Bead Arts

Kaytee’s bracelets

Kaytee had some very wise advice to share recently on the Jewelry Making forum at About.com. The question often comes up about what it takes to start a jewelry business. Too many people seem to think that it’s a super-easy-fun way to make a little extra money. When you decide to take your jewelry hobby to the next level, Kaytee pointed out that you really need to count the costs:

1. LOTS of people have “just started making jewelry” and are pretty good at it and after a few weeks, want to start selling. They have dreams of making it into a dream career, spending their days making beautiful jewelry, and the world beating a path to their door to buy it. It ain’t happening.

2. There are LOTS of long established beaders, doing excellent, prize winning work who are not selling enough jewelry to make it a career– many of them suppliment their “day jobs” with teaching, putting together kits and/or patterns of their MARKETABLE pieces, not with selling those pieces. And, they are “hustling” to get those teaching contracts and selling the kits. Or they went to selling beads and/or other beading supplies.

3. The market is saturated with nice, everyday type jewelry. With Swarovski crystals, Bali silver, gemstone beads…. Lots of competition at every craft fair and church bazaar… lots of people attempting to put together home shows… selling at boutiques, beauty salons and wherever else they can. China noticed the trend– WalMart and Target and the dollar stores are also now your competition. And, remember point 1– lots of the people who would have been your market, are now making their own items, or their mom/sister/best friend is, even if they are not selling. If you make back your materials costs and fees, you’ll be doing pretty good.

4. If you want a career in any sort self-employed endeavor– study up on BUSINESS. Usually, there are small business classes at local adult ed centers, community colleges, and/or through the SBA. Learn a bit of accounting– at least enough to put together what your tax advisor needs. And yes, you should have a tax advisor who is experienced with preparing home/small business forms. Determine your market and write a business plan. Find or make an inventory program (JDM or similar, or even just Excel) that works for you to keep track of things– and an accounting program–Quicken will do for a start. Be prepared to spend as much or more time attending to the “business” as in making the jewelry.

5. Find out what you need in terms of permits, licenses, insurance… sales tax collection… zoning laws…. These vary community to community.

6. Do you have enough room at home or do you need to rent studio/storage space? When I go to shows, I can carry the jewelry in one “little” bag… but the displays fill up my Matrix, with the back seat folded down. They, and the beads, take up a lot of room at home, too. Hubby is constantly complaining about it.

7. Do you have the time and financial support to pursue a business start-up? It generally takes a couple of years for a new business to just break even– how are you going to feed yourself in the meantime? How much can you invest out of your own funds? Can you qualify for a SBA or similar loan? They generally won’t loan to “home businesses”.

8. If you are going to have a website… even just a photo hosting site album… make sure you spell-check.

If you are not daunted by Kaytee’s list, then good! You might want to think about taking Tammy Powley’s Jewelry Business Crash Course, a free e-course designed to walk you through the process.

jewelry-business, wearable-art, beads, beading, handmade-beaded-jewelry

Have you ever thought about selling your designs? Not the finished product, but the designs themselves? Here’s how one designer decided to go about it:

Creating and selling jewelry tutorials

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

Ladies Social

Cindy Forrester recently started an Etsy shop to sell her unique twist on vintage! She mixes old jewelry parts with ephemera to create one-of-a-kind jewels. Cindy writes:

Since I was a child I have always had the need to be creative. My 7th grade teacher kept every piece of artwork I did and she told me she had them framed and hung them in her home. She was such an inspiration to me. She always told me I could do anything I wanted to do with my art. I have never forgotten those words from her and have been creating ever since. I have mostly done paintings and some commissioned work, murals and furniture. I would pretty much paint on anything-canvas, old saw blades, furniture, and pieces of wood.

I was raised in Virginia in the country and my grandparents had a tobacco farm that we helped work in the summer and fall. They lived in an old farm house (no plumbing in the house except for a kitchen sink) and there were lots of old things in there. I grew up appreciating antiques. They had 3 rooms they never used that had all kinds of things from old jewelry (what we call vintage now), old clothes, shoes, paper dolls and even a few skeleton keys. I played dress up all the time, I loved the old jewelry, I would give anything to have them now. I guess that is where the love for old things came from. Since I have gotten older I love going antiquing, finding old rosaries, pearls, cameos, and religious medals, and medallions, and going to flea markets.

