guest post - genevieve williamson

An Unexpected Turn

I have a confession. I spent years thinking of myself as an artist without ever writing an artist's statement. My excuses were many and probably not uncommon. I've compiled a list and have used all of them at one time or another.

1. Why do I need a statement? My art should stand on its own.
2. I can't put art into words - after all, isn't that part of why I make art anyway?
3. I don't know how.
4. I'm an artist not a writer.
5. I don't have the time.
6. Artist's statements sound pretentious.
7. No one really cares about artist's statements.
8. I work intuitively; I never really think about why I do what I do.
9. What if I dig deep into my soul and find that there is nothing there and my work is shallow, pointless and a waste of time? (the scariest of all!)

And so, with all of these excuses at my disposal I successfully avoided an artist statement...until one day when I was presented with a creative opportunity that required one.  It was time to do this. I figured a statement doesn't need to be my life story. It just needs to sum up in 2-3 paragraphs, the basics of what goes on internally that leads to external.

I started with free writing, jotting down anything that came to mind about my work and my process. No sentences, not even complete thoughts - I just wrote anything and everything that I thought of over the course of a couple days. "Strong contrast of shape, size, color; repetitive pattern; groupings; interesting connections..."  I kept a piece of paper on my desk and covered both sides. I saw patterns develop, bit and pieces became sentences and several sentences turned into two short paragraphs. I did it!  It was amazing how just putting it all out on paper made me see how that my work, while informed by my many interests and experiences, eventually comes down to relationships, visual and human.

So surprisingly writing a statement wasn't that hard, didn't stop my work, or slow me down or prove to be a waste of time, in fact its actually been quite energizing, like looking at something from a completely different perspective. And it turned out to be less about fulfilling an obligation for a gallery and much more about self discovery. And I think it will probably mark a turning point in my work.



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you can learn more about genevieve here:


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guest post - nan emmett

Thank you for inviting me to share a little about myself and my work on the LMAJ blog.

I've always loved making things and have experimented with a variety of materials and techniques ranging from crochet, sewing, knitting, painting, metalsmithing, stained glass, and ceramics.

Beading and ceramic bead making is a relatively new venture for me, however I have quite a long relationship with clay. An elective course in ceramics spirited me away from a painting major and I've never looked back.

                                           This is what I was making before beads-ceramic rattles

I think clay is one of the loveliest materials, there is no end to the things you can make with it,and it readily accepts the mark of your hand, something I find especially beautiful.

My beads and pendants are created from a variety of clay bodies,earthenware ,stoneware and sometimes raku,  which are quick bisque fired, in little Skutt kilns. The clay pieces are then glazed with a layered Majolica type technique and returned to the kiln for the final firing.

                                             

Most of my past ceramic work would fall into the sculpture category and I think that carries over to my clay jewelry components, as well.

    Bisqueware

Glazed

I've often described my work as possessing a Wabi Sabi quality, though I'm not certain if that is exactly correct, perhaps it's more about embracing spontaneity, not over thinking the piece. I try to feel what the pendant wants rather than having a mapped out plan, and if things turn out a little wonkie, it's ok.

There is something very delightful about the imperfect. An unexpected, irregularity excites the eye and compels you to look closer. Imperfection holds a little bit of magic, and I hope I can bring some of that magic into my little wearable works of art.

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you can learn more about nan at these places:

website

blog

etsy shop

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guest post - riki schumacher

Whom teaches who?

By Riki Schumacher

When asked by one of the amazingly talented contributors to Love My Art Jewelry blog, to write a post

as a guest artist, it was kind of a struggle to think about to say. What inspires me, what story might be

interesting to you about my life as an artist?

A journey, or an opportunity, or maybe a process, were fabulous suggestions. And after this recent

weekend’s experience of teaching, it flashed on me that I could write about all those things, and hopefully

you will find it useful.

I would like to share little insight about the “journey“of going from student…to instructor, and what I

learned from it.

Here are some pictures from this weekend’s class I taught with another instructor.

I hope the pictures speak a thousand words. Teaching is amazing!

