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NEW! Sparkle Paper Pigment Print of the Nest / Ships in 2 weeks / Matted and Ready to Fit in a Standard Size Frame
from $45.00
Alexa Karabin
The Nest
Handmade Watercolor, Deer Hair, Rubies, 24k Gold Leaf, Geodes, Glass on Panel
20''x20''
$6,000
First, there was the Deer. A painting that was inspired by an incident that involved a deer that was shot on my property, and the subsequent months that followed, watching the animal return to the earth. When only fur was left, I collected some, but left most of it. The day after I collected the fur, a giant oak tree fell on where the body once rested. Months later, in early spring, the pandemic had started and I spent more than a month inside. Scared. Finally, I forced myself to go outside and explore the woods. And that is when I found it. A bird had made a nest out of deer fur! The Deer’s fur. This piece was inspired by the feelings I had at that moment of discovery.
Using a variety of techniques, I create artworks that explore themes of natural history, historical occurrence, memory, and cycles. My materials are found and handmade—my most precious material is my grandmother’s antique jewelry that I crush and use to make handmade watercolors. This piece also includes rubies, emeralds, 24k gold, deer fur, geodes, and glass.
I so believe in omens, whatever name you want to give them. For me, they usually involve animals. And sometimes they come at me in quite dramatic ways, unfortunately. This one happened when I was standing outside my studio in the spring taking a smoke break and enjoying the sun, when a gunshot came out of nowhere. I live in what I would call residential-country. I have an acre and 1/2 of land. There are houses all around and my kids play outside (they were at grandma’s at the time). A police officer then rolls up my driveway to inform me he had just shot and deer on my property. I was taken aback and still in shock. He caught me smoking pot, something that had just become legal in Michigan. So, let’s just put it this way—I didn’t ask questions. The officer left without saying more, and I was left with a body ( I assume the deer had been hit by a car first). I knew I was meant to watch over this deer. This piece was inspired by what I saw over the next few months. I collected fur when that was all that was left, and a few days later an old oak tree fell on where the body was. When I made this piece, I mostly thought about how humans interact with nature. How we impact it with our actions. And how the cycle still wants to happen, even though our impact created a ripple. How fragile nature is. How beautiful and perfect it is. How broken we are.
The deer is made out of the handmade watercolors that I make out of my grandmother’s antique jewelry. It has embedded crystals, moonstones, beads, glass, and a lot of 24k gold. The piece is 3 dimensional. A real cicada husk was embedded and gilded with 24k gold leaf, and the fur of the deer that inspired this piece was used in it, as well. The piece is sealed to protect the organic components.
I had a really hard time getting it together this year! But this is what is happening in the shop. Starting with a small Moon and Firefly release (TOMORROW) November 21st at 7:00. Anything that’s left will be 15% off next week during the Black Friday madness. And then I will FINALLY have a print release for the Deer and the Nest on December 4th!!
These pigment prints are printed on handmade paper that I make myself. They will be shipped in 2 weeks time from ordering. If you need something by a specific date, email me and I will try to speed up the process.
The 11’’x14’ and 17’’x22’’’ are statement pieces! I have to recommend one of those. But I want to make prints affordable, so I have smaller sizes. Please note that detail is lost the smaller the print. This is a limited edition pigment print on handmade paper. Based off of my painting the Nest.
Prints are signed and each one is one of a kind due to the nature of the handmade paper.
Prints can come matted and ready to fit in a standard size frame.
5’’x7’’ / 8’’x10’’ Double Mat
8’’x10’’ / 11’’x14’’ Double Mat
11’’x14’’ / 16’’x20’’ Mat
(New!) 17’’x22’’ /24x36’’ Mat
First, there was the Deer. A painting that was inspired by an incident that involved a deer that was shot on my property, and the subsequent months that followed, watching the animal return to the earth. When only fur was left, I collected some, but left most of it. The day after I collected the fur, a giant oak tree fell on where the body once rested. Months later, in early spring, the pandemic had started and I spent more than a month inside. Scared. Finally, I forced myself to go outside and explore the woods. And that is when I found it. A bird had made a nest out of deer fur! The Deer’s fur. This piece was inspired by the feelings I had at that moment of discovery.
