[Jewelry making - Article 00078] - Re: [Orchid] Jewelry making fever

[David Popham]

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    About the "fever" I wonder if it might be our nature. First it was
    photography in high school. At university I lucked into cell biology
    and learned to cut sections about .15 mm square and at thickness
    thinner than the wavelength of green light. Then for about four hours
    at a time I would stare at the electron microscope projections to get
    the "perfect" record. I am obsessive and compulsive,... and harmless. 

    About twelve years ago I made my own kiln, bought six enamels, some
    copper, other paraphernalia, and a book costing $4.25 by Jean O'Hara
    and Jo Rebert because I wanted to know how to make a cigarette case
    like the one my mum had. Also my my first gift to my wife was a
    cloisonn=E9 pill box, and she knew what that was. Now, I search for th=
e
    perfect enamel piece, knowing it's an unattainable goal; and I don't
    care. Why do I do this? Because a bad day's playing with metal and
    fusing a glass to it is better than a good day's work (I'm an
    amateur). For me it's all about seeing something in my head and
    trying to see if it can be reality (more often than not the reality
    barely resembles the idea). Part of my drive is the faint and absurd
    hope that I maybe there is a chance for immortality; my small brick
    in the mansion of humanity ("Alfred made me"). Also my fever is
    reinforced by the positive feedback of my peers. Around the
    neighborhood I am known as an artist; and the label makes me feel
    that I am unique and special. I get invited to the occasional show or
    fair, and thus I feel "needed". 

    The work keeps me humble in that the metal, enamel and kiln work
    according to their rules and not mine. "We" work together to create
    the piece. I see first hand the laws of physics and chemistry at
    work, and that is very satisfying. I read about my subject and learn
    about the richness of history, and I feel an almost mystical rapport
    with Theophilus in that he appears to be speaking to me (despite my
    logical mind saying that the work is a translation based on a number
    of manuscripts close to a 1000 years old). I believe that I see more
    and experience a richness in life as a result of studying my hobby.
    (Yes, I took a hard look at the jewelry worn both in the Lord of the
    Rings and in the Star Wars saga). 

    My only question is whether I would feel this way if I were to try
    and make my living by pursuing my craft. What compromises would I
    have to make so as to feed my family? And would those compromises
    dull the fever? 

    I also know that I am not alone; Orchid proves it. 

David

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