I am inspired by anything European from the past (my ancestors are English and Irish), antique, old, unusual, rusty, old metal, tin ceiling tiles, vintage chains, rhinestones, crystals, charms, tintype photos. I love the tintype photos or any old photos. When I look at them I try to imagine what they are doing or thinking and I will name some of my pieces that way. When I start creating the jewelry I am not always sure where I am going with it, it just evolves as I work on it. This is the part I have a passion for putting it together and seeing the end result. I like things that are different and I could never find jewelry in stores that had that Wow factor enough for me to buy,so I decided to combine the two -art and jewelry. Since I am having so much fun I decided to start selling my jewelry at CindyForrester.Etsy.com

3 Sisters All Dressed Up

City Queens

I love going to the local Intergem show. Intergem stands for International Gem and Jewelry. The show closest to me is not a place to find handmade lampwork beads or seed beads, but it is wonderful for semi-precious and precious gemstones of all kinds, stone beads, Swarovski crystal, pearls, and silver silver silver. I always seem to go with the same list, to replenish my silver and pearl stock, but after that’s been taken care of, it’s time to see what catches my fancy. This year, it was moakite and amazonite rondelles, and tons of turquoise. I can never seem to get enough turquoise!

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

Beautiful beads from Via Murano

De Roma Venetian Glass
Imported Venetian glass beads

Venetian Bead Shop
Imported Venetian and Murano glass beads

Gems 2 Behold
Wholesalers of Venetian and Murano glass beads

Via Murano
Imported Venetian glass beads

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

ClayfulminglesThe Spirited Bead
Beautiful polymer beads by Karen Lewis, aka Klew

Clayfulmingles
Mia Rox’s polymer cane beads

Beyond Beads Gallery
Porcelain beauties by Jean Christen

CF Originals
Spectacular critters and more by Christi Friesen

Columbine Beads
Raku beads and pendants by Linda A Hendrix

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

Fire Mountain Gems
EncycloBEADiaAll About Jewels
Illustrated dictionary

FDJ Tool
Dictionary

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

Nothing even comes close to comparing with the sparkle and beauty and color selection of real Swarovski crystals. Many other faceted beads are called “crystal”, but true crystal glass has a high lead content that gives it that extra shine.

Here are a couple of good sources for all the colors and styles of Swarovski crystals:

The Beadin’ Path
Many vintage and hard-to-find styles

Jewerly Supply
An amazing selection

Best Buy Beads
All the contemporary shapes and colors

Rainbows of Light
Incredible selection and organization

Create Your Style
Swarovski’s own site, with design ideas, a design tool, links to events and stores

Bead Stuff
Fabulous color and shape charts

Jerry Smith Beads
Charts and easy shopping

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

Waterford Crystal and fine gifts from Crystallia. We carry the full selection of crystals from Waterford. High brilliance, quality craftsmanship and exceptional value.

I first met Gladys online in the WetCanvas wearable arts forum, and I completely blame her for my recent fascination with fingerweaving bracelets and treasure necklaces! Gladys told me that she was perfectly content to take the blame. And here is the bracelet that I believe started the whole WetCanvas obsession with fingerweaving:

Mango Burst

Artist: Gladys Botz
Business name: Studio 1415
Location: Bismarck, ND

Website:
Studio 1415


Touch of Lime

So Gladys, you’ve started a movement on WetCanvas! Just how do you describe your work?
My work is unique, a little different than what others do in our area, and I take pride in it being well made. I love color and I like to believe that I have a good eye for blending and putting colors together. I named my business “Studio 1415″ because I create my jewelry in the living room of my home, hence the 1415. I will never get rid of my couch before I turn it upside down and shake all the beads out of it.

What is your creative process like?
I let the beads and natural stones talk to me. I have this vision in my head and then try to create it with my hands. Most of the time it works but sometimes I ask myself what the heck was I thinking? I keep my beads separated because its easier cleanup and putting supplies away is easier. But one time I just poured the beads on my work area and all the colors were messed up together and I created my favorite seed beaded bracelet using the freeform peyote stitch method.


