Happy 16th Birthday to Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles!  The call was for a contribution of artwork themed sweet, sentimental, or silly.  This tiny cow crossed paths with me many years ago, and I've been saving it for just such an occasion.  The cotton fabric in this work is vintage and was passed down to me; the original project was created in the 1970's. 

'A Sappy Birthday Show' opens Saturday, March 20th, online with Cactus Gallery.

Happy Trails to Moo 2021
3.25" x3.5" x2.5"
mixed-media/assemblage sculpture
available through Cactus Gallery

I have created two new winged chickens small works, for an exhibit themed on Friendship with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles.  This group show opens online, February 20th. 

Friendship is a deliciously complicated and layered subject.  I had so many ideas for so many new works.  It was difficult for me to narrow them all down to just two works.  The first work, 'In Numbers' gave me the chance to make use of some gold lame fabric scraps I've been saving.

'In Numbers'
4"x5.5"x 1.5"assemblage sculpture 2021
available with Cactus Gallery

My second work for this exhibit is a diptych: 'On the Table' has two shadow boxes, which can be hung from a wall (sawtooth on back) or they can stand on their own.  The chickens interact either way (or you can display them with the chickens flying away from each other, if the mood suits you.  Haha!).

Detail, 'On the Table'

'On the Table'
5.5"x4"x2.75" and 5.5"x4"x3" diptych assemblage sculpture 2021
available with Cactus Gallery

Detail photos of the individual boxes:

This group show opens online, February 20th with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles. 

detail, Gwenhwyfar
9.5" x 4.75" figurative sculpture
stone clay, mixed-media. 2020

If you would like to add this work to your collection, please visit my page with
Cactus Gallery, online!

Two tiny works accompany this sculpture in this year's Tiny Treasures XV with Cactus Gallery; Culhwch (green) and Olwen (lavender) are each 3"x3" and can be found on my Cactus Gallery page

Gwenhwyfar's staff 9” Requires two CR2032 batteries, please keep batteries away from pets and children, as they could be dangerous if swallowed. This is my first attempt at wiring battery operated lighting; Gwenhwyfar’s staff is idiosyncratic, lighting up when it pleases her, or not.  Battery pack is hidden beneath the skirt and attaches to the base with a rare earth magnet. 

Studio Cat photobombs the portfolio shoot.

My first finished work of 2020!  Commissioned by a collector of my chickens, I have titled this work 'Helplessly Hoping' for the song by Crosby, Stills, and Nash. 

Sometimes I experience something concrete, and I want to express how that makes me feel through lyrics or poetry. Other times, like this time; I experience something lyrical, and I want to express it in concrete terms, like sculpture or paint:

"Helplessly hoping, her harlequin hovers nearby, awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit, he runs, wishing he could fly
Only to trip, at the sound of goodby."

Helplessly Hoping
2.75"H x 4"L x 2.75"W mixed-media assemblage
2020, commissioned

"Love isn't lying, it's loose, in a lady who lingers, saying she is lost
And choking, on hello

They are one person
They are two alone
They are three, together
They are for each other."

A few photos of the work in-progress:  I've had to peer over the tops of my glasses more and more often lately, to do fine details work.  This time, for the first time, I just took them off while I worked.  I've been wearing glasses full-time since the second grade so I find my aging vision rather amusing; being near-sighted for most of my life, I am now both near- and far-sighted.  There is a metaphor in there, somewhere, I'm sure of it. 

If you want to commission a work from me, reach out! Find me at [email protected] or find me on facebook messenger, facebook.com/jenraven

Work was managed by our newest Studio Cat.  Welcome to the Raven's Nest, Zephyr!

