Thursday, October 28, 2010

"Ask an Artist" blog article about me and new news!

Recently, I went from a full-time staff manager of   Blue Buddha Boutique  to a part-time worker by choice.  I needed to concentrate on running my own business, Elemental Art Jewelry, my absolute dream job!  As I recently have been running my own business with more of a fire under me, I was asked to contribute an interview for the Blue Buddha blog about running a chainmaille jewelry business.  Sweet!

It is a great article done in conjunction with Vanessa Walilko of Kali Butterfy, who is a great friend and cohort of mine!
Please check out this fabulous article here:
Ask an Artist: 
How can I get started selling my chainmaille jewelry?


But wait, there's more to tell you!

In early October, I worked with 3 amazing artists on a new photoshoot for my rubber chainmaille bikini, originally featured in Kilter Magazine Summer 2010.  I needed to have more detail photos of the bikini to be able to enter it in art contests and to promote it to retail locations who specialize in fetish wear.  Here is a sneak peek of the photos done by Guillu Photography.  Amazing mask done by revolutionary body painter, Lily Gonzalez and the model who made our mouths drop wide open, due to her beauty & confidence--Ammunition!


Last bit of good news is:

Acceptance to the Bucktown Bazaar Art Show!  This show will be November 27th & 28th at Holstein Park Fieldhouse (2200 North Oakley, Chicago), 11am-5pm both days.

Alright, another chance to introduce Elemental Art Jewelry to the world!



Saturday, October 9, 2010

Inspiration--What & who does it come from when creating art?

In order to create something, there must be some thought, idea, inkling in the mind of what you desire to make. There are those times when we have creative-block & no worthy ideas come to mind.  I feel that this is a symptom of lack of inspiration.
I thought about what inspires me to create and keep creating, ensuring that I keep the creative juices flowing freely.  I looked around my bedroom--where I do all of my creating--and this is what I see:
I have about 15 Salvador Dali prints around my home, most of them are in my bedroom.  Dali's art is inspirational for me because I am in love with how he has manipulated the human form to showcase the inner desires and thought processes that we tend to have, but not always share.  The use of color & shape can inspire a wealth of passionate creative juices to flow.
Other jewelry artists are immensely inspiring.  I wonder how they developed that idea & what inspired them to make it.  I know only how elated, intrigued, and amazed I feel when I see something that I enjoy, and I wonder how the artist feels when it is completed.

Lastly, what I find inspiring is fashion.  These fashion designers are truly revolutionary in being able to constantly create & recreate how fabric can be formed to the human body.  Certain items can make you feel confident, glorious, and powerful & I appreciate how fabric + a thought process can provide this.
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What inspires you & how do you channel it into your artistic endeavors?



Kat



Monday, October 4, 2010

Saying YES to the opportunities in front of you!--Saturday/Sunday October 2nd & 3rd

Fall is here for sure!!  It's cold outside in Chicago.  On a whim, I said YES, when my friend Martha called to ask me if I'd like to participate in the Ravenswood Art Walk, in one of the outdoor locations where a volunteer organizer was looking for more vendors.  While I did debate a bit about how to make it happen & if I even wanted it to happen in just 2 weeks from that phone call, I decided to just go ahead and do it--even though I had to cancel a scheduled chainmaille class at Lill Street.  Why not, it was free to me & I just had to show up & sell!


Saturday morning setup was ferociously windy & only about 45 degrees.  Jose (the boyfriend) & I  struggled through setting up the tent & went to grab all four of the 60lb sand bags for each leg of the tent, when the wind decided to grab the tent & throw it over the power lines, laughing at our attempt to set up in this weather.  Three people jumped in to help go after the tent & return it to the ground.  He bungee-d the tent to the chainlink fence, put the weights on & I started setting up the jewelry displays, when our backs were suddenly were smacked with someone else's tent, ensuring that all the neckforms, and table displays would fall down!  OK then, so what now?  Well we decided to duck tape all the neck forms, bracelets forms, ring forms, etc to the table & the risers and yet again, the wind said "Haha! Good Try!" and with a mighty blow, knocked various bits & pieces off the table & into the gravel lot ensuring they'd get full of chalky, wet & grey yuckiness.


What happened next is I called the organizer and begged her to see if there was an indoor spot.  Nope there wasn't one.  So I started packing up to go.  All the other artists who also were trying to set up kept asking me if I was leaving and yes, I had to go as I couldn't afford to replace hundred of dollars of jewelry & display  pieces.  People got talking & it turns out that 2 of those people were show organizers also and asked for my card for upcoming events they were having.  They didn't even get to see my work, but they saw my persistence & maybe, just maybe that is what made them want to get to know me a bit.  At that point, the other artists also called the organizer and begged for an indoor spot & she found us one!!


Sitting behind the fermentation tanks in a brewery with just  my 6' table and 3 other artists with their tables, made for an interesting rest of my afternoon.  Guess what, I sold 2 pieces, drank some free amazing beer & networked with the other artists!  Not so bad, considering a few hours before I was packing up thinking I'm going back home.  What about the next day on Sunday??  Would I be allowed to come back and sit in the brewery--not likely.  My friend Martha told me about a spot that opened up in the building where she was selling her jewelry & I decided to go take it.


Yay for Sunday!  Great location, people giving away free food, really personable & amazing artists, lots of traffic, and my positive & engaging attitude = SALES!  A few hundred bucks, networking with local artists--one that I knew from a previous collaborative project--, and almost running out of business cards made for a great weekend that cost me just my time.  Though time is money & precious, I believe that I gained a lot from  just saying YES.


Moral of the story:  I think you get it, but can I just say it again?!  Say YES, when you are presented with opportunities that are relatively easy to make happen and extend yourself just a bit more to make it work in your favor--even when it seems hopeless.  Remain positive & open and you just never know what could happen!


Sand bags & tent are officially retired for the season...
Kat