Re-Create Yourself - Change It Up

 Recently I was in a creative funk.  Sales were down and so was my morale.  I had a choice;  give up or change it up.

Another creative friend of mine recommended a movie that I hadn't seen, it came out in 2019 I think, and I'm surprised this got past me.  Where'd You Go Bernadette?  The humorous and enlightening story of a highly creative woman who hadn't been creating and was slowly driving herself mad.  Hmm, any correlations I wondered??  

This got me to thinking about my own creative journey, of course, and it wasn't hard to understand the message that we Must create if we are creative people, driven by design, vision, innovation.  Whatever the medium is (and you may have several like I do), it's just part of our DNA, our soul, our reason for existence.  

You may be thinking my next paragraph would involve a fairy tale account of selling my home and moving to Italy (not that it hasn't occurred to me) but it was much more down to earth than that.  After a few days of self reflection (and my 67th birthday!) I decided to just change the direction of my jewelry medium.  While I Love the art and craft of foldform, it has lost it's appeal, or gone out of fashion, at least for now.  Oh I will still make and use this method, but my first directional shift is to use what I have all around me.

I live in the Olympic Mountains of the Pacific Northwest, home to rich natural resources, beautiful scenery, lush rain forests and more rivers, lakes and wild coastline than you have time to visit.  I thought, why not focus on this as my theme?
 
My new work will reflect the diversity of environments here; fish, birds, trees, mountains, etc.  While I do plan to design and manufacture my own charms and supplies within this theme at some point, I do have access to a plethora of supplies that will get me through.  

All of the adorable wildlife creatures are available in charms and pendants, PNW themed jewelry will be my goal.  I can still create with metal around this theme.

My new business name is now Olympic Jewelry Studio (formerly J Gray Design).  You'll see this in my Etsy shop and on Instagram.  

I feel good about this direction.  It feels right.

I highly encourage you to examine your lows and see where you need a change before you give up.

As always, thank you for reading this blog.

 

Seasons of Creativity

 I created a ton of work in the early Spring and made all my deadlines for venues, let it go and put it all on autopilot, leaving the sales and marketing to the experts.

I focused my creativity on my house and yard for the Summer and found it refreshing and invigorating.  It allowed me a different way to express myself using my left brain for construction and repairs, while still using my right brain for the design aspects.

This experience was the perfect balance to my in-studio detail work, almost the complete opposite kind of creativity, working outdoors and physically moving about.  I really enjoyed this and toyed with the idea of quitting the jewelry business all together.  

Later I saw the big picture of creative expression.  Those with many interests (like myself) need to express and experience different things, trying our hand (and stretching our minds) on new projects.  Gardening can be very meditative and exhilarating at the same time.  Building and repairing can use a part of our brain that figures things out, using new tools and testing our dexterity and patience. 

The point being that perhaps different mediums have their season.  Why not, everything else does.  Look at the earth and Mother Nature, nothing is stagnant, it's always moving, changing, renewing. 
This insight has lead me to the conclusion that perhaps nothing really has to end, just change. 
It's also helped me to lighten up and not take things so seriously, it's only art, a means of expressing ourselves.  Having said that however, I would also add that we can't really live without it either, making it or looking at it.  We all need to experience art.

But I digress, I am not a writer, I am a creator of things mostly, so forgive me for rambling.  My hope is to bring other artists some insight into their own process by sharing mine.  Perhaps you are facing similar challenges, asking yourself questions about your own endeavors.  I suggest we relax, calm down, don't take it too seriously and just enjoy the journey.

When I did this I found that as summer wound down I started thinking about the studio again.  Much to my surprise I had some new design ideas flow through me, huh, well that was interesting.  Perhaps all I really needed was a little break from the studio work, some diversity to shake things up, or calm things down, what ever is needed. 

So I for one, will be looking farther ahead from now on, into the next season, the next year, but also staying in the moment of inspiration. 

Happy Creating!

New Work and a New Venue

 Last week I had a serendipitous encounter at a Port Townsend Gallery where I made an instant connection with Mara, the owner.  The conversation flowed from art to her background to her plans for the future of the gallery.  Included were plans to bring in jewelry!  This lead the conversation to my work in metal and a quick viewing of my photos.  Please note here artists, you should always have photos of your work on your phone as you never know when you'll need to show them!
She loved the work, invited me to exhibit there and we agreed I'd return in a week.

