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Monday, August 8, 2016

Artistic style


According to a lot of experts a visual artist should have his/her own signature style. I found an interesting blog (Artzbizblog.com) by Alyson Stanfield about this subject while browsing the internet. She states: “In order to project a professional image as an artist, you must be able to define yourself and your art in a sea of untold numbers of artists. To do this, you must first find your style”.

But what is style? According to wikipedia: “In the visual arts, style is a "...distinctive manner which permits the grouping of works into related categories." or "...any distinctive, and therefore recognizable, way in which an act is performed or an artefact made or ought to be performed and made. "It refers to the visual appearance of a work of art that relates it to other works by the same artist or one from the same period, training, location, "school", art movement or archaeological culture”. 

In other words, an artist has its own artistic style when he/she creates work that others can identify with him or her. Others can recognize the work of that artist. It has to do with consistency. I believe a signature style is important for an artist.
When I look at my designs I’m not sure I have found my artistic style yet. Not much consistency there. I design my jewellery depending on my mood. As a result I’m generally all over the place, style wise. There are so many styles, materials, colour schemes and techniques to explore that I am still learning, I am still trying out new ideas. And for me, that is ok for now.

As for these earrings. In my personal life there are a lot of issues right now with which my family and I have to deal with. To battle depression I designed my bohemian chic collection. To balance my "black" mood I need color, lots of color. To balance my frustration of not being able to chance things for the good I need movement in my jewelry.

So in my bohemian chic collection you will find lots of pastel colours, lots of charms and flowers. These earrings are an example. Cathleen Zaring just makes the perfect, perfect charms for this bohemian style. I made the tassels myself. In the past years I have amassed quite an amount of embroidery thread in lots of fun colors (my friendship bracelet period LOL). Czech glass, Swarovski crystal, brass and copper completed the design.
These will be available from August 21. If you are interested in my new collection just head over to my facebook page where you will find info how to buy these pieces. 

 
I like to know your thoughts about artistic style.
Do you think it is important for an artist?
If you are an  artist, do you have a signature style?

Thanks for looking. I will be back with new designs in two weeks. And they probably will be in a totally different style compared to these LOL.






I wish you a wonderful day with lots of joy, sunshine, happiness and flowers.


21 comments:

  1. This group is great! I love the colors and swingy style. I too am experimenting and playing and have no "style" I can call my own, but hey, life is too short to worry about that! Just have fun and enjoy that you are versatile!

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    1. Thank you so much Carla for taking the time to comment. Hmm versatile, I love that :)

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  2. I love the blue ones with the pink tassels. I am very much drawn to multi colours and tassels now. I hope you feel better - more joyful soon

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    1. Thank you Divya. Tassels are so much fun, don't you think. Wishing you a wonderful day :)

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  3. These are so cool!! I love the tassels and I love that you went for a contrasting color on the first pair. It's nice to have a signature style but as long as you are enjoying yourself, to me that's the most important part.

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    1. Thank you Kristi for taking time to leave a comment. And you are so right, as long as we are enjoying ourselves in what we are doing, that is the most important part.

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  4. You are infinite if you do not limit yourself to one particular style. That is your beauty. Pretty colors! Keep creating!!

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    1. Thank you Anonymous. And I will create some more ;-)

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  5. Those are cute, cute, cute! Very artistic in style and yet very wearable! I personally love these colors and you've brought the components together perfectly! Love these!

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    1. Thank you Cindy :) At first I thought the tassels might be a bit too much (not very wearable) so I'm very happy with what you are saying.

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  6. Delightful designs that would definitely lift the spirit of the wearer and observer! I think I design in three or four styles. I can't seem to limit it to one.

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    1. Thank you Terry for your comment. And I'm happy I'm not the only one having more styles :)

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  7. dont worry Janine, I haven't found my style either and I'm okay with that. I make what happens in front of me and you know you've found it when you say to yourself, OMG these are awesome! which both your pieces are, I cant wait to see more of your collection, you are off to one great start!♥

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    1. Oh Lynn, so funny that you say you haven't found your style yet. I believe I am able to recognize your gorgeous pieces from a mile distance. They all have the Lynn Factor! Thank you for your wonderful compliment. It means more to me than you know :)

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  8. Janine, I love the playfulness of these fun earrings! I tend to agree with the ladies above, who are suggesting that finding or having a particular style is not necessarily important. I think, over time, a personal style may emerge, but the key to creating is to have fun in the "doing" Because, you never know..maybe you have created a "new" style. xx

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    1. Thank you Cathleen. You certainly have a wonderful, recognizable style. And these earrings couldn't have been created without your gorgeous fun charms. Thank you!! And please keep creating so we all can make fun jewelry.

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  9. Thank you Kate :) I appreciate you taking time to comment.

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  10. Janine, I love your earrings. They are indeed wearable, and will provide fun and joy for whoever wears them. And I love your thoughtful post. I get very confused by the semantics. Lynn's work is absolutely recognizable, as you said. Cathleen's charms are also recognizable. So is that their "style?" Is the fact that we recognize it as theirs what makes it their style? I think I confuse the words style and genre. I started creating jewelry for the peace and joy, and now it's such a part of my life I can't imagine not doing it. Yes, I sell jewelry, but I really design and create for the sake of the process.

    So to be a "famous" artist, or a "famous" jewelry designer, one would need to be able to be recognized; is that it? Like Jes Maharry, her style is what Sundance customers expect. But on the flip side of that, is anyone who makes a silver charm bracelet, which is part of her style, then copying Jes Maharry's work? I get sooooo confused by this style thing. Thank you for a thought-provoking post. And as so many above have said, if it isn't joyful, if it isn't fun, I don't want to do it. Well, there's that money thing, I know. But you know what I mean. :) Thanks, Janine.

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    1. Thank you Norbel for your very thoughtful comment! I read somewhere on the internet ( I cannot remember where) a statement from an expert that not having a recognizable style is not taking yourself as an artist serious. I had to think about that. Does that mean I'm not taking myself serious? Or is a jewelry designer not an artist (yep, there is that debate again: assembler/designer/creator/artist)? I agree, the most important part is the fun part. I create jewelry because I love it. It's a passion. Recognizable style or not LOL.
      Speaking about recognizable style, I think I can spot a genuine Norbel from miles away as well :). The Norbel Factor! The little side thingies, the use of earth tones etc. So I'm very happy that you are having lots of fun creating your jewelry. It shows. I can tell, I own a genuine Norbel.

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  11. I love this post . I, like you, have yet to discover "MY STYLE" . Unless "SCATTERED" IS a style. I do what speaks to me at that moment. I envy and admire the jewellery artists here on this and other jewellery blogs, that have developed a very recognisable style. I see one of their pieces and I KNOW who made it. I would love to have a distinct style but maybe just maybe MY STYLE is that I don't have one. or maybe Im just not listening to my muse.

    I really love the earrings with the pinky coral-y tassels , such fun summer style

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    1. Thank you Deb for taking the time to comment. Ohhh, I think "scattered" is a wonderful style :) We might be much alike in our creative process.

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