Nightwaters

I have a day job so I can pay for my bead obsession so I only have evening hours and weekends to create, so I guess I work in small chucks of time. I like working on projects that pretty much give me instant gratification, but my seed bead projects take several days to create one piece of jewelry. I listen to the TV verses watching it. I also work on my couch in the living room.


What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I am a self taught artist. I read and practice and practice and practice. I have worked in many different mediums in my lifetime and love creating pretty things with my hands. My Mom taught me to sew when I was seven years old. I loved sewing my own clothes and always having something different than everyone else because theirs was “store-bought”. I started painting on sweatshirts and creating “Fancy Lady Pins” using friendly plastic to match the sweatshirts, that is when I started participating in craft shows. It was my sister that talked me into going in with her in a booth in my hometown. She had baked goods and embroidered dish towels. I sold 11 sweatshirts that day and oodles of the Fancy Lady pins, hauling in over $300 that day. I was on cloud 9. That was in 1991 and I haven’t looked back since.


Aquamarine and jasper wirewrapped necklace

Ten years later arthritis joined me in my body and I was looking for something to do for the craft shows so I didn’t have to carry so many heavy boxes in and out of the shows. I always liked jewelry and it is relatively pretty east to transport. I taught myself to wire wrap about 5 years ago. I wire wrapped natural stone pendants, earrings, and made bracelets and compiled a nice inventory. I found I could set up a really nice looking 8 ft table at the craft shows with only one medium Rubbermaid plastic container full of jewelry and props. So for the last four years I go out and participate in about 5 shows a year.


Tricolor Bracelet


Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
I can’t imagine life without my bent nose pliers (I only own 4 pair). Seed beads and wire would be my other choices, they have been around forever. Also, my new found friends on Wearable Art of Wet Canvas.com. They’re a very nice group of artistic people that hang out together, and I have learned so much from them and they are so willing to share.

What inspires you to create?
Color, lots and lots of color! A well taken photo of a flower or other art, or a jewelry magazine with directions on a jewelry design that I haven’t done before.


Seas #4

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Knowing the end results will be worth all the hassle that I’m going through at the moment.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Practice, practice, practice, learn, learn, learn. If you see something that you like or would like to do, email the artist and ask if she will share the knowledge with you.


Jackie’s Bracelet

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I have a day time job that helps pay for my bead obsession! I am also married with two grown sons and I have one grandson. When I’m not beading, I love to sew, crochet and knit. I also read before going to sleep each night.

What’s your favorite comfort food?
I love fresh fruit and right now its berry season! But I would have to say Vanilla Ice cream is my comfort food.


Gladys Botz, bead & jewelry artist

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

Neither Here Nor There

Artist: Melissa Earley
Location: Spartanburg, SC, USA

Website:
Melissa Earley


4-Eyes

I learned your bead pieces start out as paintings, Melissa, which is so different from most people’s approach. How do you describe your work?
I call my bead pieces “bead paintings.” Then, when people look at me like they have no clue what I’m talking about, I tell them that my bead paintings look like tiny little mosaics, or stained glass. I always frame the work between two pieces of clear glass so that light can come through, so they do often resemble stained glass in that way.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process is generally a solitary venture, especially at the initial drawing and painting stages. I listen to loud, preferably angry, chick music to get my blood pumping and my neurons firing, and while taking time out to play air guitar and sing into my pens and paintbrushes, I do a lot of sketching first. Once I find an image or idea I like, I paint it. Then if the painting has beading potential, I’ll create a template and start choosing my colors. This is the most frustrating part because although I use Delica seedbeads and they come in a lot of great and sometimes subtle colors, they can’t match the nuances of all the millions of possible paint combinations.

Once the beading begins I have to turn the music off because I can’t listen without singing, and if I’m singing I can’t pay attention to the weaving. So I gather all my stuff together and plant myself in front of the TV, which is easy to ignore but gives me some background noise to keep me entertained. When I’m lucky, my husband will provide the entertainment instead, either by talking with me or by way of recording music in the next room, which is usually good to bead by. And Petey, my dog, is usually at my feet during the entire process, sighing loudly to signal his displeasure that I’m not paying more attention to him. Once the weaving begins I work constantly, although since I have a full time job, I can usually only bead in the evenings. I might work 10 to 14 hours on weaving during my days off, which is what I prefer—just pushing straight through.


