Join RED DOT Project for the launch of our first theme-based curated online collection, featuring the artworks by Robert L. Stockham, Qandle Qadir and Chris Zielski.  The collection will be live February 11 through March 15, 2010 at shopreddotproject.org

ENDURE is a nod to the importance to the work of these artists in terms of both techniques and materials.  ENDURE alludes to the meaning found in art and the art-loving community at large.

Our physical launch is hosted by environments 4 business located at 515 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.  Join us on February 11 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  Meet the artists and shop the collection.  We look forward to seeing you!

As I was up to my elbows in muck at work today, I thought about the notion of “redefining normal“.  I spent a good chunk of my morning recycling hundreds of pounds of clay for my ceramics class.  And, laugh all you want, I suddenly realized that while this was a perfectly routine thing for me to do, it was probably not normal for the rest of the civilized world.  And it dawned on me that fairly soon, it would not be normal for me either.

While I won’t call it a skill, there is a certain aptitude in digging clay from a bucket and working it into usable condition.  I know this only from watching my students, who approach the container with dread and lower their fingers in slowly and cautiously as if they’re reaching into a basket of vipers.  And they look away and wince, every time.  Before they touch the clay.  I’ve never understood.  And then they dig out a couple of fingernails full and pretend they’re done.  I reach in and slap another grapefruit-sized chunk on their hands with a cheerful “there you go!” before they have a chance to walk away.

If this wasn’t going to be my normal, I tried to think of whose it would be.  I did a little mind game, trying to think of as many other professions as I could.  I got as far as my friend who is a ceramicist, then nixed it because she probably has a machine that does this for her.  Nope, really — none that I could think of.  Then I tried to think of all of the other crazy skills I had learned in this job, and where those might be useful, but discovered that they’re really pretty “niche”.  For example, I am quite good at telling if a kid is really going to throw up, or just wants to get out of his next class.  And if they are going to throw up, I am rather adept at getting them escorted out of the room fast enough that it doesn’t happen on my territory.  I am also darn good at fake-remembering my students’ names.  Quite good, actually.  I can either get them to think I know it without actually remembering it, or stall them long enough that it comes to me.  Either way, they leave with that charming little “she does remember me!” smile on their face, and I breathe a silent sigh of relief.

The biggest change I will have to my “normal” is the sheer number of people I am surrounded by.  I’m a pretty shy person, so dealing with 150+ people each day was a decent system shock when I first encountered it.  Forcing myself to interact with each one individually daily, in two-minute chunks, is kind of like the teacher-student equivalent of speed dating.  To go from that to being solo will be a pretty big adjustment.  I guess being self employed is not just a matter of economics — there’s a social and emotional paradigm shift that goes along for the ride.

Still bracing, and making sense of it all.

[For the record, the above picture is not me recycling clay, but up to my elbows in muck after cleaning out a clogged downspout drain pipe a few months back.  One "normal" I'd redefine quite happily.]

one piece, a journey in pictures:

finished sketch

copper plate

transferring the design

marking cuts

marking cuts 2

patina

Copper Branch by Copper Leaf Studios

Hello readers!  Today’s Balancing Act features a lovely collage artist I recently discovered.  Jennifer Mullin is the talent behind  tinyartbyjmullin.etsy.com, an amazing collection of small original collages, prints, and notecards.  I’ll admit to thinking I was familiar with most of the cool collage artists on Etsy — stumbling across her shop was like finding a secret hideaway of tons of fun little things.  I adore her “Comfy Chair” series of eclectic chairs in rooms created of cut patterned paper.  When I asked to interview her, I had no idea she was a high school teacher, but this gives me one more reason to love her!  Speaking from experience, finding the time to create after 150 teens have drained your energy is a feat in itself — I can completely relate to her love of working alone, and the difficulty juggling being a “good teacher” vs. a “good artist”.  Enjoy~!

