[Jewelry making - Article 00834] - Re: [Orchid] Goldsmith or Silversmith?

[Sam Patania]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    I figured it out. After months of thinking I decided what I want to
    be when I grow up or at least what I will from now on call myself
    when asked what I do. No longer will I be a "metalsmith",
    "silversmith" , "goldsmith" ,"jeweler", "artist", "art jeweler", "I
    make jewelry......" I will from now on say I am a "silver and
    goldsmith". I decided while reading an Orchid thread a while back
    about this topic that saying I was and "Art Jeweler" was inviting a
    half hour description of what it is that I do, in other words 99.99%
    of anyone I told that to wouldn't know what the hell it was and even
    worse would think of buying anything from me when they wanted
    jewelry. Same with "metalsmith" few people are interested in what the
    hell that is. Saying "silversmith" brings to mind Paul Revere if they
    are at all educated and then invites the question, " do you work in
    gold" if they connect the "silversmith" label with jewelry. 

    Saying "artist" invites," you PAINT???" since only 2D are artists in
    the public mind. 

    If I wish to make a living at this craft, I would not say "craftsman"
    since few would connect that to what I usually do to make a living,
    it had to be a name I would be proud to say and not have to explain
    too much, I'm not a social animal despite what you might have seen on
    stage on previous Orchid dinners. "jeweler" brings to my mind a bench
    jeweler which I am not, that would be insulting to real bench
    jewelers who actually know what they are doing. My work doesn't
    compare to an experienced bench jeweler, my stone setting is crude
    and slow. My carving is cartoonish. I can fabricate like nobody's
    business and I think I can innovate pretty damn well. " I am a gold
    and silver smith" brings to my mind an old world craftsman and
    invites educated questions since the title is succinct, "do you work
    with diamonds?", yes, " do you work with colored stones?", yes, " do
    you hit metal with hammers?" yes. What do you think? 

Sam Patania, Tucson
www.patanias.com

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________