Exercises in Creativity

It's time for the Jewelry Blog Carnival Again! It actually starts on Friday, but I needed to get mine done today.
This month's topic is "what you do to jump start your creativity". After you read mine, please surf on over to the other member blog entries, but make sure you check them on Friday.

http://lorahartjewels.blogspot.com/
http://www.creativetexturetools.com/news/
http://www.fleseri.com/blog/
http://angelacrispin.canalblog.com/
http://penny-candies.blogspot.com/
http://gentrydesignco.typepad.com/jewelrydesignchronicles/
http://chris-parry.blogspot.com
http://www.lorrene-davis-designs.blogspot.com/

When I was younger and seriously feeling a lack of direction, I decided to start sketching every day for 15 minutes. I allowed myself to sketch anything, from my big toe up to a more detailed animal, but I kept it quite disciplined with the time. After about six weeks, I could see a direction evolving in my sketches, which in turn gave me a direction in my metalwork and my personal style.

These days I have lots of ideas but very little time. Often, when I do need that jump start, it's for custom work, ideas for a rather open-ended commission request.
So- some of the things I do now....

1. Pull out all of my samples, scraps and UFOS (unfinished objects) and then start working collage style, to make small sculpture or wallpieces. I force myself to work quickly and intuitively, often finishing several pieces in a day.

This "English Ivy" series of 8 small wallpieces, evolved in that way. I had 8 small english ivy leaf chasings and very ideas on how to use them. I picked up all all of my textured metal scraps and started composing. If you click on one of the photos, you will be taken to my photostream on flickr that includes the rest of the series. Many of them are also available in the chasing and repoussé section of my Etsy shop.

2. Work on a smaller custom request. I get lots of requests for smaller pieces, usually jewelry, and often in a subject I haven't addressed yet. If I'm stumped or frustrated with another project, I will turn to one of these jewelry requests and shake things up a bit. These recent copper rings and steel bracelets evolved from this approach.

This approach seems to lead me to great limited production items for my shop and art shows, pieces that I wouldn't have made without the challenge of a customer's request.

3. Work on something completely different, with no intentions of selling or exhibiting. This is lots of fun- to craft for the sheer joy of crafting! When I do this, I let myself work on simple processes and themes. I typically work in traditional fiber arts , like knitting, crochet and now felting. I make pieces that are much different than my metalwork. They are usually abstract explorations of form, color, and most importantly, JOY.



I did the hats in 2006/2007. This year I've been exploring simple common forms like hearts, balls, acorns... making ornaments for next Christmas.
And YES! It does carry over into my metalwork.