My Work In Metalsmith Magazine!

Artist - Thomas Gentille       Photographer - Steven Brian Samuels

Have I secretly been hiding the truth?

Deep down am I really world renown artist Thomas Gentille?

Yes & No.

I am not Thomas Gentille.


I have, however, been hiding the truth. Secretly.

Artist - Thomas Gentille       Photographer - Steven Brian Samuels

For the last 6 years or so, I have been an underground photographer, shooting mostly art jewelry, and only for a select group of artists under the pseudonym Steven Brian Samuels. Yea, I know. Silly name, but I couldn't think of anything else. ;)

Up until recently I have been very reluctant to pursue photography full-time.  This hesitation had mostly to do with my perfectionist's eye, which only grew larger as I took on more work.

But, because of the gentle nudging of one person and the not so gentle nudging, swift kick in the buttocks and then a quick spin and kick to the bollocks from another person, I have finally decided to throw caution to the wind, lay bare my naked soul, and come out as an art jewelry photographer!

Artist - Thomas Gentille       Photographer - Steven Brian Samuels

Ahhhh. That feels better...

Like a weight, lifted.



You can see more of my photography work here @ my site: www.artjewelryphotography.com

&  Thomas Gentille @ Gallery Loupe

Artist - Thomas Gentille       Photographer - Steven Brian Samuels

And yes! I am still doing my own art jewelry work. One obsession helping to feed another :) 

Finished that Martini!

The Lover's Bench (with removable brooch)
martini glass created for Art of the Martini VII,
Zaruba & Zaruba gallery, Frederick, MD
Sterling silver, PVC, aluminum foil, resin, pigments, Prismacolor, charcoal, gesso, polyfiber, 23K gold leaf, yellow sapphire, Burma rubies, found objects, steel


The Lover's Bench (brooch)
removed from martini glass created for Art of the Martini VII,
Zaruba & Zaruba gallery, Frederick, MD
Sterling silver, PVC, resin, pigments, Prismacolor, 23K gold leaf, yellow sapphire, Burma rubies, found objects


Well, it's finally done :)

It was a very challenging project, and that's a bit of an understatement.
I've had millions of ideas buzzing in my head recently, none which would work with the glass, which only served to make matters worse. When my brain finally decided to give me a usable idea I quickly found Stainless Steel much harder to work with then I first imagined, and had to completely abandon my favorite idea because of time restraints. Silly brain.

Still, I am very happy with the way the glass and brooch turned out. I hope I have a chance at another glass next year, before this idea completely burns a hole in my head.



Visit ZaRUBa & ZaRUBa for more information. You can even go and buy my glass if you wish ;)

Foiled!

The Collector's Gambit : from the Foiled! Series, Brooch, 2008
Sterling silver, Faux Bone™, aluminum, epoxy resin,
pigment, pastel, charcoal, marker, patina

This is the first piece from the "Foiled!" series, one of the three series I am working on. I need to re-shoot the picture at some later date but it's alright for now.

There's a meaning to the series but I'll leave that to interpretation...

...Have to run anyway, need to finish something else...

Hope you enjoy it :)

What Do You Hope To Find When You Search For That Elusive I?

Venus I Trap

When I first finished the brooch Fresh Clean Scent I didn't imagine I would make it into a series. But I kept getting compliments on it, and since I like the challenge, I've decide to see what I can do with the same laundry cap.

Venus I Trap is the 2nd of the Fresh Clean Scent Series (tentative series name only), and will probably be the last flower-like piece I do. The cap takes too easily to flower shapes, and who want's easy?
I'm kinda happy about this series as I've been meaning to do a full series or two. People seem to like art jewelry in a series, and galleries definitely do. And since my focus is now getting into a gallery (I have a few in mind) I welcome the change.

To be honest, it's been difficult changing my mindset. I usually just like doing what I feel like and exploring different medium and techniques. I usually have way more ideas that I have time or hands for, my overwhelming number of filled sketchbooks ((DIB) Dead Ideas Books) attest to that. But doing a series is helping me to focus (of course I am currently working on 3 different series at once, but I need to do that for sanity sakes). Now when an idea pops in my head, usually while I am working on something entirely different, I write it down and do a quick sketch on a scrap of paper, and continue to work on what I was doing before I was rudely interrupted by myself. Later, I staple them or re-sketch them in a new DIB, with the hope of resurrecting them all one fine day.

A day when I have 13 arms and all the time in the world.


Venus I Trap on Canvas*

*On the back of the canvas:
"What Do You Hope To Find When You Search For That Elusive I?"