Bead Arts

Tangle

Artist: Elaine Ray
Location: Raleigh, NC

Website & Blogs:
Elaine Ray
Elaine Ray blog
Art Bead Scene blog

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Elaine, your beads and your business plan are very different from most artists’. How do you describe your work?
Let me first allow you to read my bio as I have it posted on my web site, then I’ll tell you what I’d say if we were to meet on the street!

I have transformed my love for the earth into these small pieces of art. As earth-tone glazes, rich in organic hues, enhance and highlight the individual clay forms my most important message is to celebrate the fact that these beads and pendants are made of clay - tiny bits of the land we walk and live on. I always leave a bit of clay showing to remind us of the small pieces of earth that we are holding and wearing.

Each piece is hand formed, glazed and then fired to approximately 2200º Fahrenheit. The unique colors and shapes of these bead and pendants beg to be made into beautiful, distinctive, wearable art. Originally from Illinois, my clay work now thrives with North Carolina’s pottery traditions and community.

OK, now let’s say we meet at a marching band contest. I’d say “I make beads and pendants out of stoneware clay in my garage.” Then I’d point to whatever piece of jewelry I’m wearing that has my beads or pendants in it, because I always have something on, saying “Like these.” Then I’m nearly always asked if I have my own kiln. “Yes, an electric one with interior dimensions about 18 inches by 24 inches. I fire to approximately 2200 degrees Fahrenheit so it gets plenty hot out there.” Talk some more and eventually I’ll talk about how most of my colors are earth tones and that no I don’t have any for sale, I only sell to bead shops and I plan to look into selling a line of finished jewelry - but I’ve been saying that for a long time and haven’t moved on it. I’m best at making the components and there are stringers out there that amaze me with their designs so I leave that step of finished jewelry up to them.

How did you pick the name of your business?
At the beginning I spent hours thinking and researching a name and settled on Pieces of Earth. I still love that name, but it ended up that someone else has that web site and it became slightly confusing to be somewhat know as Elaine Ray and somewhat known as Pieces of Earth. So now I only use my name for the web site, for my blog, my email and for any communications I have professionally.

What is your creative process like?
As I glance through this list of questions it gets me thinking - this is a good mental exercise for me, not only will I be getting this finished, but every time I go through these type of questions my mind gets more organized, and I can take that into my work, on the business and creative side of things.

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What is it like when you’re creating?
As I attempt to answer this I need to ask myself when is it that am I actually creating a new product? Is is when I see an object that inspires me, when I see a designers end product and think - oh that is marvelous and next time I’ll try X, when I’m fabricating a new tool, or is it when I actually have clay in my hands?

I guess when I’m creating it is like a flow of ideas, I see something that inspires a new idea, I think through just how I’d make that idea - including each step such as forming it out of the clay, applying the glaze and getting it situated in the kiln. As I’m writing this, I realize I almost never think about how a designer will use the final piece at first. Then my typical routine is to show the bead shops a couple of prototypes and they
(the very talented bunch of stringers they are) give me suggestions such as can this hole be bigger/smaller, can there be more holes, less hole, how about making this a little longer, a bit more round, with texture etc. My relationship with Ornamentea in Raleigh has especially helped me in this way. They feel comfortable making suggestions and asking for specific ideas - all of which have turned out to push my creative process further. Which, in turn, gives them new and unusual pieces to design around.


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Do you throw all your materials on the table and let serendipity take its course?
No, I’m really more of a plotter and planner. I don’t plan with pen and paper, but I do plan endlessly in my head. I spend a great deal of time thinking about the actual manufacturing process. I’m sort of nerdy in that manner - I get great delight out of designing and making a new tool, finding a new way to load the kiln, figuring out time saving steps and things like that.

Any typical background sounds in your working environment?
My typical day starts out with NPR Morning edition, then the BBC. Most times I then “watch” DVDs as I work. I put watch in quotes given that I really mostly listen to the movies since my eyes need to be on my work. Then more public radio. Sometimes music, but the radio in my garage is really not so good.

What is your daily schedule like?
In all honesty, this is really set by my kids schedule such as soccer games, marching band competitions and fund raisers, hair cuts, eye appointments, forgotten homework or cleats etc. I chose this job so I can have this type of schedule, but I know I’d be much more productive with a more consistent work schedule.

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What kind of training do you have?
I have worked in clay on and off since childhood, then did take formal classes in college as I got a degree in Occupational Therapy. Since graduating from University of Illinois in 1985 I have taken classes in a variety of community art spaces. That about covers my art / clay training. My training as an Occupational Therapist is probably just as important since it applies to production. I use my background in ergonomics, time saving devices / techniques, billing / time management and problem solving in all aspects of the business. Finally, the training my dad gave me as a kid growing up in the country comes in handy all the time. My dad could fix anything and encouraged all of us to use his tools to problem solve everyday problems and come up with new solutions and ideas. My mom is a music teacher and she really showed us the value of keeping records, keeping on schedule and if you say you are going to do something - do it! As boring as these ideas are - they can really make a difference in business survival. I know many people think that if they just make great art it will sell itself - that is not true. You have to do the business end also.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Yes, there is one glaze that is the base of most of my pieces and I’d be lost without it. Most of my tools are hand made or just easy off the shelf items - easy to replace either. What I couldn’t survive without is my relationship with the bead shops I work with. I think without those personal relationships I’d just be another bead maker in the crowd.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Sometimes all I need to keep me going is remembering that I have bills to pay! In all reality, I not often frustrated and my work is not that hard. The toughest most frustrating thing for me has been setting up a web site for my wholesale customers to order from. I did plenty of whining during those times - and I’m still not really done, with the web site or the whining….

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What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
That is a good question - I think to grow as an artist you need to feed your sensory field for that art. I need lots and lots of visual stimulation and second to that I need to touch and feel all sorts of things. Also, everyone should look at the business side of their art and address it also. For me, this has been increased computer use and blogging, so words and phrases are becoming an important aspect to be added to the visual images.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
This will sound so corney and contrived, but it is my family completely. We, as a unit, completely drive each other’s schedules and so far - so good!

What’s your favorite non-art activity?
I think here is where a reader likes to know a bit of trivia or something about a person that isn’t directly linked to their art / occupation…..so here is mine. I use up more time than I’d like to admit to anyone playing Tetris.

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media