These are beautiful examples of textures I’ve collected to inspire me in the studio. Of course, in metal it won’t have the milky pale porcelain look of these lovelies, but decaying textures- absolutely!

Dotted Swiss

Aging Nautilus

Abalone’s Weathered Skin

Prickly Corals

Shelled Glacier

Sea Sponge Bouquet

Porous Rock

I left this copper tray in my bathroom window with an arrangement of bones I had found. There was a rainstorm and the rust formed from the moisture.

A grouping of natural elements found out walking my dog, Ramona. I have these organic vignettes around my studio for inspiration.

A mushroom I found that looks so much like a flower. I thought it would eventually dry into something not so pretty, but it is still just as lovely as the day I picked it out walking Ramona.

I love this coral sponge. It would be amazing as a piece of jewelry, but I think wouldn’t translate well into a mold because of all the tiny fissures.

Acorns that I collected on a seasonal walk with Ramona.

I had watched the decay of this animal for quite a while on my many walks with Ramona. I waited until the day it had been cleaned pretty well by the turkey vultures in my neighborhood. I had thought it to be a snake with all the tiny vertebrae, but then I found a row of teeth and have decided it’s probably a possum. My Dad told me that possums don’t carry diseases like other animals- I guess they get a bad rap because of their appearance.

I also picked up a turtle shell the other day and cleaned it with bleach. I put it on my coffee table among other nature vignettes I’ve arranged. I was looking for it the other day and couldn’t find it. I guess Ramona just couldn’t resist and ate it. Yummy!

Ramona, my walking companion and turtle shell eater.