Starving Artists Team

Thursday, May 28, 2009

What's up at the Starving Artists Forum?

SATeam has a home in the Starving Artists Forum and we'd like to share it with our blog readers. Here are a few brief descriptions, with links, to give you a taste of the scope and diversity of the Starving Artists forum. We'd love to have you join us.

On our Home Page: Congratulations to Maureen Connor of Meant 2b Cherished, creator of Aprils Over the Rainbow challenge winning entry. Maureen's design is an excellent display of rainbow colors in both the main body of her creeation and its embellishments. The kumihimo braided necklace is enhanced by the primary rainbow crystals...definitely Over the Rainbow.

Curious about the new Copper Clay? Come join SATeam member Rhonda Reagan of Prolifique as she shares her experience in the New Copper Clay, I got to play with it today! thread.

Members of the forum are always happy to help each other out; in the What's The Best Way To Take Los Off? thread, members discuss hand and machine finishing techniques for antiquing silver.

And do I hear you asking for Eye Candy? We've got that! Check these out:

For The Dads!!
A Fun Project
A Trip To The Beach
Busy Week
Crochet Critters
Not Just Fish.. Birds Too.., and a couple new sets and focals!!
New Justbeads Auctions!
Rose Quartz Kokopelli

Orchids
This Is 'zara'

That's just a brief taste of what's happening this week on the forum. Every week brings new information, ideas, friendship and, of course, eye candy. Come join us, and get to know the members of SATeam and their friends on the Starving Artists Forum.

The Starving Artists Forum features Artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team, and many others. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Featured Artist: Kristy of ShinyAdornments

Website: http://www.shinyadornments.com/
Etsy: http://shinyadornments.etsy.com/
Blog: http://shinyadornments.com/wordpress
Flickr Profile: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shinyadornments

ShinyAdornments is artisan handmade beaded and wire wrapped jewelry, handcrafted in Wichita, KS. Kristy uses sterling silver, gemstones, SRA lampwork, glass, and polymer clay beads to create her beautiful pieces. Her jewelry shop includes bracelets, bangles, earrings, necklaces and cocktail rings for both work and play.

Kristy says, "I make jewelry I would wear myself. The materials depend on my mood and inspiration. My goal is to create wearable items for work and play that offer an interesting statement about the women who wear them."

She candidly admits that she started making jewelry because she couldn’t find pieces to coordinate with her work attire. Along the way, she discovered that she really enjoys the creative outlet. Kristy admits, "I’ve come to crave coiling wire, which I’ve discovered creates an almost meditative state." Laughingly, she adds, "I also love being able to hammer components into submission. Creating little wearable expressions of color has become a stress reducing therapy for me."

Kristy is self taught, but has been inspired by many other jewelry artists. She believes in honing her skills to a fine point; saying, "You cannot even imagine how MUCH copper wire I have used practicing and experimenting with a shape or wrap, before trying it out in sterling."

Kristy likes jewelry that makes a statement; when she wears jewelry, she WEARS jewelry. Those who know her best would say she is definitely NOT a shrinking violet and her jewelry generally reflects that attitude. She loves color, and offers, "I like pieces that have heft and texture best. Or mix light and dark elements. Or both."

When asked what advice she would give to someone just starting, Kristy became very serious. "I wish someone would have just told me to make what I love. About 6 months in, I had an epiphany of sorts. I was making things I didn’t particularly like. Making things "to sell". Not fun for me and wasn’t filling the creative void nor was the act of creating them particularly stress reducing. I decided that going forward, I would ONLY create things that I loved. Items that I would wear if they weren’t purchased. So that’s what I do today."

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Featured Artist: Kevin Kamalu

You can find Kevin's work in his Etsy Shop, Rocknwow.

Kevin's favorite techniques include metalsmithing, wirewrapping, beading, and precious metal clay. He uses fossils, stones, leather, shells, glass, and metal to make his jewelry; he quips, "the list of things I don't use would be shorter!"

Kevin used a fossilized Great White shark's tooth, gold-filled wire-wrap, ostrich shell heishi, yellow jade(serpentine/chrysolite) and natural unstablilized turquoise to make the necklace on the left. He said, "I loved utililizing the best of everything I had in stock...too many times I've made compromises to keep costs down."

Kevin likes the intimacy and small scale of designing jewelry, saying impishly, "I like anything I can hide in two hands."

An art major in high school, he took everything "art" he could. He continued his art education in college, and, more recently, has been taking metalsmithing open studio courses. He describes himself as mostly self-taught, learning by experience.

Kevin describes his lifestyle as, "One woman, one dog, one garage that can't fit a car," and describes his approach to jewelry designing as, "mixing the organic with the mechanical and finding a balance."

The necklace on the right is made with Tibetan Sherpa coral (glass), Tibetan Copal, Sponge coral, bamboo coral, red jasper, gemmy travertine, Indian Naga glass and seed beads with a modern czech glass button for the clasp. When asked when this necklace could be worn, Kevin offers, "Black evening dress, denim jacket and the center of attention at a party."

He admits that he gets his inspiration from bones, machinery, anatomy, buttons and smiles; his sense of wonder and fun is very evident in his work and in his words.

A full-time jewelry designer, Kevin quit his day job two years ago, but admits with a grin that, "I mop the floors and do laundry now."

When asked how he hopes people feel when they wear his jewelry, Kevin replied, "What sacrifices do I have to make to get another one?"

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