The Interview As Art



Marian Hertzog





Blue Heron
on the Nanticoke River



1.  What was your first work of art and how old were you?

My first work of art was painting a ceramic Christmas ball. My mom taught ceramic classes in our basement. She had four balls with scenes on them. I came up with painting one with blue paint that resembled a staining effect. I was probably 8 or 10 years old. My mom and aunt loved it and made several like the one I did. Made me feel pretty special! The first drawing I did that I felt good about was when I was in my early twenties with some colored pencils.

2. What did you do for fun when you were a teenager?

I can't tell you what I did for fun as a teenager... we were bad.

3. What and when was your first job?

My first job was as a sales clerk in a ladies clothing store when I turned 16.

4. Where do you get your ideas?

 I get my ideas from surrounding myself with my stuff and letting my muse travel. I also get inspired by looking at others work.

5. What is your favorite color?

 My favorite color is teal or blue green like Crayola crayon.



6. What kind of toys do you have?

 My art tools are my toys. The biggest toy we have is our camper. We love to camp in the woods or by the water. My Havanese babies are my alive toys.

7. What time do you go to bed and what time do you get up (most of the time)?

My perfect sleep hours would be from 11pm to 7am. But I work as an accountant three days a week so I have to get up at 6 to start my day so I am tired earlier.

8. How much time do you spend on the computer?

I spend way too much time on the computer but I love looking at all the wonderful creations and ideas on Pinterest and in Blogland.

9. Do you believe in flying saucers?

I believe that we never know what else is out there beyond our current means of weights and measures. Remember that at one time the greatest minds in the world were sure that it was flat.

10. Do you believe in magic?

I believe that we only see part of what exists so that things can appear like magic.



The Leaf Princess



Thoughts on TADA365 - 2011 and future

A whole year of TADA365 passed. We were so overwhelmed in 2010 with Ring-a-Day challenge that we just wanted to continue with the same emotions of pushing some of our dormant parts of creativity in an environment without negative pressure from anyone and tons of positive vibes and inspiration from online community of people with same inclinations, problems and visions. Thus the name True Addicts of Daily Art. Thanks to our dear Mary Lu Wason for creating the group and pushing it forward, giving us guidance and organising our minds with necessary deadlines for themed shows.
Our first intention was to drive ourselves mad by posting every day something about our creative ventures in jewelry making. Through the year it has been proven to us that it wasn't important.
Main goal is to keep the creative energy flowing between us and within us, thus making it glow through all our work and communication. We have shown to love our differences, enjoy in them and grow through them. My vision for this group is to keep that bond we have between artists and keep growing in that spirit. Support is of critical importance for every human being to grow in healthy spirit, so is for an artist. I thank each and every member for being understanding, compassionate and kind.

I asked our members two questions :
1. What does joining TADA365 mean to you now when you look over your shoulder and remind yourself of the year 2011?
2. Do you have any expectations, ideas or visions for TADA365 in the future?

Lets take a glance into some of their thoughts.

Evelyn Markasky:

Well, looking over my shoulder has been a very interesting experience! I found my journal from January 2011 with the writing and sketches I did for TADA. My observations that I made at the beginning of 2011 were almost exactly the same things I said to myself 2 weeks ago beginning 2012. (Including losing 10 pounds and not always being on the computer!) Seems like I ended up doing what I usually do... start off strong and excited and then get worn down and lost. Of course, all was not lost. I may not have completely seen through the original ideas from 2011, but by the end I had completed a lot of work and evolved in a way a had actually hoped I would.  I may not have ended up posting something everyday, but I don't think that was necessary. I wanted to do that to keep going in my studio and working and staying inspired, but now that is no longer a problem. What TADA had evolved into for me, was a group of close friends (that I still can't believe we really don't know each other face-to-face!) where we could think out loud and get feedback and advice and inspiration. I think the most exiting part was figuring out having online exhibitions (thank you Mary Lu!) I haven't been on Flickr as much as I used to, but I think part of the inspiration from TADA was to work more, surf less, and that has definitely happened.

