Conceptual concerns & studio processes

I view the way things are at the moment a little differently to how many people might view where they are positioned currently.

People whom are at where I am at the moment, when asked to talk about their works, most people tend to say that they work in a certain way and that they have a certain style that develop from their creations. Sure, there’s a sense of different style and taste in each individuals works and ideas, however as we are only “2nd year art students,” placed against the big & endless world of art, In my point of view, I can only honestly reply back “I’m currently just an art student at and the sort of objects that I create are only lead ups to what I intend on creating in the near future,” when I can theoretically say “I am an artist.”

In saying this, it does not necessary mean that I think student works are to be treated like test pieces or just research prototypes. Of course what we create are works or ‘art,’ however, it is quite often, where I stop to think of where I’m really positioned within the art world…or have I even entered the world of art?

Only recently, I’ve discovered a way of overcoming this dilemma.

“Just Do It”

I’ve come to realise that when an idea or a concept comes into mind, its best just to create a visual of it on paper and just get working at it. By doing this, answers were gradually appearing ahead of me and my techniques and works improved bit by bit.

Come to think of it, I started off not knowing what J meant in Jewellery but here I am creating objects that express my thoughts, feelings and statements. If this continues, who know where I’ll be in a few years time?

Rather than an intention of producing works due to the pressure of completing projects for classes, this year it has been all about creating works for my self and trying new things. This year has been a variety of doming, planishing, raising, hydraulic press, repouse, disc cutting, taps and dies and many more. It was only after trying out all these that I’ve come to realise my likeliness towards more the smithing side of things. This meaning, that I’ve come to really enjoy seeing how wild and strikingly metal can move using just the hammer, stake, pure imagination, effort and concentration.

Like smithing, by trying out all these new techniques and not yet saying “I work in only this way,” has opened up so many possibilities and opportunities for me to chose from and at the end of this countless number of trial and error, I can proudly say I am an artist that work in such a way and create objects that I know, that I enjoy creating.