One week later to the day, I returned with new pieces I'd made especially for the gallery and a few I'd taken from my Etsy shop listings.  This made a well rounded collection and representation of the work I am producing this year in stones and metal.  

This experience is a testament to synchronicity.  Always be ready for the unexpected magic that can happen at any time!  

I met artist friends of Mara's and could see the kinship she had with them that I too felt instantly.  These are my people, artists, kindred souls.  Right away a pair of my earrings sold out of the box.  Mara went to work on plans for a display while I unpacked the items and chatted with shoppers.  I love art appreciators!  

Here are the new items that are now represented in the Take 5 Art Gallery in Port Townsend, WA on Water Street.

Please plan to visit the Take 5 Art Gallery on your next trip to Port Townsend, currently open Thursday through Sunday and 6 days a week come summer.  The gallery is a short walk from the ferry so if you come over from Seattle on the new fast ferry you can come on foot.  Take 5 is the first gallery on the right side of Water street in the Flagship Landing building.

Mara brings her knowledge and expertise from the San Francisco art scene.  Take 5 opened in June of 2021 and has grown into a magical hidden gem of quality art.

Here are some images of the fabulous space that Mara has so lovingly created at Take 5, including big name artists from the west coast and Paris!  

I hope you'll put the gallery on your destination list for the summer of 2022!

Anatomy of Creating

 As I finished up a jewelry piece the other day I wondered how it came to be created.  Sometimes I start out with something in my mind and it happens, or it develops on its own based on my intuition about it.  The latter is usually the case.  They just create themselves.  I am only the hands that try to work as fast as the ideas come.  

I believe the state of mind is called "the zone", a place where runners, musicians and artists often are.  Time flies, in fact we're not even thinking about time, we're too deeply connected to the task of creating.  

I love taking photos for the same results, I'm just guided by the scene.  In jewelry it's a little more hands on than seeing through the lens, and there are also other things to consider, like textures, weight, and materials. 

 Jewelry pieces can take days, even weeks to create.  I may find the muse has gone and have to leave it on the workbench until I'm inspired again, but it never disappoints me as I'll come back and finish with the same enthusiasm.  Sometimes I'll see it in my head first, or get an idea as I'm first waking up - or going to sleep.  That's another thing, we're obsessed with our art!  

Anyone who considers themselves an artist at any medium, knows the passion and obsession that drives us to create.  We - just - can't - help - it!  It's in us, in our core.  Nothing can remove it from us.

I tried working jobs when I was younger that were behind a desk or in a shop or factory, but the mundane routine drove me mad!  Even now I struggle a bit to get to work and perform the tasks - but I am self employed, it's my own business and I have much more flexibility than those other "jobs".  I'm also very active at work, so the time flies by.

Sometimes I worry I haven't made enough money, but honestly, I'd be dead had I worked behind a desk!  Fulfillment is far more important to me than money.  As long as I can pay the bills and have time to create, I'm completely satisfied.

I don't know where the muse comes from, if it's outside of me or part of me, it is indeed a mystery, but I am grateful for its presence in my life.

 

Featured Artist for April 2021

 Featured Artist Linda Riesenberg Fisler.

Linda has a great intro here, so I shall let her take it away......

"Peaceful" Copyright Linda R

Please introduce yourself, tell us a little about you, yourself, and answer any or all of the questions below.

Hi everyone! First, let me say that Jeni and I go way back in regards to this social media stuff.  We actually "met" on MySpace! Now that I've given away how old I am, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Linda Riesenberg Fisler and I grew up just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.  At the age of 18, I started work at Procter & Gamble, testing the physical properties of toilet paper.  I know what you are thinking, but no, I didn't test it THAT way.  We actually had machines that stimulated all kinds of things that you probably don't think about.  We had a machine that tested if you could poke your finger through six sheets of TP, whether it would flush correctly, how strong the perforations were, and so on! In the early 80s, the computer entered the workforce and I jumped on the bandwagon for learning all about them.  From that point on, my projects centered around computer system development. I worked at P&G for 26 years before I left to become an artist-entrepreneur, focusing on oil painting, podcast producer/host, and author of both fiction and non-fiction books. 

 

 1)     What is (are) your medium (s)?