1. Tell a little about your business — what do you make/ sell, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

I make original mixed media collage and fine art prints, and I have been selling my work on Etsy since January of 2008. I’ve been creating mixed media collage since 2006 and I love the spontaneity of it all. All I need is paper, scissors and glue! Its portable media – I often bring my art to work and make things while my students are busy making things of their own. (I’m an art teacher.)  Before I got into collage I was a painter, and I got tired of the time it took to set up and take down/clean up to actually paint. I really love to oil paint, and with the smell and chemicals it takes, I find it hard to paint at home. Collage is quick. I have a table in my studio that is constantly covered in papers and pens. When the mood to create hits me I just have to sit down and go to it!

2. How does it differ from your day job (creativity, skill, autonomy)?

In my day job as a high school art teacher, I am around art and art making all the time, which is great! What I don’t enjoy about my job is the non-art business that I must keep up with – grading, organizing, planning, discipline…. This may sound crazy, being that I am a teacher, but I really like being/working alone. Artmaking is a pretty solitary pursuit and I like that. I can fashion my own little world in my collages.

3. What has been the most challenging part of juggling a business, day job, and family? How have you gotten through the difficult parts?

I often feel like I have to neglect my art to really be the best teacher I can be and I have to neglect my teaching to really concentrate on my own artmaking. I really haven’t found a good way to balance the two. I often fantasize about being just a part time teacher and part time artist, so I could have more time to do both things better. But, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. So, art often times gets pushed to the wayside until I’ve got a break from school. During the summer when I am not teaching, I try to do art on a full time basis and really stock up for the rest of the year.

4. Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job? 

I am an artist, and I have an almost constant yearning to make something. That is why being an art teacher works so well for me. I love that I can use my passion for art to inspire and assist my students. I am an art teacher today because of my high school art teachers. I hope that I can keep the inspiration train going and inspire some of my students to take up a career as an art teacher!

5. Give one organizational or business tip (or product) that has been invaluable.

Keeping up an online presence and regularly creating new work for my shop really seems to help me. I find that when I am regularly tweeting, writing on my blog, and reading and commenting on others blogs, I seem to get more action in my own shop.

6. Some people use a side business as a way to slowly change gears from employee to business owner. In the future, do you ever see yourself transitioning to full-time entrepreneur? If so, what would ultimately help you ultimately make that leap? If not, what benefits do you enjoy with your current situation?

Yes! I would love to be a full time artist! I’m still working out how I could make this happen. I dream about finding a wealthy patron like the Medici family was to Michelangelo. (Ha!) In the mean time, while I search for this patron, I am trying to branch out and find other places besides Etsy to sell my work. I participated in two shows at a hip local gallery this past year and am hoping to do a big outdoor art fair this summer. If it doesn’t work out that I can make a go of being an artist full time, at least it can give me a little extra spending money.

7. Any additional words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Developing a successful online business and following takes time. I have to constantly remind myself of that and try not to get down when things are not selling. The longer I am at this the more I realize that if I make a good product that I am proud of, it will eventually find a good home with someone!

Beautiful work, Jennifer — best of luck in both your art and your teaching!

Well, I kinda sorta killed my koi : (  I’m still a bit in shock, as they’ve been around forever and I’ve kind of gotten used to the little buggers.  But the aerator wasn’t aerating, and we’ve had a wicked Cleveland winter, and well… that’s about all it takes in koi-land.  Some of you know that I wasn’t a huge pond freak to begin with — truthfully, it was a “crazy ex-boyfriend” kind of thing that only grew on me once the “crazy” part was gone.  When the stress of the relationship was over, and frankly the stress of having such a massive project left on the shoulders of someone with zero knowledge whatsoever (me), it really did end up turning into quite a tranquil little bit of zen heaven.  And part of that zen were three gorgeous koi: bright yellow and white, blue with silver, and olive with gold.

They weren’t the only fish in the pond <insert your own euphemism here>, they were just the biggest and the brightest, at over 12″ each.  I don’t know how long koi typically last, just that at seven years old these lasted at least six years, 350 days longer than any fish I’d ever had as a kid.  And they were actually more like pets.  They would eat from your hand and let you pet their backs (which were kind of soft, like an underwater flannel).

