Thursday, May 10, 2012

The Look...um...which look? (Lisa Kewish)


My metalsmithing instructor once said to me, “You are so amazingly creative. It oozes from you. You could shoot off in 500 different directions and be successful at any of them.

That is quite the compliment from a master jewelry artist. However…

I’ve been watching “Fashion Star” and while I’m not all that about the mentors – watching the evolution of up-and-coming fashion designers and the buyers, has me fascinated. The buyers are reps from H&M, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. I take mental notes every time they give advice.

The main advice – “Be able to reach multi-levels of buyers. Design clothing for any occasion and be able to dress any body.” And always, “You want us to be able to RECOGNIZE your work.”

Multi buyers and bodies…any occasion…RECOGNIZABLE.

Being recognizable and shooting off in 500 directions creates a battle in my head.

My art tends to have an“organic” look. Whereas, Josh’s work is clean and precise – I tend to just allow things to flow out side the lines, allow things to melt where I don’t think I want meltage (my own technical word) and let colors and flow run at will. I allow the piece of jewelry be art. We use the line "Bold and Unique" because it gives us a lot of room to create.

I can hear one former classmate clearly, “Lisa, you are still searching for your voice…”

Haunts me…like the “500 different directions” haunts me.

Perhaps…
PERHAPS…
My art is not always going to "recognizable."

My voice is not just one note.
Perhaps…many notes. Some discordant, some pitchy, some right on and loud…and other notes subtle and simple.

Isn’t an artist supposed to evolve? Isn’t an artist someone who has a vision and doesn’t sleep or eat until the vision is in her hand and she is pleased with the final result? Or if not pleased, then back to the studio to learn a little more about how to make things work?

“Recognizable.”
I find myself rebelling against that. But then I do that in my personal life too…just when you may think you have me figured out, I will go and do something completely "unrecognizable." ("What? I thought you just liked to sit around and have deep discussions about the meaning of life...and there you are dancing wildly in the streets...")

Flighty? No. Choosing to live a full life and explore all my 500 directions? Yes.

Many argue that one needs to DO ONE THING AND BECOME A MASTER AT THAT ONE THING…

I say: Live your Self fully and have fun with all your 500 directions. I think that is truer than being a recognizable “one direction.”

Living life in multi-dimensions. Outside of the box. In other realms. Coloring trees purple and cats bright green.

It's way fun!

If YOU see a recognizable "look" to my work, please, let me know what you see (other than a lot of ovals!!!)