Using a variety of techniques, I create artworks that explore themes of natural history, historical occurrence, memory, and cycles. My materials are found and handmade—my most precious material is my grandmother’s antique jewelry that I crush and use to make handmade watercolors. This piece also includes rubies, emeralds, 24k gold, deer fur, geodes, and glass.
View the original: https://youtu.be/1aG3WBkRUIk
She was exhibited for several months, and now she is home with me! When I exhibit in a gallery I have to share between 40%-60% with the gallery. Now that she is home with me, I was able to drop the price a bit! I spent 3 intense months on her and she is made with a LOT of 24k gold, gems, and other mixed-media. I have shipped prints of her all over the world, but there is nothing like the original. She sparkles, shines, and glows. She is an experience. Full price includes a frame of your choice, but on sale she comes without a frame.
Statement for the Nest:
First, there was the Deer. A painting that was inspired by an incident that involved a deer that was shot on my property, and the subsequent months that followed, watching the animal return to the earth. When only fur was left, I collected some, but left most of it. The day after I collected the fur, a giant oak tree fell on where the body once rested. Months later, in early spring, the pandemic had started and I spent more than a month inside. Scared. Finally, I forced myself to go outside and explore the woods. And that is when I found it. A bird had made a nest out of deer fur! The Deer’s fur. This piece was inspired by the feelings I had at that moment of discovery.
Using a variety of techniques, I create artworks that explore themes of natural history, historical occurrence, memory, and cycles. My materials are found and handmade—my most precious material is my grandmother’s antique jewelry that I crush and use to make handmade watercolors. This piece also includes rubies, emeralds, 24k gold, deer fur, geodes, and glass.
View the piece in action on youtube: https://youtu.be/1aG3WBkRUIk
I seem to always start and end with a Bumblebee! This is day 100 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
The Cicadas are emerging! This is day 99 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
Yes, you know me and my moons! This is day 98 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting of the moon! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
This is an original painting of a dung beetle. Day 97 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels, a broken geode, and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
Day 96 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels. Adorned with 24k gold leaf. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
Day 95 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels. Adorned with 24k gold leaf. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
This is an original painting of a dandelion. Day 94 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
This is an original painting of a mouse. Day 93 of My 100 Days of Gold. It is a sweet, elegant, golden painting! Made with handmade watercolors that I made out of my grandmother’s jewels and 24k gold. It comes in a double mat that will fit in a 5’’x7’’ frame.
I pulled the bandaid and did something I was terrified to do. And now I am going to do it every Friday at 7:00pm Eastern! Because all of my events and exhibitions have been canceled for the foreseeable future, I will be doing more digital events! More dates and venues will be added, but for the time being this will be a consistent thing. Ask questions and peek inside my studio! Save the date.
I had hoped she would travel around to exhibitions, but now I can only hope she finds a home where she can be enjoyed and reflected upon. Read about the Deer…
Now that my large originals are home, I am able to drop the price a bit! When they are in a gallery I have to share between 40%-60% with the gallery! I spent 3 months making this piece and several months before that conceiving and planning for it! It is made with a LOT of 24k gold and a variety of other materials. Read the story about the Deer, below!
I so believe in omens, whatever name you want to give them. For me, they usually involve animals. And sometimes they come at me in quite dramatic ways, unfortunately. This one happened when I was standing outside my studio in the spring taking a smoke break and enjoying the sun, when a gunshot came out of nowhere. I live in what I would call residential-country. I have an acre and 1/2 of land. There are houses all around and my kids play outside (they were at grandma’s at the time). A police officer then rolls up my driveway to inform me he had just shot and deer on my property. I was taken aback and still in shock. He caught me smoking pot, something that had just become legal in Michigan. So, let’s just put it this way—I didn’t ask questions. The officer left without saying more, and I was left with a body ( I assume the deer had been hit by a car first). I knew I was meant to watch over this deer. This piece was inspired by what I saw over the next few months. I collected fur when that was all that was left, and a few days later an old oak tree fell on where the body was. When I made this piece, I mostly thought about how humans interact with nature. How we impact it with our actions. And how the cycle still wants to happen, even though our impact created a ripple. How fragile nature is. How beautiful and perfect it is. How broken we are.
