Monday, November 15, 2010

Handmade Division Talk About Nov

What mentors/teachers would I like to study with?

Well unfortunately I am not big on names, I barely passed art history so...


Photo credit Keith Lo Blue

One name does come to mind in the area of finishing. I love finishing, it is where the piece comes to life in my opinion. One of the first things that I learned in school was that a good finish sells your piece.
So I am going to say that if I had the opportunity to take some classes and really learn some cool stuff, it would  be Keith Lo Blue.

If you check out his site you will see that he has pretty much rocked all of the finishing techniques from etching to weathering and distressing.

And there are classes to be had on his site!

Go ahead and check it out, you will be impressed!

Please check out what some other Handmade Division members are thinking on this topic!

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com
Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogpost.com
Tosca Teran: http://nanopod.wordpress.com
Rickson Jewellery: http://www.Ricksonart.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr: http://bCyrJewelry.blogspot.com
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com
Emily Watson http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear http://wattoonline.blogspot.com
Pink Crow Studio: http://pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com

Posted by at 2 comments:

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Etsy Metal Blog Carnival Nov 2010

Blog Carnival is Etsy Metal's monthly group blog where several members get together and post on the same topic. It s a great way to check out different views and ideas of some talented artists. Check out the links down there... and meet some wonderful new people!

Am I a successful artist?
What is that? What is successful?
It can mean many many things, my ideas of being successful...

people appreciate what I am creating, creating something that is meaningful to me
for the first time in my life, people truly appreciate what I am doing
being able to make my own work hours
wearing jeans every single stinkin day
working harder when I need cash and slacking when I don't
Stickin it to the man
wrestling with my dog at 3am because I love him
being free in general
learning that self discipline takes on a whole new meaning

But wait, it's not that easy.
It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.
I still struggle with it daily.
It can be down right brutal.
It is a test to end all tests.

So am I successful?
Personally? Not yet, but I am on my way.
I can't see living with so much stress being a success, but it is getting better.

One of the hardest parts is being able to separate art from business. The way I do it, and I am still working on this, is to do just that. Separate it.
When I am working on art I block everything else out, shut the doors, turn off the phones, close the laptop, hide in my world.
When it's time to do business, I have to change personalities and become someone else.
I am still far from a successful business person but I learn every day.
So basically, I do not mix the two, they stay very separate.
I will know when I am successful because I will have someone handling all of my biz for me and I will just create.

The best thing that I have done for my shop is networking and marketing. Meet everyone I can and never cut anyone short.
Help everyone I can and in turn be helped.
You can be the best designer/artist out there but if people don't know you exist,
it just won't work ;)

Check out what some other very talented people are thinking on this same topic!


Posted by at 3 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Contributors