Just Ask

Donna Kato has started a lively, and important discussion on her blog about copycats and those who teach what others have taught them. The discussion has spilled over to Cynthia Tinapple's blog, Polymer Clay Daily , and a lively discussion is ensuing in the comments section to her post.

I had written before about how easy it is to be sucked into the trap of being overly influenced by the work of another artist, and how Kathleen Dustin had taught me the depth of surface technique I use with my jewelry and vessels. I used to worry tremendously that people would think I was trying to copy her work. As much as I adore the work she does, doing the same thing she does would feel hollow compared to figuring out what I could do with the process. The more I explore the process the less worried I am about my work creating any confusion.

I wrote the other day about the article in Belle Armoire Jewelry featuring one of my necklaces. This whole discussion about teaching what others have taught resurrects my experience with this article. Here's the back story about that article.....

When I submitted the jewelry, I assumed that it would be more of a gallery presentation. If I had looked carefully at the previous issue, I would have seen this was wrong.
When the editor contacted me to tell me my work was accepted for the magazine I was ecstatic. But, when the email continued that they wanted a article that explained how to make the piece I suddenly was not so sure that this was going to happen. The design is my own. But the technique borrows heavily from what I had learned from Kathleen. She continues to teach this process. I have never wanted to venture into that territory. It belongs to her.

I emailed Kathleen. I outlined the situation, and described my suggested solution. She was very gracious in agreeing to my going ahead with the article and made one suggestion, which I was more than willing to incorporate. Beyond what we agreed to, I added the suggestion that anyone who wanted to learn more about the process should take a class with Kathleen, and her website address. Kathleen's class is a weekend long, intensive class. It is not one that can truly be learned in a two page article, without pictures or diagrams.

I hope that others do not look at what I did and see someone who is trying to rip off the hard work and reputation of someone who is so admired. It has made me think about where I submit my work in the future. I don't want to find myself in this situation again.

I am glad that Donna has opened up this discussion. It is one that is needed from time to time. I had seen listing for the class in question, and did a double take when I saw the instructor. It is unfortunate that Donna was not consulted in this case. I hope that if and when you find yourself in this situation you honor your teachers. They deserve it. And you will sleep better in the end.

Loose Ends

I have been playing a bit today. Trying to bring a few projects to closure, and just playing. One of the things I was playing with is one-inch squares. If you follow some the mixed media activity, one-inch squares are the latest thing since ATC's.

ATC's, for those who have not stumbled across them yet are Artist Trading Cards. They started out with artists creating small works of art; drawings, paintings, etc., on a playing card. So they were a standard size, perfect for trading and collecting. They have branched into many other media including polymer clay. We had an ATC swap at the Klay Karma retreat in 2005, and it was a big hit. Trading of ATC's in all sorts of media continues to be active.



One inch squares are just what they sound like. One inch squares decorated in a variety of ways. Usually when they are traded, they are traded in batches of ten or one hundred. The idea is to have a large enough collection to group them together in some sort of presentation.



So I decided to spend some time just playing with one-inch squares. I have lots of remnants of clay left when I am making cranes, so it was easy for me to come up with a nice assortment of squares. After curing them I had to decide what to do with them. I had a shadow box that would have been perfect....but last week that went to the masks I received in Sarajane Helm's miniature mask swap. (www.polyclay.com).





Looking around the studio I found a few of those wide framed mirrors from IKEA. The mirror is probably only 4 inches square. But it has a big wide frame. Perfect. I covered the frame with black clay. Gave it a bit of texture and cured it, and then mounted the squares on the black clay. I finished it with a few smaller, textured squares around the edge. Pretty cool, huh?




There was a method to my madness, besides just playing of course. For those of you who are going to be going to Klay Karma 2007 in New Hampshire, in July, we are looking at doing a one inch square swap. Formally and informally. We have not finalized the details of the swap yet, but if you heading to the retreat this summer, it is not too soon to start thinking about what you might do on your one-inch squares. Texture? Mokume gane? Faux? Millefiore? Start thinking, and we will fill you in on the details later.