I think TADA can evolve into a really cool online thing, more than just flickr, (which we've already seen happen.) It's something we started because we love what we do and it's still going and it is being allowed to evolve. We don't have to keep doing something we don't need to be doing anymore, we are always assessing what our needs are and the needs of the group. It also allows everyone to work at what ever level they are on. In addition to the online exhibits, I think it would be very cool to do some physical exhibits where we send our pieces to different parts of the world and create shows.  Members who are able to can try to get together a local show and we can all have a piece in it...


Maria Apostolou:

After completing Ring-a-Day, I joined TADA365 because I wanted to continue being  part of a supportive online community  and stay in touch with my friends. Also, expanding on previous ideas and creating collections, which was the main goal of our group, seemed like the next logical step to take. As I look back, I'm so grateful for deciding to join TADA. The making process can be so lonely and there's nothing more important that having a safe place to exchange ideas, share feedback and support one another.

The goals of TADA365 for 2012 reflect exactly what I would like this group to be in the future. I would say that they even surpass my own expectations!


Jill Palumbo:

I've thoroughly enjoyed TADA365. I was so encouraged by this group of creative and caring people. I learned so much from the others involved; how ideas are generated, how different artists tackle the challenges involved in creating jewelry, and that each of us faces setbacks and lulls. Being in this group really motivated me to keep working, to keep creating. Even though I broke my kneecap and was too busy to plan any shows, I had a few surprise shows, last-minute invitations, before and after the holidays. I sold many of my TADA creations! I was prepared with products and display pieces, and I have TADA365 for the successful shows.

 

About TADA 365 in the future? I would love to try this again. A weekly project sounds tempting to suggest, but I know I would not produce as much. I would not have learned so much on the planning details of producing artwork for a show if this had been a "product-a-week" type of group.

-----------

Click on the link bellow the photo and you will be taken to our latest online show on TADA site.



Impatiently Waiting for Spring
by
Ponsawan Sila



Making a Fig Box Jewel from polymerclay

I will make something close to this old box i've made in 2008 from a picture www.flickr.com/photos/m2matiz/2544031235/in/set-721576039...

beautiful pics here!!!!

This project is the "fruit" of a challenge with a Frenchwoman artist of Polymer Clay,

Delphine de la Fille du Consul...

With her I share the taste of the "trompe l'œil" and the "faux", inspired by the nature this Parisian is also gastronome, and there also I join her...

Thus the end of 2011, further to an article on one of its exhibitions of the end of year we exchanged some words on " figs in polymer clay", and as I am crazy about fresh figs texture, taste, the seeds which crack between teeth I dashed.

Regards fruits and fleshy vegetables, as wife of Cook I always considered these as having two aspects: inside and the outside. Outside which we remove or not, outside that we cut to see / eat the inside... The box is a permanent obsession for me and thus having hesitated on the project fig ring which deprived me almost of the vision of the inside (unless removing the ring... Contemporary rings have this idea/concept...) I returned towards my passion of boxes and their construction.

I chose one i've made in 2008, whose hinge is almost invisible, which is interesting for a fruit cut in halves...

3 days working on and this is the result...

Did you know that fig doesn't undergo the gravity on the tree... i mean "not like an apple"

The link between tree and fruit is special, so i did it... but of course i didn't change the usual pendant of the purse...

I am a girl from 70ies, My childhood was marked by movies " as "La Belle et la Bête" of Jean Cocteau, "Peau d'Ane" of Jacques Demy, but also all the Cape and sword Movies where the women wore dresses covered with precious stones which made them sparkle... 

I love these vague pictures of sparkling women in great and poetic dresses... It is the global feeling that I looked for as finish of the jewel with some glitter sealed in the material beside Swarovski crystals .

I hope you enjoyed the story. Happy New year with TADA!!!

Jewels of Nature

I think those textures and colors would be great inspiration for any material... metal, polymer, textile... beautiful enameling... click on the image to see some details....hope you get inspired by those, because I certainly am. Have a beautiful day!

