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!!!)

 

New Online Gallery, Media..and Pinterest

 I freshened and organized the blog a bit. Took out some tabs and streamlined. To view completed work, just click on the "Gallery" tab! I will add tabs and work when it's all ready. I realized how annoying "page in progress" notes are...all pages now have information in them. :)

While we saturated Facebook with our excitement over our free media exposure (print and tele)...I realized that saving all this on the blog would be a way of "scrap booking" all this great energy! So here it is!

One of our red hearts made it into the Feb/March issue of SacTown Magazine..."Stuff we love"...We "woo-hoo'd" and jumped up and down in Raley's trying to impress total strangers with our lucky media exposure...no one flinched.

Then came the news that our work was going to be on TV!!! Here's the vid...

And the big "uh-oh"...I have discovered "Pinterest." How much fun is THAT site?!?

What to do while navigating the sea of infinite possibilities

runs with silver platter

"Shadow Dance" Photo by Lisa Kewish

It is ok to talk about yourself.

It is GREAT to talk up your qualities.

It is amazing to hear about your struggles.

Why not be amazed with your human being-ness? Why pretend otherwise?

No need to apologize for.........anything.

"Sorry" should be eliminated.

(true apologies for a real event that needs mending is acceptable)

Being confused about choices is real and also ok. 

Reveal the monsters. Revel in them, even. Why not?

This is called life and the best use of it is to run with it.

If a carrot is dangled - grab!

If a wooden nickel is offered - bite it and move on!

If a bowl of cherries is plunked down in front of you, eat them and have a pit spitting contest!

Of course, you know the lemons-make-a-drink cliche.

Most important...

If a silver platter is handed to you -  run! 

And tell us all about it so that we can cheer, or cry, or fight the fight with you. 

Yes, I am currently influenced by watching "Downton Abbey" and seeing all the rules and regulations that people lived by. Have we really changed all that much? Sometimes I don't feel that we have...

Behavior, propriety, privacy and embarassment. 

Pshaw!

Phooey!

Be pissed.

Be aroused.

Be astounded.

Be negative.

Be positive.

Be full on and luscious.

Be real.

and stop saying "sorry" for it.

Wave the silver platter so that we know to give you a standing ovation.

About attempts...

What is the first creative moment you remember?

I remember writing a play that I tried to get the other kids in my mom's daycare to perform. I think it had about eight lines. "Prince April Saves the Monster." I am still perplexed as to why I named a Prince "April"...? Or did I mean Princess? I do not know. I just remember the writing, producing and directing. This process iIncluded trying to get a three year old girl to remember her lines, and to keep her older brother focused on what he was supposed to do. I attempted - it failed.

But the "fun" was in the attempt.

My greatest fear is that I may run out of energy to keep making attempts.

Photo Ramblin' - New Year's Eve 2011

Creative ideas look like this in my head.
Layers, things that don't make sense, a standard design,
something in the background, something up front...
a lot of stuff happening all at once.
("Gotta Clear My Head")

Best way to clear my head is to grab my camera and take pictures.
I really like taking pictures of other photographers taking pictures.
Ever look to see what the photographer is taking a picture of?
I didn't look this time.
Just focused on the girl.
("Day Dreamz")

Fabric fascinates me. I did strange things to the exposure and color to find the shapes in this parasol.

Sometimes I wonder if the bored aloofness that many young women hold on their faces...
is from all the mannequins that fill store windows.
("She Needs a New Career")

Kali. How fitting that I bumped into her on my walk.

These were on the sidewalk BEFORE the clock struck 12.
("Left and Right Shoes")

Look at the gorgeous curve on the dashboard...
("Sits on the Right")

I didn't go over and listen...but I did take a picture.
Other wall quotes gathered over the weekend:
"Expect Great Things" and
"Ask Bigger Questions."

2011 Year in Review

Kewish Designs at High Hill Ranch, October 2011

January 2011
Like most artists...January is the Great Black-Out time. Staying quiet and resting is the game plan. Maybe some cleaning and organizing in the studio...nothing is in my calendar for January 2011!

I gave myself a challenge to do a "Piece a Week"...I did fairly well with that until Apple Hill hit! At that point I was making leaves, leaves and more leaves.

February 2011
Still quiet...but a lot was stirring!

March 2011
We were the featured artists at Arareity! Even had a radio ad that mentioned "Kewish Designs." That created  a lot of excitement! It was fun to walk into parties and have people say, "Hey! I heard about you on the radio!" We had a fun evening!

And then...I started running again...one particular day I was having a GREAT run...except I tripped...fell...bounced and slidddddddddddddddddddd. I was at the furthest point out from the house...so...left arm, hands and knees bloody and swelling...I hobbled back the two miles to get back home. And then sat down covered in ice packs. I was unable to do any studio work for the rest of the month.

April 2011
Studio work...to the best of our ability!

May 2011
Fire and Rain Gallery opened up a 2nd store on Sutter Street. We had pieces in both locations!
The end of May (Memorial Day weekend), we began our Tahoe shows...it SNOWED that weekend. Horrible snowy, windy weather. bleh.

June and July 2011 - Tahoe every weekend. The 17-day run from July 1 through the 17th. Not much action for us up in Tahoe. We had to seriously think about that commitment. Frankly, we were losing money and our spirits were really, really down. We did not feel the love. We hung in there. At the last minute we contacted Mendocino's "Art in the Garden" organizer..."we know we are late, but can we still get in?" They were THRILLED to hear from us and were delighted that we wanted to do the show. So...

August 2011
A great kick-off to August by doing the "Art in the Gardens" show at Mendocino's Botanical Gardens! We did well and that helped to boost our spirits. We did one more weekend up at Tahoe and then got ready for...

September - December 2011
High Hill Ranch/Apple Hill!!! What an amazing experience that was! We did very well...almost too well at times. We were working seven days a week at the Ranch, then coming home and doing studio time. Because we make each piece, one at a time...it, well, TAKES TIME! We were so busy in fact...that the calendar on our wall is STILL on September!
Even with all THAT going on - we added a trunk show at Vintners, and a show at Gold Hill Winery!

Our big winners were wire wrap rings, hearts, leaves and the Key to Self. I (Lisa) am sold out of my artsy pieces. I believe that Josh's silver flower pendants have sold...except for one with an opal.

Still available!

We made a conscious choice to not do so many street fairs this past year...it just isn't our scene.
We also made a conscious choice to get into a few more galleries and stores. For now we are in Fire and Rain, PeraDice, Vintner's and Journey. We pulled out of Arareity and The Market Place.

In between everything else we did a few Mid-Town Bazaars and Ladies Night at Vintner's.

Looking forward we are thinking about wholesale...and finding some stores in Berkeley and San Francisco that would carry our work. We will apply for "Art in the Gardens" for August 2012 and we will be at High Hill Ranch next September - December. Right now as I write this, I am aware of an approaching deadline for a show in El Dorado Hills in May that we are pondering... yikes! In March we are going to jury in for the St. John Craft Fair in December. That show is HUGE.

We are also trying to figure out ways to introduce and sell our other creative work...Josh's drawings and paintings and my photography. I still have a few other creative ideas that need to get out of my head!!

It has been a splendid year and we thank you all for being a part of it! I have a feeling that some amazing things are going to happen in 2012...because they have already been set in motion! :)

Have a GREAT New Year and see you in 2012!