I sketch with graphite and charcoal, paint in oil colors, and mess around with watercolor markers. I paint mostly landscape paintings, pet portraits, and occasionally a figure.  

I am also an author, working on book five of the Blind Series.  The series of books centers on three people: a female attorney, a Senator, and an MI6 agent. I use the tagline--"It is kind of like Jason Bourne meets the Good Wife in the West Wing."  If you like political crime/espionage novels, you should give this a try.  These books combine history, politics, and a touch of romance (love triangle), while exploring the question--if we did something different back in the 1980s, would we be where we are today?   The book titles of the series are Blind Influence (ebook, paperback, audiobook), Blind Persuasion, Blind Alliance, and Cloaked. 

I also have two podcasts that are available on Spotify, Pandora, iHeart, and Apple podcasts to name a few.  The first podcast I started features art and creativity.  It is called Art Chat with Linda Riesenberg Fisler.  The second podcast features author readings of the Blind Series novels.  It is called Cloaked.
 

 

2)     What attracted you to this medium?

I have been writing scripts and stories since I was a kid. I even sent a script registered mail to Gene Roddenberry for Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was rejected and I didn't notice until I was in my fifties that the rejection letter provided everything I needed to re-submit my script. Self-Publishing was around in 2015 when I finished writing Blind Influence (which I used to write at lunch and on breaks at P&G). Language always fascinated me, even as a young child, and writing just came naturally. 

I began painting in 1990, as a creative outlet from work at a local art center. As time went by, I resigned from P&G to pursue my interest in writing and art full time. I worked for an internationally known Master artist for five years, during which time he mentored my painting. Since then, I have met and interviewed on the podcast many of today's top representational artists exploring everything from starting the painting, color theory/harmony, to applying the finishing touches. I paint live on Facebook, publish the live demonstration session to my YouTube channel, and I have art instruction sessions available on my Patreon page as well as available on Thinkific (in-home lesson--who would have thought we all would be at home more these days!).

"Claude's Lily Pond" Copyright Linda R

 

3)     How long have you been doing it?  

Writing since I was about 9 years old--even took some journalist classes in college until I decided the teachers were teaching more sensationalism versus reporting just facts.  I have been painting for 25 years.

4)     What do you love about it?  What are the challenges?

I love creative energy! When painting I love the simplicity of black and white value studies. I also love applying thick, luscious colors to a painting with a palette knife. It's like icing a cake or sculpting out the painting.  When writing, I love creating the story and how the characters react/develop.  It's no secret that we get into a zone when we create, and time flies by.  

It is challenging and fun to challenge ourselves as we create.  Otherwise, it becomes formulaic and boring. If I approached it with a, "Well, let's go paint the same old thing I've been painting," I wouldn't paint again. Aside from not having enough time in the day (which is probably my biggest challenge), I welcome a challenging composition or challenging subject.  With writing, the challenge is balancing the fictional story with historic times and deciding if my characters succeed in creating a different world than where we are today.  If change is possible, what should have been the focus of the three characters--should it be campaign finance reform, or something pertaining to the 2nd Amendment. Would they succeed in making progress against the chosen path? There is a lot of research that goes into writing the #BlindSeries. It is also so amazing the 20/20 hindsight you get when going in-depth into CIA/Intelligence projects and how much they shaped policy and history. 

"Giverny Lily Pond" Copyright Linda R

 

5)     Do you plan to expand on this medium?  Or change mediums?  And why?

Recently, I was gifted a box of watercolor markers (for Christmas).  I was looking for something fast that I could just play with color and spark my visual painting or drawing interests. It worked! It is fun to change it up and in turn, it sparks the creative mind.  We recently moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Asheville, North Carolina. During the packing and unpacking, getting settled, I lost my creative time.  By the time I got to the studio to paint or write, I was worn out. Those watercolor markers gave me the freedom to just play, which got my creative side engaged. I started writing again, started the Art Chat Community on Facebook where we post challenges or opportunities for its members to jump out of our comfort zones and try something different. It's a private, closed group so that creatives feel safe to post things that may not be polished or finished yet.  I'm zooming the Art Chat podcast now and hopeful that folks will join live to listen while we discuss creative topics that touch on visual art, dance, writing, music, yoga,--basically anything that spurs us on to create. 

6)     Tell us about your studio space, or whatever area you create in.