A friend asked if I would replace them — probably not, as they’ve had plenty of baby fish over the years, and the pond was getting pretty full.  Unfortunately none of the little guys are full koi, though there are some koi-goldfish mixed.  (Not hard to tell when you see a goldfish with an olive mohawk on it’s back.)  I’m assuming/ hoping the little guys all survived okay, but time will tell — will be looking very hard in spring to see little buggers down near the bottom.

…………………………………………….. C.

summer 2009

Check it out!  Just in from the editors at Cloth Paper Scissors  (click on the magazine to see a preview or to pre-order.  Forgive the lousy “cut & paste” job!)

(p.s. that’s my drawer full of crap– er, “artistic goodness”, bottom left)

The Spring issue of Studios is at the printer! The issue should be on newsstands February 23.  Right now they are taking pre-orders for the issue. This issue if 50% bigger than previous issues—a whopping 148 pp.

January 25, 2010 Our Huge Spring Studios Has More Ideas for You 148 pages of artist studios, organization tips, makeovers, and more We’ve done a makeover on Cloth Paper Scissors Studios! It’s now bigger and better than ever, with more studios, more pictures, more organization and storage tips than ever before. See inside the studios of more than 30 quilters and mixed-media artists, including: Fiber artist Linda Kemshall’s cozy but efficient Victorian pigsty-turned-studio Kathy York’s rearrangable studio that’s as colorful as her quilts Quilter Robbi Joy Elkow’s fabric-filled space and her humorous lessons in organization Mona Stevenson’s custom-made portable design wall Discover 101 organization and storage tips you can apply to your fabrics, threads, fibers, found objects, and more, including our editors’ favorite hints and products, such as: Editorial Director Pokey Bolton’s favorite way to store fabric 7 ways to make a door work for you How to create a studio in a small space with a handful of basic pieces Learn simple ways to give kids their own creative space (and tips on how to share yours without tears), including: The two most indispensible features of a kids’ studio 7 essential supplies How to make clean-up easy and fun Plus: Get shopping sources for organization and storage tools. Learn how to take a space from spare bedroom to a quilt studio and teaching space in 48 days for less than $700—including paint, flooring, shelving, and labor, from Liz Kettle. Get instructions for turning a plain office chair into a studio seat fit for a creative queen, using fabric pieces. Find the artists’ organization and storage tips easily with our new “Get Organized” check lists.

I read an e-book the other day on entrepreneurs and ideas.  (If that sounds vague, it’s on purpose — I won’t link to it because  a) I don’t want to do a formal review, and  b) I don’t want to admit what I paid for a glorified pep talk.  An incredibly GOOD pep talk, still… one I had to print myself.)

What stuck with me was the notion of “redefining normal”.  It challenged readers to take a good look at what is “normal” for them, and what might be perfectly normal for others — and what a huge range exists in something we take completely for granted (did you know that someone out there spends 10 hours a day in a recording studio, then kick-boxes for a few hours in the evening to relax??  That’s their normal.)  It then has you envision the “normal” that you want to become, and what preconceptions you have to let go of in order to make that happen.

I think this resonated because I’m still feeling a little trepidation about becoming self-employed (I don’t deal with change well; have you noticed??)  While I’m very excited about it, at heart I am not a “jump off a cliff” sort of person.  I’m more of a “hike to the bottom, carefully step onto solid ground, poke it with a stick a few times, then hike back up and hop down one rock at a time”.  Yeah, I know that makes me boring.  I’m okay with that.  I like to call it “pragmatism” or something else that makes it sound important or useful.  But, yeah.

The thing is as an entrepreneur, you have to fully continuously challenge your preconceived notions of “normal” — as it relates to work, home, the blurry line between the two, business practices, and a host of other things that define the edges of your personal puzzle piece and how it fits into a larger design.   Not only do you do this as a means of adjusting to a new career style, but also because you don’t want to embrace everything that exists in traditional corporate culture — you want to make it yours, and make it better.

And the thing about “normal” is just how much we take it for granted.  This point was driven home on a professional level the other day when a friend congratulated me profusely on an upcoming show — having exhibited for some 15 years now, and been lucky enough to have artwork that has seen far more of the world than I ever will, a small but nice local show is just part of the landscape.  But to her it was monumental.  It made me realize just how varied my comfort level is between the things I’ve done and those I haven’t, even when they’re markedly similar.