I will not be at the retreat this year. I will be doing the Guilford Craft Expo that weekend in Guilford, CT. I was excited to get into the show, but disappointed that it was going to conflict with the retreat. But I am working on the committee planning the event. So at least I will know what I am missing!

New Article

I sent my husband to the store last night on the way home from work. Not for milk or bread or any of the usual things. No. This time I wanted him to pick up the latest copy of Belle Armoire Jewelry.












I had one of those days yesterday that was spent mostly of it in the car with the kids. I never left town, but I also never seemed to be far from the car! One daughter was having a tough day, which meant she was taking it out on me. I needed something to get me out of my funk. I knew the new issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry was coming out, and I was supposed to have an article in it. I had not recieved my copy yet, so I was not absolutely certain. One of the things you learn about having articles published, is that like anything in life, things do not always go according to plan. So I was anxiously checking the mailbox looking to see if a copy was there.

My husband can be such a sweetheart about these things. Not only did he go to the store to get me a copy, he checked the website for the magazine to see where they sold it, and called to make sure they had it. They reserved a copy for him. And when he got there he found my article and showed it to the person in the store. She proceeded to gush over the article, and show everyone else in the store. Can you see my cheeks and neck reddening??

I was thrilled to see the article and the beautiful photography. And, I was also happy to see that 13 (I counted!) of the pieces/articles in the magazine included polymer clay and/or silver clay, the two media I use. Both media are infants in the world of art/craft. Neither has been around long enough to have anything really approaching a "tradition". But for me, that is part of the appeal I suppose. There are far less rules and standards. Experimentation is everywhere, and the creative energy is contagious. Both communities share readily as they learn and grow with the material. I suppose it can be dangerous as well, because it is easy to think about something else that could be tried out.

If you enjoy making or collecting jewelry, this is a great magazine. The photography is beautiful. The paper is nice heavy quality stock. And the work is inspiring. I will be spending many hours leafing through the magazine and taking in the creative energy.

But not for at least a few days. Remember the mailing list post. I have to get my mailing list in for that wholesale show. And the photography for the postcards. Deadlines are coming up for several applications. And I just got my shipment of silver clay so I can get back to work on a new idea...... Bye for now. I have a daughter to get off to school, and work to do.

Fighting My Way Back

While I wrote about feeling younger these days in my last post, the outside is not feeling so young. Way too many pounds have been added on to my body in the last 10 to 15 years. I have had my list of rationalizations.

Pregnancy: 5 pregnancies, 30 months in 4 years, 2 kids
Time: Kids, running a business, life
Depression: After my dad died in 2000 I went into the worst depression of my life. Ingest chocolate. Add 50 pounds.

I got out of the habit of exercising. I started to be afraid to start again. It would be hard. It would feel uncomfortable. What would I do? Time and money constraints impose some limitations. Add to that bum knees, and some arthritis, and the options narrow.

Well, I am shifting my thinking. I was writing about this the other night and came to some important insights. First, it will never be any easier to get started than it is right now. Second, I have to let go of the judgement. Yes I am overweight and I am not a pretty picture exercising. But who cares. Carrying around the judgement is like carrying around an added burden. I just need to put it down and walk away. I will not ever be able to get fit and enjoy that state if I continue to judge myself so harshly. Finally, all I have to do is move. It does not matter so much what I do, as that I do something!

I have found a dance exercise show on my cable company's On Demand programming. It is Latin dancing. I am tripping over my own feet but, the music is fun. The woman teaching the class is wonderful. Her positive energy is contagious. I want to exercise when she is on. I feel good when I am done. That wonderful energized calm that I remember from years past.

So why am I sharing this? Well, this morning it occurred to me that this process I am going through with exercise can apply to so many other things in life that we procrastinate about. The creative blocks that holds many of us back at times.

Some times the most valuable lessons in our lives are from our struggles. Things which come easy are our gifts. But they do not teach us as much, or help us grow as much as our struggles can.

So here are the rules:
It will never be any easier to do than it is today.
Put down the judgement and walk away. Leave it behind.
Just move. (or create, or whatever it is that you need to do.)

Three rules. That is is. They are my mantra right now. I hope they can help you in some way.