Self Portrait Blue

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
Well, I still feel like a hobbyist most of the time, because shows and sales are few and far between, but I have a BA in studio art, and I’ve worked in several “fine craft” galleries, which have inspired me in numerous ways. They gave me opportunities to see a lot of fresh, original work: glass, wood, metal, clay, jewelry, fiber, paper, you name it. There are a multitude of innovative and amazingly creative people working in the US right now, and being exposed to their work, seeing their careers progress, and occasionally getting to meet them, has been a huge motivation for me to continue my own work. My husband is an amazing and prolific artist, and a musician, and he’s always working on something which of course keeps me going, too. And my brother and a lot of my friends are creative types: musicians, writers, quilters, designers, puppeteers, and other types of artists, so being surrounded by that level of creativity, obviously everybody kind of feeds of each other’s momentum and creative excitement.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
I would be nothing without my pliers. And I can’t do any beading without Thread Heaven.


The making of Neither Here Nor There

What inspires you to create?
I’ve always loved art and I’ve always drawn, from as far back as I can remember, and honestly, creating art is a great ways to exorcise my demons. Whatever life throws at me can be tamed, at least in part, by using that emotion, whether it’s anger, grief, sorrow (and even joy), to create something tangible. There are times when I can physically feel the emotion run down my arm and out through the pencil or brush. It’s very cathartic.

As far as influences, I love 20th century art, especially the Expressionists, Surrealists, Dadaists, and the Fauves. My favorite painter at the moment is Leonora Carrington, and my favorite bead artist is Jimoh Buraimoh. I also love ancient mosaics, African sculpture, and contemporary craft.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Well, I’m used to the fact that there will be “dry spells” where I just won’t feel like being creative, but I also know they’ll pass. In the end, I just can’t not do it. It’s not really a choice. And as long as I’m creating the work because it’s an image I want to make, rather than thinking, “Oh, I bet that would sell”, then it will be good. You have to satisfy yourself first and foremost.


Self Portrait in Purple

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
In the real world I’m a librarian, so that takes up a big hunk of time but also provides me with health insurance, which, as any starving artist will tell you, is pretty nice to have. It’s also good for keeping me intellectually stimulated, which is always important when it comes to creative endeavors. And, I get to select all our library’s art books, which is kind of a dream job for an artist—they give me a budget of thousands of dollars a year to buy art books with. That’s a nice way to spend my work time.

Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors at the moment are Lionel Shriver and Leonora Carrington. Shriver wrote We Need to Talk About Kevin, which is so powerful and just blew me away, really affected me in a manner unlike anything else I’d ever read. It is very insightful and I appreciate the raw openness and sobering honesty of her characters as well as the style of her prose. I also read The Hearing Trumpet by Carrington recently, which is very much like a narrative of one of her paintings: surreal, magical, feminist, funny, and surprising. And despite, or perhaps because of, the weirdness of the story, it’s also very touching and human.


Abstract Green Swirls

Note: Another interview with Melissa can be found in the April 2006 edition of Upstate Visual Arts.

beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media, artist profile

Tangle

Artist: Elaine Ray
Location: Raleigh, NC

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

Large doughnut

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.

Toggle

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.


Dove

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.

Chevron

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….

Almonds

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

Costume Jewelry Supplies is one of my favorite places to get vintage lucite and glass flowers. I just dropped a load recently, because I’ve got quite a few projects coming up (in my little brain, that is) that required me to restock my rapidly dwindling supply. Do you have other favorite sources?

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

Getting Started with Wirework
A nice basic article with good overall information

Wonderful Wire Jewelry Projects
Lots of projects with lots of pictures to get you started by Tammy Powley. Also links to Tammy’s informative articles on types of wire.

Preston Reuther’s Wire Sculpture
Free downloadable videos from Preston Reuther, master wire sculptor. Also sells supplies, including a complete package to get started, and has a free 7-part e-course you can sign up for.

WigJig University
Supplies and instructions for making jewelry with beads and wire

Fire Mountain Gems
All types of wire, both precious and base

Rings & Things
Argentium Sterling Silver. Learn about Argentium Sterling Silver at The Artful Crafter’s blog.

Rio Grande
You’ll need to set up an account to browse the site

Creative Wire Jewelry Forum
A place to hang out, talk, and learn about…what else?…wire!