Mothership Calling Me Home
6.5" x 3.5" x 3.5" mixed-media assemblage sculpture 2019
LED requires three LR41 watch cells, included
shown light on; light off
available through Cactus Gallery
portfolio photography by Todd Powers

LED Light Detail:  Mothership Calling Me Home
6.5" x 3.5" x 3.5" mixed-media assemblage sculpture 2019
LED requires three LR41 watch cells, included
shown: light on; light off
available through Cactus Gallery

WIP and portfolio videos of this work can be found on the playlist,
"Mothership Calling Me Home" on my YouTube Channel: 
www.youtube.com/user/gessochick

At one of my first exhibits with Cactus Gallery, 2015; I remarked to a new friend that I'd never before felt so comfortable in a gallery space.  Puns on space immediately followed, and I quipped that Cactus Gallery felt, to me, like the mothership calling me home.  I was making a joke, but the sentiment was heartfelt, and when Cactus Gallery announced a show themed on the idea of "Homes" I knew it was time to pull this idea from the pile, and bring it to life.

Sculpting with Worbla occasionally results in burnt fingers, but it is so much lighter and sturdier than clay.  I have plenty of good-sized scraps to work with, left over from larger projects we work at The Raven's Nest; thermoplastic scraps never go to waste.

I positioned the tiny LED instrument in such a way that the switch can be removed, and the batteries can be replaced. 

The tiny jet-pack was left over from an old model kit, and there was only one.  We created a silicone mold, to cast replicas for more space chickens.  After a few trials, it was ultimately a success.  My chicken space-helmet ideas, not so much.  Every attempted helmet design so far has been chucked.  Most of the hours I put into new assemblage works are invested in trial and error; emphasis on error.  Still; working out helmet ideas for future sculptures. But this particular chicken would have to go without --my deadline was fast approaching and I needed to finish the work. 

Scrapping the helmet was a letdown for me, but painting is my strong area so that lifted my spirits considerably.  Painting the ChickenShip began with a layer of textured spray paint over the worbla, followed by an under-painting of metallic silver oil-based spray paint, detailed with copper.  A bit of acrylic gesso was added to the areas I wanted to finish in acrylic, so that the acrylic details would not peel up over the oil base.

When I went to add a plastic window to the ship's port hole, I discovered that I'd neglected to level the rim, and the window would not fit, flush. I'd already painted it so I could not just zap it with the heat gun, to re-shape.  Frustration.  Then I came down with a cold and found myself sick in bed; I missed my show deadline as a result, but I also continued to work the problem in my head.  Perhaps influenced by the heavy cold and flu medications, I hatched a potentially crazy idea; a ceramic plate, slow heat, and carefully timed application of pressure might re-shape the thermoplastic without warping the oil-based paint.  It was a risk but I decided to try it.

It worked.  And Todd got to joke that Raven finally learned how to do something right in the kitchen.  Ba-dum-ching.

Originally, the port-hole window was going to be a repurposed plastic spice lid; but when I turned on the light inside, it showed scratches on the lid I had not seen before, so I switched to a reclaimed plastic pocket watch crystal, affixed with 5-minute epoxy resin. 

I worked my signature into a rusty design on the back of one fin:

This work is now available through Cactus Gallery. Shop Cactus, online at cactusgalleryla.com.
Follow Cactus Gallery on Facebook and Instagram

NEW photos from the opening reception! Full slideshow at the end of this post. 

My winged works have been given a featured spot in the upcoming "Tiny Treasures XII" with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles. 

In addition to a new collection of whimsical chickens, I have created for this installation a mini-series of quixotic creatures, inspired by a work I was commissioned to create, over the summer.  Fellow artist Liz Jimenez asked me to create a set of hybrid bee-and-butterfly wings, in memory of her brother, Cody:

'Polymorph'
2017 24x"72 diptych acrylic on canvas
commissioned

Through my work with Liz, I was inspired to fuse the morphology of the two pollinators further, into a new series of flying sculptures --part bee, part butterfly.  They will be on exhibit part of my  'Things with Wings' installation, at Cactus Gallery.  I named my first hybrid creation 'Chimera' and she's a colorful creature:

'Chimera'
2017 10x10x15.5" mixed-media flying sculpture
w/18"h stand & 20" adjustable chain.
available

This candy-colored creation is whimsical in appearance but serious in subject:  Our planet's pollinators are in serious jeopardy and we must start taking better care of them --and ourselves, and this world that we all share --while we still have time. 

Less colorful but equally cute:  'ButterBee!'

'ButterBee' 2017
flying bee-butterfly hybrid sculpture  10x10x18"
w/ 18"h stand & 20" adjustable/detachable chain
available

For those who have a sweet tooth; this one will send you into 'Sugar Shock!'