ABC, Work in Progress

First of all I thank you in advance for excusing my very basic English in jewelry and design,

I am more used to use it for the cooking and the animals than to describe what I have in the head!

ABC Challenge, letters R and C

The first letter is "R" for Ribbon.

I had an order for a red bracelet. The inspiration for this customer is a leather cuff with a big knot.

I had several experiments on bangles in polymerclay and I know I must take time to find a new way to "make" it. First I've tried to "see" the "pattern" I prefer with paper strips.

Finding inspiration is exciting...but...

What I learned of my experience of selling... it is that the customers wait for more solidity of my part than the jewelry which they're used to buying "cheap" even if it is metallic and if I work only polymerclay...

So solidity is the most important challenge, and building is important in the work of design.

Thickness pairs with solidity in polymerclay, so "R" for Ribbon is a challenge!

The first drawing was made to list meanings for me about ribbon and knots...I'm very interested in the "link" and "couture" inspiration...the ribbon around the wrist, tightened enough... I do not like the soft forms and always look for tense lines, rest of my time in Architecture Studio, but I like the forms in live models!!! ;-)))

As I was sure to keep the idea of "tightened " I drew some ideas of how to make it so...Bangles are to be forgotten and hinged bracelets are too expensive in time and then to be sold...

My order was to not be too expensive...

Second drawing is listing of some ribbon signs, sure there are others, and at the end was the result of the interview I made at home...;-)))

After I made all this work I refused the order...;-)) but I will make it for The ABC Challenge.

Nevertheless I think that the solution for a cheap way may be in the mosquito technique by Iris, maybe someone would like to try it , but this is not my idea of the ribbon...tightened around wrist.

Iris's picture, I think, is the nearest idea of the ribbon, I'm not promoting advertising for the tutorial, only showing inspirational pictures...

Beside, some googled inspiration...Splendors of Court, portrait of Marie Antoinette and close-up of another lady, Chanel model with ribbon around the neck, and High jewelry by Chanel... I love the watch with long bracelet, it is very trendy since some seasons...

Second letter is "C" for Camélia

I've experimented for the first time a technique of "casting" polymerclay for my Project "Eau dynamique" and I'd like to improve it with this idea of "Lace" and "Couture" I used for the first time. The lace I made was like a Low neck from some century before...

This time I would like to make a Lace flower like Chanel's fabric flowers in her time.

And Camélia was her flower.

Not sure I will be successful!!!

Some more thoughts if you like:

Of course I would like to work more with metal, and I think my way to design is really biased for some of you... that's polymerclay...

It is a point of view that can easily be discussed and deformed as people are working this material with an experimental sight for most of them.

I used the word "experiment" several times but in fact I'm making things, and I hate when it doesn't work as I thought it was going to work and don't take any education from these failures except sadness and feeling of wasting, so I don't begin if I'm not sure of what is going to happen and how strong it will be when finished.

I'm learning before making, and I do love that. ;-))

To be continued...http://www.trueaddictsofdailyart.com/exhibit.html

Twigs & Strings

Sitting in the backyard of my new dwelling place near the top of a not so high a mountain, thinking of all the possible inspirations I could find in words beginning with an "R" or an "S", a sound coming from the top of a tree aroused my dormant attention to the surrounding beauty of nature. Bird song echoed through my heart, breaking rusty chains of my previous city life, opening a forgotten door created only a year ago through RAD (Ring a Day flickr challenge)... FREEDOM in ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

As soon as my mind got tickled with all the uplifting memories from RAD, eyes wondered in all possible directions trying to capture a form, lost object or an abstract inspiration that could be used for this new collection for TADA.

And there it was right in front of me! That one lonely vine in the backyard, still giving shade during these hot summer days, had something to tell me. I approached slowly looking around that old lady, feeling a hurricane of emotions accumulating inside me for some unknown but still predictable reason.

