The Creative Habit

Since becoming a full-time studio artist back in August, I'm not reading for pleasure nearly as often as I used to. I find myself dearly missing those subway rides to and from work if only for the fact that I could lose myself in 25 minutes of uninterrupted reading time. So it took me a while longer to finish reading Twyla Tharp's book: The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life , however I can't recommend it enough. Inspiring and insightful, this book will make you look honestly at your own creative work habits and strive to better them.


I have a confession to make: I'm an Underliner. When I buy a book - and love a book - I underline my favorite passages so I can go back to it and re-read sections when necessary to refresh my mind about its' messages. Some of my favorite underlined sections from this book:

"Without passion, all the skill in the world won't lift you above craft. Without skill, all the passion in the world will leave you eager but floundering. Combining the two is the essence of the creative life."

"Every artist faces this paradox. Experience - the faith in your ability and the memory that you have done this before - is what gets you through the door. But experience also closes the door. You tend to rely on that memory and stick with what has worked before. You don't try anything new."

"Inexperience provides us with a childlike fearlessness that is the polar opposite of the alleged wisdom that age confers on us, the "wisdom" telling us some goals are foolish, a waste of time, invitations to disaster. In its purest form, inexperience erases fear. You do not know what is and is not possible therefore everything is possible."

"More often than not, I've found, a rut is the consequence of sticking to tried and tested methods that don't take into account how you or the world has changed."

"Repetition is a problem if it forces us to cling to our past successes. Constant reminders of the things that worked inhibit us from trying something bold and new. We lose sight of the fact that we weren't searching for a formula when we first did something great; we were in unexplored territory, following our instincts and passions wherever they might lead us. It's only when we look back that we see a path, and it's only there because we blazed it."

Lately I've been feeling a big change coming on in regards to my work… can you tell? In going back through the book for quotes just now I realized almost everything I underlined speaks to me about that.

Positivity

It's not easy to stay positive given the current economic situation in our country. Alyson Stanfield has just created this

Hilary Pfeifer

© Hilary Pfeifer

When I was living in Boulder, CO in 2002 I was working with jeweler Todd Reed on a project and while visiting his home studio, I noticed these amazingly colorful sculptures "growing" across the walls of his stairwell. I asked who the artist was and he told me it was Hilary Pfeifer. I've been a fan of Hilary's work ever since. So when I heard about the telephone interview "Insights" with Alyson Stanfield of artbizcoach.com and Hilary Pfeifer, I jumped on the chance to be in on the call. And they did not disappoint. It's a new series Alyson has been promoting lately called "Insights," phone conversations with artists about how they've achieved their level of success. A great idea because instead of having to attend a lecture in some designated location in the US, anyone can participate and be in on the call, right from the comfort of their own home.

© Hilary Pfeifer

Although trained as a metalsmith, Hilary works primarily in wood. Though she cites metalsmithing techniques as playing an important role informing her designs. Colorful and bold with a nod to the organic, her miniature plant-life, creature-esque sculptures captivate the imagination. Although unique on their own, the character of Hilary's pieces truly come to life when assembled in groups, each sculpture relating the next in a conversational way.

Hilary and Alyson discussed the advantages of having a line of installation art pieces that allow collectors to add to as they see fit. Whether one piece or fifteen, arranged in their homes as they please, accumulated as quickly or as slowly as their wallets will allow. I think this is a fabulous way to appeal to a variety of art collecting budgets. I hope to "grow my own" collection of Hilary's work on my walls someday.

It was interesting to hear Hilary talk about the paths she took with her career to get to where she is now. Particularly resonating for me was the way Hilary found a balance with her production work and the one-of-kind gallery pieces.

© Hilary Pfeifer

Check out more from her portfolio here, her production line "Bunny with a Toolbelt" here. And for more upcoming artist talks in Alyson's "Insights" series, click here.

© Hilary Pfeifer

Metalsmith Call for Entries

Metalsmith Juried Exhibition in Print 2009 Call for Entries:

"Saturated: Metal and Color"
Jewelry and metalsmithing in which color plays a significant conceptual or visual role.

Approximately 40 artists will be selected for the publication, which will include four-color reproductions of artists' work. All jewelers, designers and metalsmiths, including students, are eligible and encouraged to apply and need not reside in the United States. All work must be original and produced within the last two years (2007 or later).

Jurors: Jamie Bennett, Professor of Art, Metal Program, State University of New York at New Paltz; and Marilyn da Silva, Professor, Chair, Jewelry/Metal Arts Program, California College of the Arts.

Postmark deadline December 5, 2008.

www.snagmetalsmith.org

Somehow I always miss the deadline for the juried EiP every time it rolls around… this year I will NOT be missing it. I encourage all you metalsmiths out there to do the same!

Zoë Newsome

I'm not typically ga-ga over flower forms in jewelry work. I guess because it's such a common, typical theme. However, I was floored when I saw the work of London based jewelry artist Zoë Newsome and her take on the subject. Her metal flowers are like drawings that have sprung to life off the page; so expressionistic, delicate and, well… organic. Even if the theme is a popular one, her visual language for interpreting it is so totally unique, I'm officially ga-ga. Enjoy!

Handmade 2.0

The New York Times had an article last Sunday about buying handmade, the new wave craft movement and Etsy entitled: "Handmade 2.0" I thought it was a pretty great digestion of it all and worth a read. [via design*sponge]