The deer is made out of the handmade watercolors that I make out of my grandmother’s antique jewelry. It has embedded crystals, moonstones, beads, glass, and a lot of 24k gold. The piece is 3 dimensional. A real cicada husk was embedded and gilded with 24k gold leaf, and the fur of the deer that inspired this piece was used in it, as well. The piece is sealed to protect the organic components. I include a non-static brush for occasional dusting (once or twice a year).
It is 30’’x30’’ on a 3 inch thick, cradled birch panel. I had a white, wood custom frame made for it. The frame is included in the price. The price also includes shipping within the United States. Please allow for a couple of weeks, because I will have to make a custom box for shipping.
I’m gearing up for my next release! That means I am putting what I have on sale up to 50% off! These are all one of a kind pieces that won’t be recreated. Check them out and get them while they are there!
This is an original watercolor painting that was made with my special handmade watercolor paints. It is adorned with 24k gold leaf, and tiny bits of glass. It is encased under glass with copper. It is approximately 1’’x1’’.
It comes with a complimentary gold plated chain.
This adorable little pendant is the perfect artful addition to your winter sweater! It is like carrying a little world with you—a tree, a ladybird (ladybug) and a heart. It comes in a jewelry box—lovely as a gift this holiday season! The ribbon it is on is long enough to fit over your head. Pendant size is less than 1’’x2’’.
This adorable little pendant is the perfect artful addition to your winter sweater! It is like carrying a little world with you—a tree, a butterfly and a heart. It comes in a jewelry box—lovely as a gift this holiday season! The ribbon it is on is long enough to fit over your head. Pendant size is less than 1’’x2’’.
This adorable little pendant is the perfect artful addition to your winter sweater! It is like carrying a little world with you—a tree and a bee. It comes in a jewelry box—lovely as a gift this holiday season! The ribbon it is on is long enough to fit over your head. Pendant size is less than 1’’x2’’.
This is an original watercolor painting that was made with my special handmade watercolor paints. It is adorned with 18k gold leaf, and tiny bits of glass. It is encased under glass with copper. It has an embedded Swarovski crystal. It is approximately 1’’x1’’.
It comes with a complimentary black velvet chain.
This is an original painting of a honey bee. It was made with handmade watercolor and adorned with 23k gold leaf and then encased under glass with electroformed copper. This is an artwork you can wear, or display on the wall. It is approximately 2’’x2’’. It comes with a ribbon that can be adjusted to fit your preferred length.
This is an original watercolor painting of the moon that was made with my special handmade watercolor paints. It is adorned with a moon stone. It is encased under glass with copper that has a black patina. It is approximately 2’’x2’’.
It comes with a complimentary black velvet chain.
This is an original watercolor painting that was made with my special handmade watercolor paints. It is adorned with 18k gold leaf, and tiny bits of glass. It is encased under glass with copper. It is approximately 1’’x2’’.
It comes with a complimentary black velvet chain.
This is an original watercolor painting that was made with my special handmade watercolor paints. It is adorned with 23k gold leaf, and tiny bits of glass. It is encased under glass with copper. It is approximately 1’’x1’’.
It comes with a complimentary black velvet chain.
This is an original watercolor painting that was made with my special handmade watercolor paints. It is adorned with 23k gold leaf, and tiny bits of glass. It is encased under glass with copper. It is approximately 1’’x1’’.
It comes with a complimentary black velvet chain.
You can now find my work at a new shop called Elevated Grand Rapids! Grand Rapids folks especially, this is worth the trip to check out! It has something for every kind of collector--antiques, handmade, art, jewelry, plants, clothing. Everything you are looking at is either handmade by someone local or pre-owned and super charming. It really has something for everyone.