"Cut some twigs", a thought passed through my mind. I did. One here, one there, one swirly, one crooked... I stopped and took a glance at the shapes and realised there was a ring, a pin, brooch and pendants... I might add some colored strings...

"Peel the bark" another thought passed. There was lots of dry bark hanging from that old vine. I paused, took a deep breath of fresh air and fresh inspiration and felt relieved. When I peeled first piece of that dry bark a shape formed without any effort from my behalf. It was a necklace. Ideas made a stampede through the head so I laid that piece aside and continued to peel some more off that dry bark..... Oh look at the rustic effect... oh how rich the texture and color... it was a bracelet.... I looked above my head where the grapes were ripening and saw some dried out hanging like earrings... Oh my, I thought, this is a complete set.

I shall call it with an S....  Simpli de Vine!

What is next?...



Interview with Mary Lu Wason

 Our 2nd Interview as Art with TADA founder Mary Lu Wason!!






















What was your first work of art and how old were you?

The first metal working I did was for a high school art class. I made copper earrings with stars cut out. I really loved them. Stars were my
thing, my personal symbol and to have my jewelry reflect that just seemed perfect. I remember thinking, this is fun. When I'm an old lady, I'll just make my own jewelry. And, that's basically what has happened.



I've been working on a collection this year called Metal Sky Jewelry Collection that is a tip of the hat to my younger self. I still draw freehand stars, some a bit wobbly and then cut them out of the metal.

I also remember, for the same class, making a bracelet from the top of my blues harp harmonica. The metal piece on top had fallen off, from so much use. (I played guitar and harmonica, back in the day.) So, I banged it into a cuff and added some macrame on the ends to tie it. This was the mid-70s. Very cool. I wish I still had it. I remember thinking this was also the perfect bracelet for me. My art teacher was astounded - wondering how I ever got this idea? He reacted to my projects like that
all the time. I didn't think it was unusual. I was just following my muse and using jewelry as a reflection of my interests.

I still do that. I still believe that something like an over used harmonica or an old button can be much more appealing in a piece of jewelry than a precious stone. It's all about why you are wearing the piece.


Who was the first artist to influence you?

That was probably Alphonse Mucha. Being a teen in the 1970s, his work and style was
all over the place on rock posters, t-shirts, etc. I realize now that's why I have a soft spot for Art Nouveau style. Pretty ladies, with long flowing hair, surrounded by stars. It represented a choice then, a way of looking at the world, a freedom from the boxes that our parent's
generation was imprisoned in.

I was also obsessed with Vincent Van Gogh. The passion he had, for whatever he did in life, was something I could relate to. I always go all the way with my interests - no holding back.




Do you think that there are any art movements now?

I do think that the Internet is fueling an art movement, but I'm not sure how to define it at this point. I'm excited about sharing my work daily online using social media in a community of other artists. I'm sure we'll look back in ten years and see this as a beginning of an upheaval in the art market. The concept of someone having to go to a distant city to see an exhibit and purchase work, seems more and more absurd. The concept of an artist having to spend $5000 to show and sell their work for 4 days to whoever can brave a snowstorm sounds ludicrous, doesn't it? But we're in the middle of changes now and there's no defined way of showing and selling art right now, especially art jewelry, which is not easily defined.

I believe that our Flickr group, TADA365 Art Jewelry, is part of a sleeping giant of an online Art movement. We are drawing on cave walls (or computer screens) - because the walls are there. We are collecting shells and other found objects and adorning ourselves with them
- because it's in our nature. This is how it's always been. Maybe the Internet can take some of us back to basics, casting off the dictates of an editor's whim or a gallery's connections. Maybe we can define for ourselves, what can be art, as well as fashion, talisman and memory. If we can show it and sell it online, maybe we won't need to fit into the definitions of the offline world.

Now that is really exciting!

A few notes on jewelry photography

1. TADA365 #38e Home Sweet Home, 2. TADA365 #38d Marquise earrings, 3. TADA365 #38c Marquise earrings, 4. TADA365 #38a Oval Ring

Today, I thought I'd share a few things that worked for me over the years and hope that will help you as well. The images above are pieces of my recent collection, photographed under the conditions that I will briefly describe in this post.

