It May Be Hideous, But It's MINE - Karen McGovern

The studio is less important than other things, like the burning desire to paint. If you don't have this disease, you can't catch it from a nice studio. (Warren Criswell)

 

Never apologize for your studio. (Denise Bezanson)

 

At the moment I have about 7,256 projects awaiting my attention—including hosting our annual board meeting (housing 6 people for four days and preparing an intimate dinner for 12…), training new resident staff, hosting tours nearly every day, and….oh yeah, FILLING SOME JEWELRY DESIGN ORDERS.

While the board meeting covered many important topics, our baby bongo,
Delilah, was the focal of many gatherings.  She is a wonderful hostess.
The Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, www.rarespeices.org

My life, like many of yours, is an exercise in controlled chaos.  For me, that means during extremely busy times, like now, working in my studio is measured in stolen minutes, not hours or days.  I’ve gotten so used to this schedule that I often create my best work standing over my bench, one eye on the clock, never even sitting down.

Do I LIKE this pace?  HELL NO! But, I live with it because creating art is 99.9% therapy for me helps me work through the insanity that is often my life.

One of the many by-products of this crazy lifestyle is what my bench becomes.  Right now, I can say with all honesty that my bench is as disorganized as it has ever been.  Believe me, that’s saying a lot.  Sure, my bench has been a mess before, but this…this is SPECIAL.  This is EPIC.  Not only that…I AM POSTING A PICTURE OF THE WASTELAND THAT IS MY WORK SPACE RIGHT NOW!  Yes, you may see many beads and wire coated in blue paint, because I spilled some about…oh…a month ago and never cleaned it up.  As for the rest of it—WHO THE HELL KNOWS?

 

We all go through periods like this where our work spaces take on the appearance of an exploded craft store, but I must say, I believe this is my personal best when it comes to a CRAPTASTIC display of mess.  I mean, just LOOK AT IT!

 

You want to know the amazing thing, though?  At this moment I have achieved something I never thought I would.  An unholy balance between my brain and the dump—I mean bench.  It hit me this past Saturday, when I realized I had to quickly complete an order for a client.  I stood at my bench and, with incredible ease, was able to finish the project (a cuff and ring combo) in under an hour.  It was like a dream-sequence.  My hands somehow knew where everything was, even though my tools and most of the components I needed were BURIED IN LAYERS OF JUNK.  I mean, it was magic!  Rivet flare tool?  Couldn’t see it if you paid me, but viola, it appeared in my hand.  I was able to find everything I needed so EASILY it totally freaked me out.  I swear I was in a fugue state or something.  At one point I actually asked myself, “Is this really happening?” 

 

I haven’t been back to the bench since then, absolutely no free time.  Later this week should be better, and I have several designs waiting to be finished, so I know I will have to face this soon.  And I know I have to bite the bullet and clean/organize in a really big way.  But, for now, I hope the magic continues and I can negotiate the land-fill as it sits.  I’ve never been one to require a totally clean and organized space to work, but this…well, I don’t think I have say anything more.   Spring cleaning, here I come, cursing and grumbling every unwilling step of the way. 

Ultimately, I realize that this space, in all it's messiness, is MINE.  My place to create, to play, to turn off the outside world and enter a new one where anything I imagine can be possible.  When I began this post it was to poke fun at myself, but in writing it I also realize that it's not about the quality of space in your studio, it's about tapping into the magic space in your head and heart.  That's where you truly create.   

Since I have bared my filthy soul so to speak with this photo, I dare you all to do the same and share photos of your work space at its worst.  And, let me know if you have found a way to work within the chaos.  Come on, let me see if you can top my mess!!!

