Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a collector. Actually, it’s thanks to that urge that I started sculpting. There was something insanely satisfying, especially about collecting plastic toy animal figurines, (and I was always pretty snooty in my tastes, I love those sculpts which have excellent anatomy and elegant details!) Stones have also been on the top of my collection list - they’re so beautiful, each kind of mineral having its own personality. Starting out, falling into this path felt like an accident, but looking back, it’s not that much of a surprise that I’ve taken to doing the work I do now.

When I started the pendants, I had jumped into marbles almost out of desperation for a different medium. I really didn’t like the chemicals specific to clear resins, and honestly, the process for those first clear casts was tedious at best. I’ve been picking up marbles where ever I happen to find them, and have realized I’m starting to build up an actual collection. Many of the solid colored ones are more of decorative marbles, but the more unique ones are for sure collectibles. I was surprised to find out some of them are even retired and a bit of a challenge to find!

That revelation made me think about how I’ve been incorporating them in my art. I know some avid collectors might be a bit put off by me using them in art, but for me it adds a dimension that I’d like to lean into. For one thing, all of my pieces are made from start to finish by my own hand, which means whenever you buy a pendant, even though it’s a cast, it’s not a piece which you’ll find anywhere else, plus many of them are limited edition. Then there’s the paint job - when I paint someone’s special pet or special character, that animal or representation of themselves is one of a kind. It warms my heart, knowing that these little collectible spheres which bring others joy are also adding to the joy of the memory of their animal, or to the creative idea they put out in the world. It reminds me of all those times I sat marveling at my dad’s marble collection, or my sense of wonder at those beautiful minerals, or at the incredible sculptures other people made. That’s a form of time and energy being put into an object. The fact that some of these marbles go beyond just a decoration you might find at Walmart, that they’re a specific line of glass work which others can recognize to me brings even more value to the unique piece of work I’m offering.

Anyways, long story short - I’m going to try and remember to tip my hat more often to the amazing little spheres which I happen to come across! They’re little pieces of artwork in themselves, (artwork within an artwork - art-ception!) Also, I’m going to be a little more cognizant of the status of the run - Is it limited? Is it widely found? Are they retired? When they are retired, I may be a little more hesitant to continue offering it as a color, just so people are aware! Of course, I’m keeping a whole rainbow in stock, so more than likely if you have a color you’d like, you’ll be able to get it, but if you request to see “blues” for example, that list just might look completely different in a few years. That’s not such a bad thing, a shifting stock for sure keeps the color ideas fresh and the pendants unique!

The other bit I’d like to bring up - mineral spheres! Yes, if you take a look at a recent post (the rainbow avian dragon), you’ll notice an actual mineral sphere was used in that. Minerals/stones are even more rare than those little glass spheres, so there’s a good chance the custom price will be higher than a normal custom, but I want everyone to know I’m totally open to doing a special order. Feel free to ask, and I’ll see if my marble source has said particular stone.

Thank you to all of you for sharing in my passions all these years!

Looking for the perspective on marbles from the standpoint of the adoptable lore? Go here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8701467/

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