I should start by telling you that I don't have any fancy equipment, camera, lights etc. I use a simple point-and-shoot Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS, which must have cost me about 120€, and that’s last year’s price. My previous one was similar but my little nephew thought it was a nice toy for him.....the rest is history!

I have also bought a lightbox from e-bay for about $10-15 but it never actually worked for me. I believe the reason was that my light sources were inadequate.

What do I do?

First, I always shoot my finished pieces outside in daylight. I just shoot them at my balcony when the light is correct. You need to experiment to understand the light.

By trial and error, I have found that I should never shoot under direct sunlight because the images are overexposed and the colors look as if they are burnt.

Early in the morning you get too much yellow, at noon it's too blue! An overcast day is perfect because it means I can shoot whenever I want, but here in Greece we get a lot of sunlight during most of the day. So I have to be patient and wait until late afternoon to get it right.

As expected, shooting outside imposes certain limitations, waiting for the best light being by far the most significant. Then there are days when it's cold outside or the wind makes it impossible for the pieces to stay still.

Another thing you need to experiment with is the background. You could use paper, plastic, cardstock or even wood.

As I mentioned before, I just use a black plastic IKEA side table. I prefer it because I don't get a lot of reflections and the color of it appears as if gradient grey, when the light is appropriate.

Though it has helped me a lot, after using it for quite a while, the surface is now scratched. I will either replace it or find a new background.

When I'm ready to shoot, I take lots of pictures from many different angles. The camera is set in marco mode and I focus on the object, not the background. The image has to be sharp and crisp. I should say that I use a tripod to control this, but the truth is... I don't!

The next step is to select the best photos and edit them. You don't need an expensive software to do this but if you have Photoshop, that would certainly be nice. Another option is Picnic, which is a free online photo-editing tool.

I'm on a Mac and the software I use is Aperture, which let's me organize and also edit my pictures. I should write about photo editing next time.

So my conclusion is that the key is to experiment in order to find what works best for you. Any additional knowledge regarding photography and your camera settings is helpful but my point is that you neither need to be an expert nor spend a fortune on equipment to achieve acceptable quality photos.

My advice is, whenever you need something extra special, hire a professional. I recently had such an experience, which was very enlightening and made me realize the difference between diy and professional photoshooting.….But that's another story and maybe another blog post!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject!

Thank you for reading!

Married To Art (in sickness and in health)

Every human has a need in some way to release from inside that extra energy, thoughts, ideas, emotions.... to explain his/her existence as an individual. We are born to do it one way or the other.... or in many ways at once (lucky are those).

When it comes to art, there are many forms to choose from to express oneself.
Craving to make some art? Is there a drive in you that makes you think of creating something each morning you wake up? You even chop your salad and arrange it in a peculiar way :) Do you keep looking around your house all the time trying to find materials for your always incoming ideas and wishing you have 48h per day? Do you wish to make this and that, try all possible materials and techniques to make your imagination live? Do you have a feeling like you are married to art, bound to share all ups and downs, in sickness and in health to be there for each other? Did it ever save you from your illness, healed your wounds and helped you get up on your feet again? Did you ever struggle to keep your art alive?
If answer to all or most of these is "YES" then you are really an addict of art.

I know I do all that. God knows how many times I put away all my tools and boxes and everything connected to my work as an artist, but..... I can't put away myself! It lives in me. I tried several times during last two years to "quit", but.... I can't quit who I am. I live art, and art lives in me! Without art I wither like a flower without sun and water.
Life can be brutal and insensitive most of the time, but heart conquers all. Some things that live in our heart should be banned, but some things should be cherished, nurtured and used regularly or we die emotionally and spiritually.
Being a true artist is not a commitment, but a way of life.
A way of life is an every day living routine with many goals to be reached. One goal being extremely important. Creating true art. You might ask: what is TRUE art? If you want the answer, then look around.