So, here’s the challenge: list five things that are ingrained in your personal existence (bonus points for things that were not part of your comfort zone in the past)

Hello everyone, here is the interview that I’ve been meaning to post for WEEKS, that keeps getting interrupted by work and school and work and shows and life and whatnot — with many apologies to Susan for putting her on hold, here she is at last!

Susan W. Saltzman is the amazing artist/ designer behind SToNZ, where she makes beach stone and glass jewelry.  Her jewelry a gorgeous blend of natural beauty and technical skill, and thanks to her graphic design background, there is a wonderful precision to her branding and a stunning crispness to her photography.  Her work has been a favorite of mine since I met her.  I am proud to own one of her necklaces, and even luckier to call her a friend.  You can find her work at http://www.stonz.etsy.com

1. Tell a little about your business – what do you make, how long have you been in business, and what do you love most about it?

SToNZ is my line of handmade sterling silver jewelry, featuring beach stones, sea glass and freshwater pearls. Being an artist all of my life, I have studied a wide variety of artistic media (including metalsmithing, many moons ago). While earning my graphic design degree from the University of Michigan School of Art & Design, I was hired as an in-house illustrator at a major greeting card company. Upon the birth of my kids, I decided to begin a home-based freelance design studio. After spending more than a decade as an illustrator and graphic designer for a diverse range of corporate clients, non-profits and community organizations, my longstanding love for wearing and working with natural materials and silver drew me back to the jeweler’s bench.

Living near beautiful Lake Erie is a huge inspiration to me. I love to walk the beach and gather stone and glass specimens washed smooth by years of natural tumbling. In August of 2007, I discovered Etsy and realized that it would be a great venue for me to market my new creations….and SToNZ was born!

It’s difficult to say what I love the MOST about my SToNZ business. I revel in the beachcombing, of course, but I also love sorting through my finds and designing a new piece of wearable art that best features the unique beauty of that particular piece of glass or stone. I love finishing a piece, and marveling at how it can end up entirely different than the way I originally envisioned. It’s such a thrill to see SToNZ being worn and hearing about how it “speaks” to the wearer. Something about this organic jewelry draws the most amazingly wonderful people. So, I have to say, I also have loved meeting many of the special people who appreciate SToNZ…this jewelry really does draw interesting people into my life. Sometimes it is difficult to part with a piece of SToNZ once completed, but when it finally goes to a person who truly loves it, it’s clear  that it wasn’t meant to stay with me. The feedback I get is truly gratifying and reaffirming.

2. How does it differ from your day job?

SToNZ actually IS half of my “day job”. I alternate my time between the jewelry stuff and the freelance graphics stuff, from my studio, which is set up for both! I guess I get bored doing one thing for too long, so sometimes I work at the jewelry bench, and sometimes at the computer…each one giving me a break from the other. Both endeavors are creative, but they seem to use different parts of my brain.

3. Identity is often closely linked to what we do professionally. How do you identify yourself, and does it relate more to your business/ artisan side, or your day job?

I used to say I was an illustrator…then, a freelance graphic designer…then, a jewelry designer. I think I’ll go with artist. Happy artist. I love to make things and always will. How fortunate I am to be able to do these things that give me fulfillment. And many of these things make others happy too, so that’s even better!

4. Give one tip that has been invaluable for your work.

One thing I really valued in art school and in the workplace was being surrounded by inspiring creative people with whom I could share ideas and feedback. As an artist, it’s very easy to get caught up in my work and cut off from the world. I won’t say it’s lonely, because I really don’t mind working on my own for long periods of time, (most of the time I actually prefer it) but it’s easy to isolate oneself. Etsy, as one example, is a great way to connect with like-minded artists. I take classes. I seek advice and feedback from a variety of sources. It’s rejuvenating and educational.

My advice? Seek out people with whom you can share ideas and learn from. Chances are they have something to learn from you as well, and you’ll both come out ahead! I suppose that’s good advice for everyone, not just “artists”.

