Currently Untitled. Back.  Brooch. Sterling silver, copper,

polymer, wool. 2012.

Currently Untitled. Brooch. Sterling silver, copper,
polymer, wool. 2012.

Currently Untitled. Back.  Brooch. Sterling silver, copper,
polymer, wool. 2012.

"Diatom Series: Unsettle" Brooch. Sterling silver, copper, 

polymer, handmade wool felt, colored pencil. 2012.

"Nubs." Necklace. Sterling silver, brass,
copper, polymer, sterling silver chain,
sterling silver toggle. 2012.

"Specimen Series: Specimen II." Sterling silver,
copper, polymer, colored pencil. 2012.

Back to the studio

Welcome!
Now that I've settled into my new job as Associate Editor of Art Jewelry magazine (jumping head-first into the publishing world with no prior publishing experience has a steep learning curve!), I've taken some time to get back into the studio. I can't have my torches at my home studio—landlords don't particularly care for compressed gas—which presents a problem, but it's forced me to re-evaluate how I create, and has lead to the production of a couple new lines of production work. Unfortunately, I have been lax in taking photos of the work I've produced...I promise I've been staying busy, I just can't prove it. :)

Brandon and I have become involved with Random Twigs, a local gallery/retail store/working art studio in our downtown area. During the spring, summer, and fall, there are monthly Art Crawls—and the first one of the season was earlier this month. Twigs hosted a poster show, so I decided to make CMYK-themed jewelry to fit in with the theme. I've recently revisited my polymer stash, and came up with some fun stacked-disk polymer pieces! I've also begun working with steel wire, and a few cast paper pieces that have been stashed away for quite some time.

Polymer disks in progress

Cast paper earrings

CMYK pieces in progress

CMYK: Stacked polymer

I've also begun another collaborative piece with Jillian Palone—actually, it's been a while since we traded, so be on the lookout for final photos soon!

From Jill

From me

Another project that I've been working on for a while now is a series of commissioned paintings/drawings based on the biblical book of Psalms for a booklet my step-dad is putting together. It's been fun putting away my saw and files for a while and picking up a paintbrush...here's a sneak peek!

Sprout

Sparrow

New Job, New Jewelry

I have been hired as the new Associate Editor for Art Jewelry magazine!

The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity for me, but now I am finally settled in a cozy little town near Milwaukee, WI. A few months ago, I heard of the position available at Art Jewelry and decided to give it a shot and apply. Less than 3 weeks after submitting my application materials, I was offered the position, and started getting ready to move! Brandon and I have uprooted ourselves from St. Louis and are starting our new lives up north! If you are not familiar with the magazine, check out our website.

Though I have been very busy since we moved, I've still found a little time to work in my studio. I recently sent a shipment of new (and older) work back to Edwardsville for ArtEAST. These pieces and many more will be on exhibit at Main St. Art Gallery in Edwardsville, IL October 7 - October 29.  The ArtEAST tour is Saturday, October 15 (9-5) and Sunday October 16 (11-5). I won't be there, but stop by if you are in the area to see my pieces and many other talented artists! Here is a sampling of what will be there: Enjoy!

Collaboration

A few months ago, my long-time friend and colleague Jillian Palone and I decided to begin working on some collaboration pieces.  We went to Undergraduate as well as Graduate school together, and though we have the same metalsmithing "family," we have two distinct styles of working.  We began this project by creating  an individual "part" for the other person.  After our "part" was finished, we exchanged them and completed each piece, never communicating or sharing photos or ideas.  What a fantastic surprise to see how we each interpreted and used the "parts" in a finished piece.  These are the completed pieces that came out of our first trade.  I look forward to more of these exchanges in the future.  


Click here to see more!

Annie's finished piece using Jill's "part"

Jill's finished piece using Annie's "part"

New Website

Along with getting my photo tent set up, I have been designing and publishing my website.  I found this fabulous FREE website design company called Weebly and it is extremely user friendly, which I need since I am in no way a graphic designer.  I have been busy figuring out all the quirks, and feel that I have finally finished it...for now.  I am constantly adding new images and content, but the main pages and basic information are all there.  Please take a look, and let me know what you think!

 http://www.anniepennington.com  

Ready to Shoot!