So, my studio space in Ohio was on the unfinished side of my basement. It wasn't pretty and I added Ott lights so I got a natural light feeling in the space. It had its pros and cons. It was tucked away. I would play music on an old boom box and once I got myself down there, I really enjoyed it. I like being away from things when I am painting.  When writing, I would be in a spare bedroom where I could write and peak out a window when I was contemplating the plotline or a character's reaction. 

In Asheville, there is a space above the garage that has become my studio.  It has a window and is wonderfully filled with natural sunlight.  It is a finished space with carpet, lots of space. Out of the two spaces, I love my "new" studio more than the old one. It is more comfortable and I don't feel like I'm in a dungeon! Asheville itself has a very creative, positive vibe that was so different than where I lived in Ohio.  I teach private lessons out of this space as well, so if you are in Asheville, NC, and looking for an art instructor, let me know! 

7)     Favorite tools / Supplies / equipment?

So, I'll start with writing.  I use Word to create the content and Grammarly to correct misspellings, poor sentence structure, grammar, etc. When the final book is ready, I create an ebook version and a paperback version from the Word document. Then I use Photoshop to create the book cover. After proofing the book close to seven times, I self-publish it to Amazon and off my website. 

As for painting, I use Michael Harding handmade oil paints (the best on the market if you are looking for paints with high pigments and no other chemical additives that changes the composition of the paint and how it dries/ages), palette knives, a mixture of different brands of brushes (Rosemary&Co., Silver Grand Prix, Raphael--mostly mongoose fiber brushes), Centurion Belgium linen canvases that are oil primed, frames from PictureFrames.com. I have charcoal, graphite, and carbon pencils for sketching and the Farber Castell watercolor markers.  My easel is an old one---pretty cheap and can't remember the name. But, I just recently bought two additional easels from Jerry's Artrama-Carolina H-type easels. They are so pretty I almost hate using them.  With private lessons in my studio, I need a couple of extra easels for students to paint on. I also have a Soletek plein air easel that I'll get out and paint with sometime soon--maybe this spring. 

For the podcasts, I use Zoom to create the audio/video. The video and audio are then edited with MOVAVI. The Video goes on Youtube. The audio goes to so many outlets, including the major ones (Pandora, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Alexa, InTune, iHeart, Buzzsprout, to name a few.) 

8)     Do you enter shows?  Contests?  Have you won awards?

When I first started out I joined a few art groups, entered their juror shows, etc. I also entered local shows. I did place in some local shows. It was a mental rollercoaster and decided to back away from the competitions. There are literally millions of artists. Some groups are very closed circles and breaking into those closed circles takes a lot of time, energy, and money. Some artists find that it is a must for them. I'm not exactly that type. I love the creative energy and not competing. Judging is so subjective and I can do without paying into that subjectiveness. I am thankful to those who have found my work pleasing and those who also collect my work. Starting out with that high-level competition was probably the wrong way to start. Now with all my experience, I do contemplate joining a society and seeing how my paintings fair. I guess I am more like Monet--just create--the work will find its place. But yes, I am an award-winning artist--the catchphrase for the marketing brand.  :-D

As for writing, I am also an award-winning writer and I should probably add that my first novel won an award at the Paris Book Festival, Hollywood Book Festival, and the Great Midwest Book Festival. That inspiration told me I should focus more on writing-to have my first book place in three festivals. Blind Persuasion also placed in the Paris Book Festival. As the time to write and paint reduced, I lapsed in submitting books into competitions. It's on the projects list to possibly enter both art and book competitions. Both cost a lot of money to enter, both are subjective, and they can get you some street credibility. It is just a very competitive field and you are competing with very well-known artists/authors. 

9)     Are you actively selling your work?  If so, please tell us the types of locations you’re in or like the best – including online.

Starting with my art:  I am in the Eisele Gallery, which has now moved to virtual with the pandemic. The originals are pretty pricey, but I am also in Fine Art America, where you can order all sorts of merchandise ( from canvas prints to greeting cards to jigsaw puzzles, to face masks, to coffee mugs, to tote bags, towels, pillows, etc.) The link to my Fine Art America site is https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/linda-riesenbergfisler   I also post some of my photography pictures here as well.   I am always willing to paint commissions, which you can contact me directly at lfisler@lindafisler.com.  You can also contact me directly for any painting listed on my website for purchase at lindafisler.com

My novels and instruction books are available on Amazon. The best place to start is my author page, with lists all my books that are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Riesenberg-Fisler/e/B00NPK2BYA/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

You can also order signed copies of my fiction series off my website or by contacting me at lfisler@lindafisler.com

10)  Any advice for artists getting into your medium?

