[Jewelry making - Article 00272] - Re: [Orchid] Self taught Vs Formal training

[Kevin P. Kelly]

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    My field of expertise, if I have one is lapidary work, and
    especially opal. In that I'm primarily self-taught. Because I wasn't
    formally trained I did things that one 'shouldn't do'. My wife is a
    GG and I studied her lessons along with her. Thing were perhaps more
    difficult than they needed to be; but I learned things, some valuable
    things, that I wouldn't have otherwise. 

    I took some metal classes. There are teachers and there are those who
    stand in front of the class who are not. I spent alot of time in
    formal classes in another area. My path at one time was to be an
    academic. I encountered few teachers. 

    If the question is 'self-taught vs formal training'; both would be
    the ideal. Don't believe everything you hear; keep an open mind. Be
    selective in the classes you choose. One of Alan Revere's sayings was
    "this isn't the only way; it's just the way I do it". I think this
    applies across the board. I cut stones in ways that weren't done at
    the time' using stones that weren't used at the time. 

    Alan Revere is one of the good ones. I took a stone setting class
    from Alan shortly after he arrived in the SF bay area. Some things he
    said in class still come to mind in certain situations. I think
    that's a good criterion; I think the class was about 25 years ago.
    The reason I bring this up is be selective. If you're diligent and
    lucky you may find a good teacher. 

    As the saying goes: "if I knew then...." I would try to seek out
    someone like Daniel Spirer or James Miller and offer to polish
    metal, to clean the machinery, whatever to learn. But only if there's
    a personal connection, if the work being done is work you admire, if
    you feel confortable with that person. I don't know if James has
    experience in the public areas but his work is very special and in
    that alone would be worth seeking out. 

    There's so much more to learn than technique. Watch how that person
    conducts himself ( and please it could be a woman; I'm a
    traditionalist in things grammatical) in business situations; how he
    treats employees; how he prices things, etc. After a sufficent time
    you can try it on your own if you're so enclined; but maybe that's
    not your path. 

    I'm fortunate in that I only make things I want to make and I can
    earn my living doing this. But I paid my dues as those of us who are
    able to earn our living working in this area have done. I don't
    support the 'starving artist' mode. 

    Be selective and open-minded and go with your heart. 

Kevin Kelly

 
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