Sugar Shock!'  2017
11x11x18"  flying bee-butterfly hybrid sculpture
w/ 18"h stand & 20" adjustable/detachable chain
available

And, because all you need is Love; and Love Wins:

'Love Wins' 2017
10x10x15" flying bee-butterfly hybrid sculpture
w/ 18"h stand & 20" adjustable/detachable chain
available

'Shy Violet'  2017
10"x10x16”  mixed-media flying sculpture 
w/ 18"h stand & 20" adjustable/detachable chain
available

Also along the lines of things with wings; there will be new chickens on exhibit with 'Tiny Treasures XII' tiny works exhibit:

'Letters Home' 2017
assemblage sculpture shadowbox 5x5.5"
sold

'Something in the Air'  2017
set of three mixed-media assemblage sculptures, each 5.5 x4.5"
shown above:  One and Two
available

'Something in the Air' One 2017
mixed-media assemblage sculpture 5.5 x4.5"
available

'Something in the Air' Two 2017
mixed-media assemblage sculpture 5.5 x4.5"
available

'Something in the Air' Three 2017
mixed-media assemblage sculpture 5.5 x4.5"
available

'Unrequited' 2017
5x3" mixed-media assemblage
sold

'Process' 2017
4x5" mixed-media assemblage
sold

'Glass Houses' 2017
3x4" mixed-media assemblage
available

'Bloom'  2017
5x5.5" mixed-media assemblage
sold

'Let's Go Where the WiFi is Weak' 2017
tiny triptych mixed-media assemblage sculpture
largest to smallest3x3" (2.5" deep);  2.5x2.5" (1"deep); and 1x1" (1" deep) 
sold

'Let's Go Where the WiFi is Weak' detail 2017
tiny triptych mixed-media assemblage sculpture
largest to smallest3x3" (2.5" deep);  2.5x2.5" (1"deep); and 1x1" (1" deep) 
sold

A flock of flying fuzzbutts will be joining the bees and chickens, at the opening reception of 'Tiny Treasures.'  These 'Things with Wings' each have marabou bodies, washi paper wings, an a 5" chain with a lobster clasp at the end. 

'Flying FuzzButts' series 2017
5x8.5" mixed-media flying sculptures

several of these little cuties have already been adopted; shop Cactus online to catch them before they are all gone! 

Also on exhibit; two new tiny winged shadow boxes, titled 'Coming' and 'Going,' which join previously created works 'Forward' and 'Backward.' 

'Coming' 2017
3x5" mixed-media assemblage
sold

'Going' 2017
3x5" mixed-media assemblage
available

'Tiny Treasures XII' opens November 18th, 6-9pm, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles. 

Opening Reception for 'Things with Wings' and 'Tiny Treasures XII'

All of my beautiful portfolio photography is the work of Todd Powers.  Thank you, Todd!

"The Love You Make," A Beatles inspired group show will run: July 22 - August 5, 2017 RECEPTION: Saturday, July 22 * 6p-9p Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles

For this exhibit, artists created works interpreting characters from Beatles songs.  I created three new tiny works, featuring my flying chickens, for 'Across the Universe,' 'Honey Pie' and 'I Get By,' my favorite Beatles song.  For pre-sale information on this work, contact Sandra Mastroianni at  [email protected]

Across the Universe
3.5x3.5" mixed-media 2017

To Bee Where You Belong
4x4" & 4x4" diptych mixed-media 2017

I Get By (with a little help from my friends)
3.25x4.5" mixed-media 2017

My work will be making appearances in two exhibits this month, and both are opening on June 10th.  Bee there, or bee square!

'Bee Squared' and 'Euglossa' will be in Los Angeles, for 'Something Wild in My Garden' and both are available now with Cactus Gallery.   See more photos in the online shop.

'bee squared' 2017
4x4" acrylic on 1" deep artist-wrapped canvas

'Euglossa' 2017
mixed-media sculpture 10”L x 10”H x 17”W

See more works like this one in my gallery.