The only thing I would say is to do it because you love it.  Do it because it gives you time to do something for yourself. If you are looking to make money--become rich, don't do it.  The competition is fierce and it can be a bit depressing if you don't watch it. Have realistic goals, do some research on how much time and dedication, and if you have that time and determination then go for it.   It has taken me many years to determine that the reason I continue to paint and to write is that I love doing it.  I love my peeps who keep me inspired.  To me, that is worth a lot!

Linda is embarking on a new opportunity with colleague, John Anderson.  Artistic Harmonies Association-Create Your next AHA experience with us!   To learn more, go to Linda's website and sign up for her newsletter at www.LindaFisler.com .

"LaRoque-Gageac, France" Copyright Linda R

Please visit all the places Linda shows and sells her work, find her on social media as well.   

Featured Artist for March 2021

 Featured Artist of the Month! Kristi Hugs

I have known Kristi for over twenty years and watched her work her way through endless research to come to know what she now offers on her websites and through her Facebook group and Patreon membership. 
Here she talks about her artistic medium that blends beautifully with her other endeavors. 

"Earth Tribe" by Kristi Hugs

 

Please introduce yourself, tell us a little about you and answer any or all of the questions below.

My name is Kristi and I have been working with/teaching about crystals for over 20 years. My Crystal KaleidoScapes came by along quite by accident. I was playing around one day with a new photo program, clicking on every setting to see what happened. When using a crystal picture I had taken as the “subject” I was elated to see all that I could do to change its shape, texture and visuals. Each was unique and each brought me great joy. I have been creating ever since.

What is (are) your medium (s)?
My medium is called Digital Art.

What attracted you to this medium?
I have always had an “artist's eye” but my hand drawn work was not to my satisfaction. The Digital Art allows me a huge number of options and techniques that appeal to my artist's eye and my heart and soul.

How long have you been doing it?
I have been creating Crystal KaleidoScapes for 12 years now.

What do you love about it?
First and foremost, it merges my love of crystals with my love of the creative process. Second, the element of surprise! Many artists have a specific subject in mind before they begin. With my art, I am always surprised at what appears and when it appears.

What are the challenges?
Not being able to create that AH HA moment with a piece I am working on. Sometimes, they just come out “so so” and I am not satisfied.

"The Path" by Kristi Hugs

Do you plan to expand on this medium? Or change mediums? And why?
I am looking to upgrade my program as there are new options out there each and every day so expansion is always an option. Changing mediums? I am always opened to that.

Tell us about your studio space, or whatever area you create in.
There are actually two spaces. One is the photography area in my crystal room with proper lighting, where I choose the crystals for a piece, then arrange and take multiple pictures. After doing that, I do my editing and creation in the office where my computer is.

Favorite tools / Supplies / equipment?
I have a  Canon PowerShot SX540 Digital Camera w/ 50x Optical Zoom Camera I just recently purchased. I really love Canon so will upgrade at some point. That is the most important tool for what I do. I use several photo editing programs but prefer Corel Paint Shop Pro for the artsy stuff.

Do you enter shows? Contests? Have you won awards?
I have not entered any shows or contests. Back in 2011, one of my Crystal KaleidoScapes was chosen to be the cover of a medical text book printed by Cambridge University Press which was exciting for me. 

"Dreamweaver" by Kristi Hugs

 

Are you actively selling your work? If so, please tell us the types of locations you’re in or like the best – including online.

I do sell both Greeting cards and 8 x 10 prints on my website. I also have a Fine Art America website where many of my pieces are available in both art offerings and a number of additional products such as masks, tapestries and cell phone covers. A local crystal shop, Cove Crystals, carries a few of my larger prints and I am able to print on demand copies of my Crystal Council Oracle deck with includes many of my Crystal KaleidoScapes when requested.

Any advice for artists getting into your medium?
Enjoy the process and have fun!

Kristi Hugs

Website Shopping https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrystalCommunions 

Fine Art America https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/kristi-hugs/shop

Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/kristihugs/_saved/

 

All images copyright Kristi Hugs - All Rights Reserved.