This commission makes the list because I did something I had never done before. Wood carving was definitely out of my comfort zone, but when this collector called me and said what they wanted the piece for, I designed something I had never done before. I think they had no doubt I could pull it off, but I did. Wood carving has always been out of my comfort zone because I am not a patient creator who can do tedious.
Wooden Sunflower Wall Mount
After sitting with them for a while and looking at the colors of the lamp, I decided to go with a color of sunflower that doesn’t actually exist. I knew that the only way I could pull it off would be with the design of the flower being perfect. So I went to town on some wood with an angle grinder, drill, dremel, and knife… the end result was spectacular.
Klee and I were invited to speak at the Montessori School of Pensacola. We discussed art, jewelry, stones, and having the belief in yourself to be an artist despite all the odds… and a spinning easel and how I built it.
This kind of experience always inspires me. Speaking to the young creatives of the future and showing them that no matter what, if you follow your heart, your dreams can come true… We loved the experience. We were asked a lot of brilliant questions and had so much fun with the entire experience.
This was such a fun and challenging project for me to work on which is why it made it to my specialty projects list. The commission was to have human sized wings that could fold up and go anywhere they needed them to for special photo ops. They wanted something artistic looking and custom. So I designed something special for them.
Hanson Realty Wings By Rafi Perez
I created the wings out of hard foam, built the base and mechanism to fold up, painted it, and then sealed it with epoxy resin. This piece is made out of wood, foam, blood, sweat, and a few tears. Needless to say, they were stoked with the final results.
You know the feeling… you’re going steadily along on a piece of art, everything is working out splendidly, you think “I’m such a badass” and then pow! You’ve instantly and unexpectedly destroyed your piece. You can cry, and believe me… it’s ok to cry… but after the tears, I believe you have a choice to make. You scrap it and move on, or you figure out how to make that jazz work anyway.
A genuine, bonafide WTF moment at the bench 2019 klee angelie
On this particular occasion, I had a very fancy, very expensive faceted tanzanite slice that I was just dying to make a tree of life pendant with. Apparently, I was channeling my inner Thor that day. As I was mid-way to completed, I applied a bit too much pressure on that delicate stone, and snapped it in half. I sat in disbelief for a moment or ten… and then my guts got all tied up and my chest got that sinking feeling. I wanted to be really sad, but the truth was, I was NOT going to let that stone go to waste.
Electroforming experiment 2019 klee angelie
I decided to do an experiment (Yay science!) At worst, it would fail and I would learn a few things. At best, I might just have something fantastic in the works. I electroformed around the perimeter of the broken stone, and antiqued that electroformed border to look earthy. Then I set about creating my tree of life pendant, accentuating the break in the stone rather than trying to hide it. The result astonished even me.
Perfectly Imperfect by Klee Angelie 2019
Out of the rubble of my mistake, I had one very unusual, very beautiful pendant that represented not only overcoming challenges, but also the pure beauty of what some might consider imperfections. A collector of my work saw this piece online, and immediately wanted to purchase it. She said it would not have spoken to her if the stone had been in tact. It was the fact that it was broken and made whole again, that moved her so much. I can now honestly say, I’m so glad I broke this stone.
Until now, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my jewelry displays. They go to shows, they get rained on sometimes, they get dropped on the ground, they get scuffed by jewelry, and generally take a beating. They have to look nice because they’re the backdrop for my very beloved jewelry creations, but I could never find any at any price point that were portable, durable, classy, and could take abuse for more than a few months.
Working on bracelet risers 2019 klee angelie
My old leatherette travel displays were beyond grungy and embarrassing, and I was getting ready to shell out an absurd amount of money on some wood displays that, frankly, I knew I was going to be disappointed with. I said “That’s quite enough, I’m going to make my own.” Rafi said “I’ve been saying you should for about 3 years now, lets do this!”
Working on necklace displays 2019 klee angelie
We started with necklace displays and Rafi was gracious enough to help me, even after I temporarily broke his miter saw with my project. The necklace displays turned out so awesome, I was then onto bracelet risers, earring displays, and eventually ring risers.
Bracelet risers completed 2019 klee angelie
In total, it took a handful of days and a bit of money and patience… but ladies and gents, this was SO worth it! These displays are solid wood, weighted enough to laugh off some wind, rustic chic as all getout, and they’ll last me for years and years. I could not be happier!
Necklace displays completed 2019 klee angelie
If you want something, and you can’t find it anywhere (or you can find it but it’s way too expensive), I highly recommend having a go at DIY-ing that thing. I sure am glad I did!
I had fun creating a piece where I completely ruined the canvas to make it happen. Then I submitted it to a juried art show at Gallery 1060. This was a really fun show with a lot of beautiful art and strange people.