5. Any additional words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Do what you love, love what you do. Create something new every day. And thanks Chris, for your interest in SToNZ and for the inspiration and creative energy you have shared with me!

This is gonna be a convoluted post; I’ll warn you ahead of time.  It will be kind of like one of those TV shows where the story line is so full of “intrigue” that it doesn’t really have a plot, and you can’t figure out who the characters are supposed to be so you just sit there and half watch with a confused look on your face.  (Okay, that would probably be more me than you.  Which is why I never watch TV.  You probably would have no problem understanding things and would just pray I didn’t ask stupid questions during the good parts.  But I digress.)  I’ll provide plenty of footnotes so you (er, I) can keep track.*

Long story short:**

Today was Christmas.***  My dad (who knows best), got his soon-to-be-out-of-work-teacher (me) just what she needed most: a Student.  BOY was I surprised.  I would have been fine with a sweater or bath products, but hey.****  Said Student and I had a great time reminiscing about the Good Old Days***** when he and Juvenile Delinquent sat together in my class.******  Turns out Student lives right behind my dad, and has been coming over regularly for guitar lessons.*******  We deemed him a Nice Boy, and sentenced him to play my daughter at air hockey (who before today had never lost to anyone in the state of Ohio, and has been quite unbearable about it).

…and a lovely time was had by all : ) ………………………….. C.
………………………………………………………………………………..

* cause I kinda want to see how many asterisks I can use in a single post : )  (no worries; it’s just a phase)
** Don’t you LOVE it when people say “Long story short…” and then proceed to give you a long story??  Me TOO.
*** Today was New Years.  But since everybody had the dreaded Pink Eye during Christmas, we decided to postpone Christmas to the next available holiday.
**** He also got me a HD gift card, and a free “phone-a-dad” request for help on a home improvement project.  (you know me soo well… : ) )
***** which weren’t old at all, and neither is he
****** JD was simultaneously one of two students in my teaching career that came verrry close to punching my lights out, and also one of an elite handful who has repeatedly come back to tell me how great I was.  enjoy the irony.  I know I have.
******* …and free food
******** Student – 1; Daughter – 3.  It’s a start.

The New Year is quickly approaching… did you know it’s the start of a new decade??  Just 10 years ago we were panicking that the world was going to end or somesuch thing because the numbers hit a nice round shape.  I’m not in for conspiracy theories, but I do find the symmetry appealing.  Aside from new year’s resolutions, what I really want at the start of a year is tabula rasa.  All “to do’s” done; all projects completed, a clean house and a deep breath before beginning again.  Granted, I’d want this at the start of every week too, if I thought it was even remotely feasible.  But having a two week vacation (a.k.a. “ketchup days”, as my friend calls them) makes it much more likely.

People all seem to have their own quirks about the new year — some insist on a kiss and a cheer at midnight, some watch the countdown, some have dinner with family… my dad refused to eat chicken on New Year’s, as it somehow doomed him to chicken dinners for the rest of the year.  (I’ve never understood exactly how this worked… though I suspect that last January One I must have had a LOT of tea and toast.)

I’ll admit to being a NY Resolution person though.  Not the immeasurable mushy sorts of “lose weight/ eat more veggies” resolutions.  (seriously, you wanna waste an entire year’s goal on something you could achieve by eating salad for a few days??)  Mine are more specific, focused… I spend a few days writing and tweaking them, in the hopes that if I take care to present them well, I’ll have the same devotion to seeing them through.  Okay, so it doesn’t always work, but I’m pretty good about it.  (I blame it on my “list” personality.  If making lists was a superpower, I’d be Amazing.  But it’s not, so I have to rely on my uncanny ability to Find Things.)

I won’t bore you by sharing my resolutions with you, save that right now they pretty much revolve around the transition between being “gainfully employed” and “gainfully self-employed”.  (It’s the “gainfully” part that will hopefully continue to pay the mortgage.)  So far, I’m optimistically nervous (it’s what I do.)  But still excited… about a new year, a new outlook, and all :}

………………………………………..all the best to you and yours in the new year!    C.