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

If you live in or near Maine, you might want to consider taking a class at The Beadin’ Path. Known for their great selection of vintage beads, this store would likely be a fun (and tempting) venue for learning!

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

Cindy is an extraordinarily versatile mixed media artist. For this profile, the pictures of her work concentrate on her jewelry, but there is much much more to see on her blog! Grab youself a cuppa, and enjoy a visit.

Artists Name: Cynthia Powell
Location: Sandy, Utah
Blog Address: Cynthia Powell

Cindy, how would you describe your work? Not just your jewelry, but all your work.
I love to play around with all types of mediums in my art, so I would have to say it is diversified. No two pieces are ever the same.

What is your creative process like when you’re juggling so many different techniques and media?
Once an idea is sparked, I will create the project in its entirety, in my mind. Occasionally I will draw a specific design to be incorporated into a project, but not often. I keep dozens of journals for jotting down my ideas, and construction plans, because if some particularly difficult aspect of the project can’t be worked out right then, I have my notes to visit again. This happens quite often when I am developing a new technique, or want a particular look, and keeping good notes allows me to incorporate new ideas with the old, as I am progressing with the project.

Since I retired (1998) from property management & real estate after 22 years, I have been able to devote 4-8 hours a day, to my art. The rush of ideas can be overwhelming at times, and so I usually have between 6 and 12 projects going on. I joke about the ideas floating around in my head, and say “if only I could take a picture of what I see there.” But then I wouldn’t experience the wonderful sense of accomplishment that finishing a piece gives me.


I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a few years of college art classes; free hand drawing, collage and graphic design. I am a realist, I draw what I see, and the classes helped me to develop an artist’s approach, to really see what I was looking at. Colors, shadows, dimension, etc. I find it very difficult to be abstract, and perhaps those classes hampered that aspect of my work, because I truly struggle with anything that is not in balance. I am mainly self-taught in the use of the various media that I work in. There are so many new materials available today that weren’t available years ago. So, experimenting with all of these new toys keeps me interested in a variety of things.



Would you tell us about your transitions between hobbyist and pro?
In the early days of my career, while still attending college, I was selling my class work to silk screen shops, to help pay for my art supplies. Later, I transitioned into acrylic painting and designed folk art painted crafts for the mass market. Unfortunately, it was a common occurrence back then to have your designs show up a year later, manufactured in a foreign country. This infringement forced me to take a new direction. I suppose I am one of the very few artists who transitioned from pro to hobbyist! For 12 years I expanded my talents by learning to master the aspects of; stained glass, tile mosaics, altered clothing, photography, canvas college, surface embellishments, beading, quilting, altered arts of all forms, and most recently assemblage. I have sold a few commissioned pieces of art over the past few years, but I don’t sell direct to the public anymore. Art has never been a job for me. I create as a form of relaxation and self-expression. I am a perfectionist who always strives for a professional quality and I am compulsive about art in all of its forms. I want it to the best it can be, based on my experiences, experiments and knowledge.

What are your biggest sources of inspiration?
Inspiration comes from the usual places, such as: conversations, movies, or a good book. But by keeping my eyes open to the world around me, inspiration can come from the simplest of things also. I never liked an informal weedy garden but now I find, I can really appreciate the disorganized array of color and bloom. Perhaps my art is again evolving!



What inspires you to continue when things get frustrating?
I have a mindset that will not allow me to give up. (It’s called: Compulsion!). I learn not only through my successes but especially through projects that don’t always work. I never have failures, only learning experiences.


What would you suggest for those who wish to take their your art to a higher level?
Educate yourself. Take classes, read books, study and analyze art. I can admire other artists’ art, and be inspired by what I see. For awhile I stopped analyzing art, because I thought if I didn’t allow other artists moods & methods to influence mine, I would develop my own style. I don’t think that’s true anymore. I am who I am and my art is what I am. We all bring with us different aspects of our lives into our art and that is what makes it unique from all others.



What else do you enjoy doing besides your artwork?
I could weed the garden, but mindless tasks like that, just encourage me to wander back to all of those projects waiting to be created. I love to study the ancient art of other cultures. I would have to say, this is another passion of mine, which carries a big influence on my art.


Cynthia has articles on altered couture in several issues of Belle Armoire Magazine!

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