Gallery 1060 Rafi Perez
I summitted two pieces to this show, my Nature Of Love and Leaving The Landscape Of Chaos In Harmony. The world and the universe is so chaotic that it can overwhelm the mind, yet everything is in perfect harmony. The beauty of life is in perfect harmony. This piece represents the perfection I find it the delicious chaos of life and breaking free of the chaos of the mind. This makes it onto my special projects list because I pushed out of my comfort zone and created something spectacular that I am proud of.
Recently I worked on a project that I would have to categorized as the largest project I’ve worked on.
The Happy Art Tour THAT
The Dream Forest – Designed By Rafi Perez
The Dream Forest was conceptualized and designed to allow the observer to explore the nature of happiness itself, through an immersive interaction with whimsical ancient beings that come to life as you meander through their magical realms. Each one explores a different facet of the “gem” that is happiness, asking thought provoking questions and offering words of ancient wisdom.
The Happy Art Tour THAT
I created five rooms within a free standing structure that was about 80ftX40ft in order to give the illusion that you were walking into a different world.
Each sculpture was designed and fitted with animatronics in order to get them to talk and move. You walk up wave your hand and the sculpture has a special message for you about empowering yourself.
Watch Video To Learn More About The Dream Forest
This project took about 6 months to design and build. It will be traveling around the country.
Recently I completed a project that pushed my creative comfort zones in every way possible.
The Firefly Room Construction 2018 Klee Angelie
When I first volunteered myself for this project, I was filled to the brim with excitement because I had a great concept that I was passionate about. “I’m going to create an indoor experience that feels like you’re outside watching thousands of fireflies!!!” It immediately got approval… and then I was immediately wracked with self doubt.
The Firefly Room Construction 2018 Klee Angelie
I had to face my fears one moment and one task at a time, and I did so every day. It was a goliath of a project and it was many hot sweaty days full of make it work moments. I pushed through because of my excitement, found the confidence buried inside me, and also had the awesome help of Rafi.
The Firefly Room Construction 2018 Klee Angelie
As each piece came together, I almost couldn’t believe I was seeing my concept come to life. I was so full of excitement and so ready to see the next part come into fruition, that momentum carried me forward.
Lighting Test Firefly Room 2018 Klee Angelie
It turned out to be one of the projects I’m most thrilled with and most proud of, and it never would have happened if I hadn’t blurted out my idea in excitement before my “logical brain” could stop me.
The Firefly Room In Progress 2018 Klee Angelie
The Firefly Room was part of a larger collection of installations called “The Happy Art Tour” which was amazing to be part of and also featured Rafi’s “Dream Forest” installation.
Enjoying The Finished Firefly Room Opening Night 2018 Klee Angelie
I am honored to say that I have created some little piggies… well, they’re not really that little.
Urban Swinery Art By Rafi Perez
I was asked to come and take a look at a large wall in a place that will soon become a Pensacola icon. Global Grill’s new restaurant called Urban Swinery is scheduled to open sometime this year and have asked me to create some pieces of art for their wall.
Urban Swinery Art By Rafi Perez
After meeting with them and Studio Pica to discuss the look and feel of the new restaurant, I fell in love with the project.
Urban Swinery Art By Rafi Perez
It was on, I was going to create some giant pigs… something that I actually hadn’t done yet.
This was a fun project and I worked with some amazingly creative people to finish what I consider some amazing pieces that I am very proud of.
All I can really say is “That’ll do pig, that’ll do.
Two things that have been on my to do list for quite some time was to create a life size sculpture, and create something awesome using garbage.
I think I can cross both of those off my list with this awesome Nature Of Being Sculpture that I created for the Artel Gallery show called “RECYCLE, REUSE, REPURPOSE… REPEAT.”
This sculpture is modeled after a series of mine called the nature of being. This series combines human beings with trees to create a beautiful symbol of being rooted yet consistently expanding towards the heavens. Connected, growing, evolving, expanding, and beautiful is the message that I want to convey.
In this piece I wanted to expand on that message, by using old plastic bags to create the form and pose. I wanted the piece to be dynamic, to show some distress, yet be fluid and organic in its movement.
Nature Of Being Sculpture By Rafi Perez
The message is open for interpretation, but in my mind, it is nature reclaiming the world, and bouncing back from the brink.
This piece was very challenging and an absolute roller coaster ride to create… I enjoyed ever minute of it! Below you can see the steps I took, forming the skeleton, adhering the plastic bags, creating muscle structure, creating a fiberglass shell, melting and adhering plastic bags, shaping the details on the body, and painting.
It was so worth it… Oh, and I won BEST IN SHOW for this one. I am so proud of this work.
