper and white pearls

with sterling silver ear wires

$40

FOXY LADY EARRINGS

sterling silver riveted to hardwood

with sterling silver ear wires

$48

Time to catch you up!

Summer flew by...

Here are some pieces I finished in metalworking class with Ingrid Psuty. :)

PRISCILLA PEACOCK

box and feathers

brass, copper, and sterling silver

RACING RABBIT RING

sterling silver

CHAMELEON NECKLACE

brass, copper, turquoise, and ribbon

MY NEW STUDIO (!)

This Fall, I started renting an art studio at GLASHAUS, a converted warehouse in Barrio Logan, San Diego.

I'm upstairs in the back — I'd love for you to come visit me. Email me at mhh@monicahui.com to make an appointment :)

me in my studio. yay!

Here are some new pieces I've been working on. I'm currently splurging on sterling silver, because it's gorgeous. Did you know that about silver? It really is gorgeous. The pictures don't do it justice!

GIANT CILANTRO LEAF NECKLACE

sterling silver pendants and wire
silver plated chain with adjustable length
$78

 JOSHUA TREE NECKLACE

(inspired by my dad's design)

sterling silver pendant and wire

silver plated chain with adjustable length

$56.50

SWOOPING GULLS NECKLACE

sterling silver pendants and wire

silver plated chain with adjustable length

$68

ENTIRELY ♥ STERLING SILVER

various earrings ranging $44-$50 per pair

That's all folks — you made it! Thanks for reading and taking a look at my new works. Till next time ...

glenda gecko

paper, acrylics, wood, glue, wire, nails / 12" x 9"

DETAILS DETAILS

Here are a few close-up shots of the painted textures and paper/wood cut outs.

THE PROCESS

I've actually been working on this portrait for over a year now — I started working on the sculpture in Spring 2011!

(1) The picture of the Madagascan Day Gecko is from The Big Book of Animals by Sheila Hanly, which has been the inspiration for a lot of my work. This was my main reference for the sculpture.

(2) The sculpture is 7" x 4" x 4" with a wooden base which can be mounted to the wall. It took me forever to figure out how to do this. It was only when I recently started working with wood that I found a solution.

(3) and (4) As usual, I did a drawing and then the vector graphic with the sculpture as reference.

(5) Instead of fabric, I used painted paper. I looked at some of my favorite textiles for pattern ideas, then cut out the pieces with my trusty exacto.

(6) Here are all the pieces of painted paper cut outs. I didn't like how flimsy the paper was though. This was one problem I discovered with my first painted paper cut out — the portrait of the echidnas.

(7) I solved this problem by cutting out a few of the main shapes from wood, so that the paper would have a solid backing. I also wanted the portrait to be more 3D, so I raised a couple of the panels to higher planes, attached with wood, wire, and glue.

THANKS FOR STICKIN' WITH ME FOR THIS LONG!

Only two more portraits to go, and I'm done! I can't believe it!! Then the most intimidating part — book designing, publication, and marketing ... hopefully I can meet my (extended) deadline of Christmas 2012. I'm asking for forgiveness in advance if I can't quite make it. though :P 

I really appreciate all your support, encouragement, and patience!

emma edmund and ethan eat ants

I finally completed another animal portrait. I must say I do love my echidnas :)

Here's a close up of Emma. She's at the front of a line of courting males. These trains can last up to six weeks before any echidnas actually get it on. Echidnas also have lots of other strange qualities, which I'll leave to you to discover on your own.

In this super close up picture you can see the patterns are paint, not fabric this time. On some heavy cardstock I painted base colors. Then I used a very tiny brush to paint intricate patterns.

Did you know that doodling is a lot of fun?!?

also, did you catch the two animals hidden in the patterns? One of them is really hard to see though ...

Two New Pieces

IN A DESERT LANDSCAPE

clay, metal, wood, wire, glue, twine / 13" x 12' x 5"

GEOLOGICAL MAPPING

 wood, glue, vinyl, vellum, plastic, porcelain, paint, linseed oil / 13" x 5" x 6"

some new jewelry

rustic red set — necklace and studs

 cabbage earrings

 sea urchinettes

pear blossoms

white eggplant necklace

... and a few pictures of the bead making process. :)

woodwork

Wood is a wonderful material to work with — it smells, feels and looks amazing! Here are a few of my recent works using recycled and donated wood scraps.

flock of rays

7" x 7" x 4.5" / wood, wire, leaves, nails and glue

ballooning spiders

12" x 6" x 3.5" / wood, wire, script brads, and glue

dream of flying turtles

16" x 6" x 3.5" / wood, nails and glue

Do you know of any sources for scrap wood? Am willing to dumpster dive!

collage of capybaras

They are here! Although, I can't decide on a name for this family of capybaras. Suggestions are welcome and appreciated! (The only requirement is that the surname start with "C". )

ABOUT CAPYBARAS

Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They are well adapted to swimming and can stay underwater for up to five minutes. These furry, whiskered creatures can also sleep in the water with all but their noses submerged — they even have webbed feet!

I love them.

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

new jewelry display etc.

I thought, "oh, I'll just make a new display real quick." A couple of obsessive weeks later, I finally finished! I used recycled cardboard boxes, found eucalyptus branches, and target bags (the white flowers) to make this 18" wide box-tree thingy. :)

I've also been working on some new wooden earrings, which are hand cut, sanded, oiled, and assembled.

The different types of wood you see here are
Purpleheart, Paduak, Zebrawood, Wenge, and Yellowheart

Yellowheart wood with Bamboo beads

A few more of my favorite new items for sale at Make Good:

matte blue ceramic studs (hand-formed and glazed)

hand-made ceramic pomegranate pendant on an adjustable chain

ceramic artichoke pendant on an extra long chain

capybaras people!

Do you realize how awesome they are? Here's my progress on their portrait so far...

step 5: vector graphic (next up, the fabric collage)

step 4: drawing of the sculptures

step 3: photographs of finished sculptures

step 2: sculptures (unfired)

step 1: capybara study