Here’s a mom and daughter team.

Already friends.

Making new friends.

How have any of these students gained by taking this workshop?

I don’t know what each one did for sure. But from these smiles, they were having a ball. I can share what

I took away. Each and every time I teach, I am reminded of how important it is to “pay it forward”. After

about 12 years of traveling, taking workshops, and soaking up every blessed word I could from endless

instructors, it is finally a wonderful time to give back to this amazing industry. Making Art Jewelry is my

passion and teaching it is incredibly rewarding.

After taking classes with lots of instructors, you start to have your favorites, and your not so favorites.

From each class you have taken, did you walk away feeling the teacher was impartial? Did you learn

what you hoped to, in numerous ways? Did you have a blast? Were you disappointed for some reason?

Or were there too many students so you never got the attention and help you needed after traveling and

laying out much money?

I have had all of these things happen to me. And now, since teaching a couple years now, I try to reflect

on how my instructors shared, and how giving they were/are. I’m trying to learn from what I think were

their mistakes, which didn’t happen often. We are in an interesting and opportune period I think, this

day and age. There are thousands of baby boomers retiring every day, and given an opportunity to seek

out what they want to do in their leisure. I understand many students are not retired, and have limited

time to access classes. But, there are a lot of women, and men, following their passion from their youth,

whether they are retired or not. That means there are more opportunities to teach. That’s why it is really

important, to me, to get it right. After retiring from my profession of 20 years, I ran to the nearest jewelry

workshop I could find! I felt like a little sponge, soaking up every word that was fed in, and wanted to

master every technique I could wrap my little brain around.

So if you are a teacher now, or considering a career in instructing to the craft world, the main thing I

would like to stress is how rewarding it is. I learn so much from each class I teach. I gain as much, or

more, than the students. I am so grateful that each student has put their trust in me for one or two days,

and I know that they expect me to deliver as advertised. Each person in a class, paid good hard-earned

money to learn what techniques I promised to share. And not only learn techniques, but be made to feel

welcome and have fun. How can you possibly live up to all the expectations of each student?

After all the classes I’ve taken, and all the instructors I have learned from, as well as my history as an

instructor, here is my two cents on a little recipe for success in teaching. A little dash of each, leads to a

fabulous gourmet class!

listen

laugh

say it

show it

be passionate

you can’t be perfect, stop trying

If you listen as much as you talk, you will answer all their questions. I often tell my grand

daughter, open your ears and shut your mouth. She doesn’t but that’s okay, she hears it!

If you are having fun, they will. You set the tone of the class.

If you are practiced and honed your craft, you can demonstrate each technique with ease, 

and explain it well.

If you believe in what you are doing, they will share the passion. Be sincere in your intentions.

And don’t act like you are perfect. You are going to make mistakes so embrace them. We all learn

from mistakes, and who needs the added pressure?

And for people taking workshops who are reading this, let your instructor know what they did right, and

where they really kicked it in. Feedback is so important, we will learn from that, hopefully!

This can be a successful recipe for on line and e-workshops workshops as well. As an instructor, you can

bring all these elements to your students on line. You just can’t reach out and touch them. But you can

share equally, and deliver the same quality of teaching as if you were there in person.

Look at yourself; look at the way you instruct.

Would you want to take your class??

Happy instructing. And have fun attending workshops. Have fun doing what ever you do.

You really never know if you’ll be here tomorrow.

Love and hugs,

Riki

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you can learn more about Riki in these places:

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etsy shop (where you will also find tutorials)

guest post - kerry bogert

Hey LMAJ Readers!

I couldn't be more excited to be invited to share a post with you here today. What better way to start a dreary, rainy, Tuesday than with a bit of art jewelry love? I don't know about where you live, but in my western New York neck of the woods, the weather has been rather unwinter like. It seems like every Tuesday we are seeing a rising of the thermometer and down pouring of rain. Sure, my hubby likes that he isn't having to shovel the driveway every morning before work, but the constant state of muck brown we find ourselves it leaves a lot to be desired (or should I say inspired). 