Stand: 9.5”W x 6.5”L x 20”H

Work-in-progress video of 'Euglossa' creation: 

More videos of Euglossa in-progress can be viewed on my Youtube channel.

Euglossa is a genus of Orchid Bees, or Euglossini.   Euglossa occurs naturally in the Neotropics, from Mexico to Paraguay, also Argentina, Brazil, and Jamaica. 

110 species within genus Euglossa have so far been identified, including Euglossa dilemma.  They are typically bright metallic blue, green, coppery, or golden.

A native of Central America (Costa Rica to Mexico), Euglossa dilemma was first detected in Florida in 2003.  Euglossa dilemma have since been found in Texas as well. 

It is thought that Euglossa dilemma was introduced to the US by accident; perhaps a nest was transported north in a wooden structure such as a pallet. 

Euglossa dilemma are specialized to visit particular species of neotropical orchid; the male uses the fragrances during courtship.  In Florida, Euglossa dilemma have successfully adapted to breed with the presence of any orchid.
(Source Material: Wikipedia)

'Something Wild in My Garden' opens June 10 with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles and runs through July 15, 2017. 

Exploring the plight of urban wildlife: Many of our furry and feathered friends have been evicted from their habitat by an exploding human population.  In our search for progress, we are destroying their natural environment. In turn wildlife are forced into our residential areas, in order to find food for survival.

Also this month:  My 'In Life' wearable art series will be joining 'All U Can Eat' in Pomona, CA. 

'All U Can Eat' is a curated small-works exhibit, hosted by Bunny Gunnery Gallery. 
Opening with the Second Saturday Art Walk, it will appear at two locations: La Bomba Vintage (195 W. 2nd St.) and DPOA's Metro Gallery (119 W. 2nd St.).  Exhibit runs  June 10 through July 1, 2017.

Another bee has landed, just in time for 'Symphony of Wings'
group arts exhibit, with Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles.
Featured on beautiful.bizarre.net

'Symphony of Wings' runs June 11 through July 2, 2016

'Blue Monday' in-progress, supervised by Studio Cat.

Included in this project; my first attempt at layering airbrush colors over faux-fur. 

View 'Blue Monday' at cactusgalleryla.com, or at Pinterest. 
See more of my bee artworks here and here
Read more about 'Symphony of 'Wings' at Beautiful Bizarre
Portfolio photographs of my work by Todd Powers

This month, I exhibit with 'Beastly Beings' group show at Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles!

In keeping with my recent trend of bee-themed works, I've created a Beastly Bee:

'Beastly Beings' opens May 14 and runs through June 4, 2016
Cactus Gallery 3001 N. Coolidge Avenue Los Angeles

For this exhibit, participating artists were challenged to focus on "the powerful yet beautiful connectedness of animals, the outside world, and the harsh realities that are the core of human nature." Around that time, I happened to be reading David Whyte, and also some Anaïs Nin; both have written excellent insights into the "struggle between one's longing to be whole, and the acceptance of one's self as a fluid phenomenon" (David Whyte).  Such ongoing conflicts, and their resolutions, are definitely a harsh reality concerning my own human nature.

been meaning to learn worbla for some time, and this was the perfect opportunity; I wanted Bee to 'fly' and so needed her to be light as well as strong. 

Learning a new material on a deadline can be challenging, in more ways than one; 
I was in for a considerable learning experience, and I got to spend some quality time with certain other 'harsh realities' of my own human nature, in the process.  The irony! 

After much trial and error, and several burnt fingers, Bee finally came to life.  She is a mixed-media work including worbla, faux fur, Lutrador paper-fabric, acrylic matte medium, gesso, paint, tulle, embroidery floss, and multiple gauges of wire.

Working details on this piece:  Display chain is removable and adjustable.  Hanging ring is hinged, for removal/replacement.  Bee can fly from this base, or may be displayed from a wall bracket, ceiling hook, or curtain rod.

View 'A Fluid Phenomenon' on Pinterest or at Cactus Gallery.
Photos by Todd Powers.

Photobombs courtesy of Studio Cat.

UPDATE!  Bee has sold, and now has a home with the
Buena Vista Branch Library in Burbank, CA.  Yay! Thank you, CR!