NOTE:  The day after I wrote this piece I got an email from an online craft magazine (that will remain nameless) asking if I would submit photos of my studio for a story they are doing on artist work spaces.  The sample photos included showed dreamy rooms in pastel colors, bright windows with flowing white curtains and benches as clean as a deserted Caribbean white sand beach with boxes and jars of supplies beautifully labeled and displayed on hand-hewn shelving.  THERE WERE VASES OF FRESH-CUT FLOWERS FOR GOD’S SAKE.  Needless to say, after I finished LAUGHING LIKE A DERANGED HYENA I regretfully declined the invite.

Artist Shout Out - Dawn Wilson Enoch of Desert Talismans

Karen McGovern here...This year for our blog I'm going to be featuring different artists in "Shout Outs" as well as in depth interviews.  My first shout out goes to Desert Talismans.  Let me start by saying that this artist makes me positively GREEN with creative ENVY.  I love everything she does and have stalked (I mean "followed") her on Etsy for years.  Dawn Wilson-Enoch is the artist behind Desert Talismans and she creates stunning jewelry using native stones, leathers, found objects and cast silver and bronze.  She makes her own molds for casting from natural materials (like thousand year old trees and stones) and has a deep love for her native New Mexico landscape--totally reflected in her work.  She has inspired me so much--I know you will feel the same.  I just love how tribal her work is, and how it all looks like it could have been recently discovered or unearthed at some exotic archeological dig.  Her use of texture is just breathtaking, and I love the layers and bundles she creates.  Take a peek at her Etsy shop and prepare to be amazed.  So glad I discovered her, and so worth sharing.  If we are lucky, maybe I can snag her for an interview...

 

 

Teamwork. It Makes You Think, it Makes You Work--by Karen McGovern

Two years ago I was approached online by a woman named Becky Nunn.  She contacted me to inquire if I would be interested in becoming a part of her Innovation Team for Nunn Designs.  Prior to meeting Becky, I had not heard of Nunn Design, and rushed to the Google Machine to find out more.

 

 

Turns out, Becky is the force behind an extensive line of really lovely jewelry design products.  Bezels, rings, pendants, settings, chains, charms, collage sheets, resin, molds—the list goes on and on, with the line expanding every year.  I was intrigued (the products are really great), and especially liked the fact that Becky does her best to get her team members published (because of her I have had work published in several print and online magazines and blogs).  The requirements were simple, create a few sample designs per month using Nunn products.  This may sound restrictive to us creative/outside the box-type artists, but Becky was very emphatic that we take her products and put our spin and design ethic into each creation.  I said "YES" and have been enjoying myself ever since.  You can see more of the designs I have created using Nunn products here.

Some of my favorite designs created using Nunn products.

Who doesn’t like working with new components and materials??  Becky keeps me flush with super-cool goodie boxes crammed full of the newest Nunn products to play with.  And, I also enjoy the challenge of taking her stuff and making it my own with each design.

 

Also, and perhaps most importantly, this agreement (now into its third year—I guess Becky is a glutton for punishment with me), forces me to create something new each and every month.  “Forces” isn’t the right word—no one likes to be “forced” to create and Becky is super-cool, super-nice and totally understanding if you have a crap month where life gets in the way of your creativity and leaves you high and dry in the design/time/space department.  What our agreement does is allow me the incentive to take, and MAKE time to design and create, while giving me new challenges and inspirations through the ever-growing line of cool products Becky sends my way.

 

Exposure is always appreciated, and Becky works her ASS off to get all her team members out there in cyberspace and beyond, but working as part of her team also given me something really special.  I am a part of something bigger than myself.  My ideas are not only solicited, but LISTENED TO.  I am very grateful for the opportunities that have come my way directly because of this collaborative affiliation.  I owe Becky a lot.

 

So, if you have not heard of NunnDesigns, hurry up and take a look.  They have a great blog full of tutorials, info, artist bios and more.  AND, if you have ever considered becoming part of a team like the Nunn Innovation Team, I say GO FOR IT.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow as an artist, try new products, meet new artists, and expand your design vocabulary.  Lots of opportunity out there…grab some for yourself!