For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with the process of creating. Creativity is as intriguing to me, as is psychology and what makes people tick. Whether it be the inner workings of the psyche that produces a design or the methodical adding one technique to another, it fascinates me. And, when something fascinates me I just have to believe that it is fascinating to everyone else, right? Well, maybe not, but that’s how I operate. So, today I give a little shout out to my own creative blog where I’ve been exploring my process and steps to finished designs…before I even know how they’re going to look in the end.
If you’d like to join me and follow my progress you can check it out here:
Lori Greenberg Glass Bead Blog. Currently up, I’m learning to fuse some beads flat so I can work them into finished jewelry pieces with fabricated silver. I’m not sure where it’s going but it’s going.
What about you? Do you like to hear about the artistic process? Do you know of other blogs that delve into that? I’m in search of others who do that…leave a comment and give me the links. I’m seeking blogging artists in all media.
As many of us have, I have been thinking just what it means to be an artist in a slow economy. While things are slow right now, there are still people buying art and the holidays are approaching. The good news of having been slow recently is that you might have inventory on hand so you aren’t in crunch time for your upcoming shows and events. Your online store might be stocked. Your orders might all be filled.
What better time to think strategy and marketing? What better time to prepare for the next season? What better time to focus on promotion?
In the first post in this series I wrote about selling your art beads to end users rather than designers or stores. It is tapping into a new market where you are already selling, with goods that you already have in inventory.
This post is about moving beyond what you already make and the customers you already have.
As an artist, while you are passionate about your medium, have you ever been called to work in another media? Or wanted to create something other than what you always do? Maybe you’ve wanted to paint, or weave, or felt, or take pictures. But you’ve never had the time to pursue those things because you may have felt that you should be focusing on your primary art. Well, now is your chance.
How can you incorporate some of these things into what you currently do? Chances are, what you create in another media will fit in with the display of what you’re doing now.
Here is an example:
I have a degree in textile design. There are so many techniques that I learned when I was in college that I would love to explore but just haven’t been able to. One of those techniques is, believe it or not, basket weaving. The process is soothing. The colors are vibrant. And I like the finished product.
I will be adding small woven and beaded baskets to my displays this year. I will be adding them to my online selling venues. In the process I will be nurturing my creative side and hopefully opening myself up to a new market. I also have the desire to paint objects and furniture. I’ll do the same with that media.
Who knows…maybe these new media will take off even better than bead making and jewelry. My experience has been that if it comes from your heart, people will feel it and be drawn to it. They will need it and they will buy it. They won’t be able to resist. These other projects that have been calling to you for years now… they come from your heart. Why not treat yourself, do something that feels good?
Color psychology is something that interests me but I never seem to get around to studying it. Whenever I create a new web site, in the back of my head, I am thinking: “What color would be the best to convey the message I want to get across?” But again, I get busy and don’t get to it.
I found an interesting article that gives an quick and easy-to-read breakdown of colors and how they affect us.
Check it out: Color Psychology
If you think about it, most of the descriptions are pretty obvious. But it’s a good reminder as to how colors in our art can be perceived too.
I particularly like the last part about blue not being appetizing and the idea of dyeing food blue to make one lose their appetite.
What do you think? Do you use color psychology in your work?