I have finally gotten my photo tent set up and I am ready to begin taking appointments!  It's a very basic tent made from PVC pipe, two sawhorses, wood, and a couple bed sheets.  I have gotten the lights I need and a really sturdy tripod, and the photos look great!   If you or someone you know is interested in having professional photos of their artwork, take a look at my website and contact me to make an appointment!  http://www.anniepennington.com

The Return

I'm back!  I took a brief hiatus from posting on here to focus on the holiday season and to make more work.  Here is a sampling of recent pieces I have been working on for a few past and future shows.

Since the time of my last post, I have participated in Main St. Art Gallery's holiday show, an exhibition at a gallery owned by one of my friends in Granite City, IL called APO, the annual ArtEast exhibit in Edwardsville and Alton, and the Rock 'n Roll Craft Show held at Third Degree Glass Factory in St. Louis.

I have also begun a new job and am in the process of getting a photography tent set up in my home so that I can shoot professional images of my work at my leisure.  I have been the metals photographer at SIUE for a few years, and though I am grateful for the knowledge I gained and for the use of the studio, I am ready to start photographing my artwork, and the artwork of others, on my own terms.  Hooray for turning a corner of my bedroom into a photo studio!  If you, or someone you know may be interested in having their artwork photographed, let me know!  I will have full details coming soon.

ArtEAST

ArtEAST is the annual Edwardsville/Alton studio tour.  It takes place one weekend in October, and galleries, studios, and alternative exhibition spaces show the work of artists living and working in Madison County, IL.  This year I am showing at ByDesign in Alton, IL.  These are the pieces that will be exhibited there.

Conidiophore

Brooch

Copper, Wool, Rayon Flock

Conidiophore, Detail

Diatom Series:  Actinocyclus ingens

Brooch

Copper, Clay, Wool, Colored Pencil

Diatom Series:  Chaetoceros

Brooch

Copper, Steel, Clay, Wool, Colored Pencil

Diatom Series:  Frustule

Brooch

Copper, Steel, Clay, Wool, Colored Pencil

Diatom Series:  Asterionella

Brooch

Copper, Steel, Clay, Wool, Colored Pencil

Diatom Series:  Auliscus sculptus

Brooch

Copper, Clay, Wool, Colored Pencil

Diatom Series:  Cyclotella stelligera

Brooch

Copper, Steel, Clay, Wool, Colored Pencil

Gromia sphaerica I

Brooch

Copper, Clay, Colored Pencil

Gromia sphaerica II

Earrings

Copper, Clay, Colored Pencil

Gromia sphaerica II, Detail

More new work

I may have been temporarily insane, but I managed to schedule 4 exhibits in two months.  And that was after one I had planned on doing fell through.  These, as well as images in the next few posts, are the fruits of my labor. 

This current body of work is inspired by Scanning Electron Microscope images of mold, spores, and cells.  I have been exploring the false color that is given to the SEM images, and pushing myself to use more bold, vibrant colors, while still using materials that are familiar to me.

Agaricus bisporus

Brooch

Copper, Wool

Cladosporium

Ring/Sculpture

Copper, Wool

Cladosporium, Detail

Conidia

Brooch

Copper, Wool

Conidia, Detail

Where Have I Been?

I'm back!  My "Wearable Piece a Day" plan has kind of fallen through the cracks.  I have definitely still been working, and I would wager that I have made equivalent to a piece a day, I just haven't photographed them all.  Also, I have finally set up a studio at home!  It is so exciting to be able to work whenever I want without driving to a studio.  Here are some of the pieces I have been working on!

Aspergillus

Brooch

Copper, Steel, Handmade Paper, Wool, Thread

Aspergillus, Detail

Aspergillus, Back

Day 90-91

These two brooches are an example of a different embroidery technique my mom is working on making instruction kits for.  Instead of being a programmed embroidery design, this technique is free-form, allowing for any type of design.  They are much more loose looking, and the possibilities are endless!

Day 90-91

Brooches

Sterling Silver, Embroidery

June 18-19, 2010

Day 60-89

Again, it's been much too long since I've posted.  I'm going to try and remedy that by posting more photos of the embroidered flower/Sterling Silver brooches I've been working on.  I have made many more pieces since I last posted, but these are the only photos I have.  Please forgive the photo quality...I was quickly losing daylight.  

Day 60-89

Brooches

Sterling Silver, Embroidery Thread

May 19- June 17, 2010