The Artist’s Story
When very young I always doodled and drew. My father encouraged me, and purchased my first drawing instruction kit by the name of “Jon Gnagy Learn to Draw” I was seven at the time. And so it began. My school notebooks contained more drawings than notes. Walt Disney was my idol. His sense of fantasy was mine. His animations brought what was inside of me to life.
During my education, I used every opportunity and class to improve on what I loved. I believe that imagination and fantasy are vital to life and creating art. As we become adults it is necessary to hold onto those things.
Even my paintings although photorealistic, reveal fantasy in their larger than life size.
My name is Darlene, at least formally. Dar to most people that know me.Some people have described me as “Peter Pan’, some might say unique. But however I am seen, I will always be me. A person who enjoys every color on the fur of an animal. Who looks at how the frost attaches to the edge of fallen leaves and tries to remember it. My students have heard me say that I can’t turn it off. I tell them, and anyone that listens to my voicemail message, “Give everything a second look” It’s important that we do that. Experience everything that you can. There shouldn’t be a “bucket list”, it should be a “life’s list” I tell my drawing students that I am not teaching them to draw as much as I am teaching them to see. In the jewelry you will see here, I have placed as many colors into the eyes as I can to give them soul and power. Please give them and everything a “second look”
The jewelry you will encounter here are one of a kind, pieces of art. They begin as a disc of glass. The eyes are hand painted using reverse glass technique. They are then sealed and attached to a base. At this point the wire weaving begins, as well as a vision of what it will become. The woven pieces become the eyelids and the individual shaping takes place. Some of these dragon’s eyes just seem to require the adornment of crystals or beads. Please know that each one of these involves many hours of paint time, drying time, wire weaving, design and assembly time. Look deep into them, and feel the power.
“The Age of Innocence “
The photo above is one taken of one of my acrylic paintings. The original size is 38”x27”