How many times have you been in awe by the sky painted with colors in motion;  stood on the edge of a cliff watching the waves splashing against the rocks and feel a bit overwhelmed by their uncontrollable force; smelled a scent or heard a sound of nature that has moved your heart and mind into another dimension ... all the beautiful creations of God leave us breathless in many ways with the same intensity each time we pay attention to them.
The essence of true art is to create emotion of same intensity in an observer each time that person looks at one piece or an evolved emotion with a much deeper sense and understanding of that art piece each time.
This goal is actually just a result of opening your heart and letting IT shape your pieces and the most powerful tool is LOVE. Grow in it and your art will grow with it.

One important note: never compare your work with work of others!!! We are all at different levels of knowledge not just of art but life as well. We all have different needs. Inhale their concepts, techniques and use them to make your own ideas live.

If you have any problems, you are coping with, that make it hard for your art to live, write a comment and we'll write a post about it with some advices and loads of encouragement.

Open yourself, reach out of the box and enjoy your creative ride!



photo by micicart

 





Tadaaaaa!!! Triceratops mask finished

I shared some photos of Kest's (Vagabond Jewelry) progress in creating a metal triceratops mask in one previous post. Well... she finished it already. Here are some more progress photos and the final look.

One of her comments on the process:

"The eye holes I got fancy- cut the shape out of a 2x4 and hammered into that as a die ( I hate having uneven eyes, and that was the simplest way to make sure I didn't). The veins I hammer against metal, to thin it, anneal, and then just bend by hand. I'm using 22gauge sheet, so it forms really easily."

I hope she will be surprising us with some more of her creative head wear.
If you ever wonder do people just buy them as wall art or actually wear them this is her answer:

"I sell a few to people who plan to use them purely as decoration, but mostly to people planning to wear them. I don't generally ask WHERE they plan to wear them, and particularly for Internet orders I never know, but some that I've met at fairs are:
A young gal who desperately wanted one to wear to prom, and then came back the next day, surreptitiously, with money her mother had given her for a dress.
A whole family who had just bought tickets for Venice.
A couple planning to go to Mardi Gras.
Slews of people who go to sci fi or fantasy conventions
A mom and daughter pair planning to wear them to the next PTA meeting
A fellow going to a lady gaga concert
Circus people of varying ilk, either for their own shows, or to surprise their friends.
An older gent who hoped it would keep the sun off his nose when he was walking
More slews of people going to Renn fairs, including a little 90 year old lady in a pink cat sweater who I want to be my grandma.
Goths, Freaks, and Queens, for daily wear
Whole skads of unexpected types for Halloween and other costume balls

My very favorite, though, was at the last group of fairs I went to. A family was in the booth, and the little kid, no older than four, went to try on one of the little ones. His mama said they weren't for wearing, and Ivery politely intervened and said that they could be, if a person was so inclined. She, very snottily, asked "Why?" and her son, not taller than my waist said, and I quote, "Mommy!! They're for carnival!!" "

Progress... Vagabond Jewelry

TADA group has sprouted from RAD group and many of you know how addictive it had become. I believe many of you will understand me when I say this: I was putting my babies to sleep and while laying by their sides my thoughts were wondering about some designs for the theme I have chosen for this project and then suddenly my I started drifting to figuring out how to make them work as rings. Suddenly felt relieved by the fact that I can make other things as well and not just rings :) Of course, rings will be made as well.

Now, let us see how far has someone come with the progress. I thought I'd do each post about one person.

This time it is Kest Schwartzman (Vagabond Jewelry). Her theme is a very impressive one.

Metal TRICERATOPS MASK!!!

I am going to enjoy all the way following her progress, her changing design until she's satisfied and doing the finale. Here are some of her uploads. First one was about correct spelling of the word... triceratops.

 

This is her last uploaded version.

Clicking at these photos will take you directly to her Flickr photostream and you can enjoy the progress as well as her other work.

Visit TADA365 on flickr to see what other members are working on.