One day last week, for my blog, I set out on a little adventure to find a color-of-the-day, all day long. Wouldn't you know it, the Pantone color of the day was... brown. It was a great exercise in opening my eyes to the possibility and beauty in brown. If you are familiar with my current body of work, you'll know that brown is a color that rarely makes an appearance. I am so much more of a BRIGHT color kinda gal. And now, between that photographic lesson and the doldrums outside my window, I am so completely over brown. 

So, I decided to go on another adventure, around my house, to document a spectrum of colors with some texture thrown in for good measure. 

You might be asking yourself what apples and old records have to do with creating art jewelry.  For me, finding ways to be creative everyday and seeing color whereever I can is just one of the ways I stay motivated/inspired/refreshed when it comes down to sitting at my beading table to work. It keeps the idea juices flowing and my brain from turning to as mushy a brown as my backyard. For example, after taking these photos, that orange Royal Kerry tea tin has me thinking beads made with a light orange, dark grey, and ivory would make for an interesting combination. 

I invite you to join me today on a color adventure of your own! Challenge yourself to take your camera in hand, around your home, and find bits of color in your own environment. Come back here to the comments and share a link to a color photos on your blog! Share too what this little color adventure inspired in your work.


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you can learn more about kerry in these places:

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guest post - luthien thye

ARTform or CRAFTform

I have often pondered about whether I consider jewelry making a form of art or a
form of craft. Or more personally, the jewelry I make, is it a craft? Am I a crafter? Or
can I call myself an artist?

Most of the time I just end up calling it “work”… or “my work”. When in doubt … find
a replacement! LOL!!

Having said that, I am guilty of calling myself both … depending on process. There
are times when I feel profoundly satisfied with a piece of jewelry that I have made …
these are the times when I feel that “yes!” factor. And for those few moments, I feel
like an artist.

I am by no means putting down the craftsmen. For at times when a piece I make
turns out beautifully crafted … I am also guilty of smugly thinking … “ahhh excellent
craftsmanship dorlin’ !” ;P

How do you make a finely crafted piece of jewelry turn into a work of art? Well,
impeccable craftsmanship definitely, and perhaps, ingenuity and creativity? Your
ability to create something out of the norm that is uniquely you. Work that people
can tell from miles away that it belongs to you. Experimentation is so important
here. It is not unlike an alchemist looking for a way to make gold out of base metals.
Trying and re-trying to create the best concoction out of your (limited) stash. Not
just the act of plonking everything together, but a thoughtful and lyrical assemblage
of elements and objects. (oh btw … did you know that the Japanese have found a
way to make gold out of base metal already? But the process is so expensive that it’s
cheaper to mine the gold instead!!)

And maybe, making the work “official”? What I mean is, many of us make
jewelry “on a part time basis”. Our full time job is being a mom. Well … at least that’s
me. So if I get to do this full time (say … when my kids are all grown and I have a
REAL studio!! Not my 29x29 inch space!!) … should I feel like I’m more of an artist?
Real work as opposed to just a hobby? Does it make me a REAL artist, or is this just a
state of mind?

All factors considered, I do genuinely think that to label a piece of creation “art”,
there is no other more important factor than the element of SOUL. Now coming
back to my “yes!” factor. I find that I get more “yeses” when the piece of jewelry I
create feels more than just a piece of finely crafted adornment. It feels like it has a
soul, it has a story to tell … my story. Perhaps art is such. It has to come from within
the psyche of its creator. It is the manifestation of bits and pieces of the artist, her
experiences in life, her inspirations, her aspirations, her stories … her world(s).

I came across this quote by St Francis of Assisi which made me smile … guess I’m not
that far away J

He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.

I would love to know what other jewelry artists think … what are your thoughts?
Is jewelry making an Artform or is it a Craftform? Or is it such a subjective subject-
matter that not in a zenmillion years anyone would have the true answer to it.

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thank you so much luthien -

you can learn more about luthien here...
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if you didn't already know, we are having a double giveaway this month with work from erin prais-hintz and jean wells...
looking forward to seeing the art spark creations inspired by 'gratitude'...