========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm ]========
From: Ted Maciurzynski <TMaciurzynski AT rrc.mb.ca>
Richard et al. I've 'lurked' on Orchid for some time and your post
made me jump into the fray. First, Lapidary Journal isn't the only
'journal' that you see something and say "excuse me?" so certainly
they are not the only ones where less than stellar examples are
included in articles. I think they deserve a bit of a break as they
cross the professional / non-professional line - admittly an
arguable position. As a passionate 'amitur' (I am an architect by
profession) I believe, as a premise, design is not subjective, that a
defensible position should be possible using a criteria of design
principles. Can anything be added or taken away to improve the
piece? Is the piece balanced (not necessarily symmetically)? Are
textures in the piece applied to add or detract from the overall
effect? I don't mean to lecture, as I know many, if not most who
frequent this forum are well versed in design principles, and how
they apply to jewelry. I think the danger with poorly designed
pieces in a widely read publication is people may be learning or
searching for direction, assuming if it is published, it is good. As
designers, regardless of level, I encourage you to be critical,
discuss why something is good, and if it is bad, be tactful and
vocal. You don't have to like something or would want to own it to
appreciate the designer's design intent or craftsmenship to achieve
their objective. Abrasha, a designer for whom I have much respect,
wrote a passionate letter to the editor in Ornament many years ago,
very critical of work that was published as being derivitive of
others (plageristic) and poorly crafted. It was powerful, strongly
worded, and made for lively discussion in a university program I
taught in for design students studying jewlery design as well as
other disciplines. I don't subscribe to Lapidary Journal, I vote with
my dollars (or my $1.45 being Canadian!) at my local bookstore. I
have purchased the magazine based on one great photo, something that
I think I can learn from. I have also moved on to something else
when I see something I know is far below standard from a design
perspective. While I can appreciate a good technical perspective of
a peice, the best technical casting or fabrication of a poorly
conceived design is never going to be a good peice of jewelry. Sorry
for the long rant, I hope I didn't step on any toes. Ted in snowy
Winnipeg
From: Lee Einer <appealsman AT cox.net>
I agree that this is a productive topic for discussion. I think the
discussion would be most productive if we share our perceptions of
what constitutes good design rather than criticising the work of a
fellow artist.
I have no formal training in jewelry design. I do know that there
are many approaches to design. Some focus on organic forms, some
found objects, some focus on form and volume, some on surface
decoration, some on social commentary, some on ethnic tradition,
etc. Approaches also very from the direct, simple and spontaneous
to the meticulously planned, elaborate and technically difficult.
Are there elements of design which are inviolable and which are
applicable to all of these philosophies of design?
A gentleman who taught me wire wrap years ago shared with me his
philosophy of design, which was that jewelry should
1)Be attractive
2) Be durable
3) Not pose a risk of damage the wearer or their clothing (i.e., watch
for design elements which could pierce or cut the skin, snag
clothing, etc)
He believed that plain stones call for a dramatic setting, while
dramatic stones call for a plain setting. He observed that symmetry
is often both difficult to achieve and, in the end, less interesting
than a balanced but asymetrical piece.
Finally, he observed that there is a reason why Baskin & Robbins
carries 31 flavors- taste is largely subjective, and the question
of design is more one of what resonates with you rather than what is
right or wrong.
He had some pretty good points.
Lee Einer
From: Pam East <pam AT pinzart.com>
> Can anyone who has a retail store show work like that, and
> have any expectation of selling it?
You'd be amazed. I remember early on in my "craft show" career I
made a pair of enamel bead that were truly hideous. I'm still not
sure why I did it, but I made them up into a pair of earrings and
tossed them out on my table with everything else. To my shock, they
were about the very first pair of earrings I sold that day. A woman
walked up and said "Oh, these are just beautiful!!!"
It's not just a cliche; beauty really IS in the eye of the beholder!
On Don's spectrum of approach, I probably fall much closer to the
"business" model than anywhere else. With just about everything I
do "Can I sell it?" is at the back of my mind somewhere. The answer
is, there's a market for everything. The trick is just finding it.
Don't believe me? Go browse the millions of items on ebay someday.
The really amazing thing there isn't the volume of bizarre
merchandise for sale, but how many of those bizarre items actually
have bids on them!
Pam East www.pinzart.com Enamel Bead Making Made Easy!
From: Deewo AT aol.com
I don't think her aim was to enter the piece in a beauty contest,
but to teach you how to make one of your own design using the
techniques she demonstrated. Dee
From: "Mona Clee" <mona-clee AT attbi.com>
Richard, I have been reading but not posting on Orchid for several
months. This is the first time I've encountered a post that was not
only arrogant, but openly snide about another artist. It was like
being hit with a glass of cold water in the face. I had somehow
gotten the notion that the Orchid community was above all that.
You appear to be taking issue with Sara Sanford's articles on
casting in recent Lapidary Journals. You know, the main reason I
have kept on subscribing to Lapidary Journal after it "slimmed down"
is Sara's series of technical articles. How could you possibly
imagine that she was trying to hold out her piece of jewelry as the
pinnacle of hot design? She wasn't; she was just using it as an
example to teach dumb clods like me the basics of casting, people who
apparently have not yet developed a sufficiently rarefied artistic
sense so as to be offended by her good efforts. I can only imagine
how humiliated she will feel when she reads this thread on Orchid, as
she surely will, as someone will doubtless forward it to her. She
will wonder why she put so much time and effort into it, if this is
what she gets.
Why don't you point us all to your website so we can examine your
work and take a few pokes at it? Do you really think everybody will
like what they see?
Mona
From: Marion Margoshes <mbm1234 AT optonline.net>
I have never found Lapidary Journal to be the artistic in any way.
Techniques are described adequately.
From: "Rodney Carroll" <rc8101 AT gte.net>
Richard, I have to agree that their design in that article does
nothing for me. I have a broad range of like and try to keep an open
mind. You are brave to be publicly critical of another artists design
that you do not know. As for what is pleasing to the eye can be a
tough thing. If we all liked the same things it would be a boring
place. Now by no means am I defending this design in question. I work
with a group of other "Artist" and we get together and have "Ideal
Lunches" together. We bring our new things, found objects, wax
carvings, failed attempts and sketches and bounce them off each
other. We all have a different view of what we like and we always
are honest with each other. Our friends and family are always too
willing to say that it is nice. Maybe the designer that made that
piece in the article needs an honest friend to tell them what it
really looks like. Needles to say we are being pretty honest about
it.
Regards, Rodney RC Gems
From: "Poppy Vincent" <poppy AT ccusa.net>
Dear Richard, It was hard not to laugh hysterically at your
comments! You were voicing my opinion to a tee. Everytime I see that
thing I think it has to be the ugliest piece of jewelry I have ever
seen in my life! Maybe that's an exaggeration, but it is pathetic
and certainly nothing I can imagine anyone wanted to aspire to.
God Bless you ~Poppy~ www.jewelrybypoppy.com
Would you like to reach Members of the Ganoksin Project to educate
them about the wonderful array of supplies, services and products
you have to offer?
Please request a copy of the Ganoksin Media Kit if you would like
more indepth information regarding Ganoksin's advertising services.
Navigate by Topic:
[
