StudioMojo #526 • August 21, 2021
Can you imagine looking out from your Instagram page upon tens of thousands of followers? Freaks me out to think. It's hard to live in a society that monetizes and quantifies everything. Every algorithm counts eyeballs. Every thumbs up measures dollars. Hashtags as long as CVS receipts. Where is the art? Where is the intention? Serving the world and growing a business don't have to be mutually exclusive concepts but it takes care and caution. Luann Udell helps us thread our way. That's her art above and her thoughts on business offer important insights and guidelines. Your art and your business succeed when both emerge from your heart.
Discoveries
Simple ideas like bead forms and knot pockets can pump your works up notch. Here are a few artists exploring, sharing, redicovering
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Galka Vasina wraps bead forms with extruded strings for fall
Interesting use of the bead shapes from GFArtstore
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Welcoming creativity back
Sarah Wilbanks has missed her creative side
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Phyllis Cahill's polymer thistle
This is her first metal clay project. She walks by this thistle often
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Cindi Cogbill's knot pocket beads
Such a clever tutorial free on her site at PawpatchProductions.com
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Michi Mux loves parrots
She can't stop making them
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Luminaria orbs
Carissa Nichols added this new video to her bulging online album of translucent polymer luminaria works from the past two years
Awareness
Keep your eye on sculptor Lisa Mathews. Her works are strong and powerful. Karen Johnson has a keen eye on nature and makes us look at bees. And we give dollmakers short shrift in our community. Their annual conference reminds us of their contributions.
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Honeycomb necklace
Karen A. Johnson draws and illustrates nature and she's ventured into sculpting them in polymer as in this honeybee piece (via Luann Udell)
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Lisa Mathews' Dear God
Lisa captures youth, intensity, fervor, longing in a spectacular way in this polymer sculpture
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Dandelion Elf by Jodi and Richard Creager
The 'Dandelion Elf' is the most patient of all elves. She's in the gallery of the National Institute of American Doll Artists and part of their online annual conference beginning next week
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Annual Conference | National Institute of American Doll Artists
NIADA 2021 Virtual Conference August 19th – August 22nd
Dressing up
Nothing like prettying up your surroundings to give the place a lift.
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Greeted at the studio door
Over last winter Suzanne Andrews created tiles from scrap and surrounded her studio entrance with them. Shades of Portugal
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Fancy up your computer
with TulipClay's polymer Pokémon for your keyboard
Frustrations
Luann is frustrated by running the numbers. She reminds us not to let algorithms get in the way of art
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Frustrations with social media and why bother from Luann Udell
An article about why your work matters and what to do
Sign off
I'm hoping to bring some close-to-home stories to next week's edition. New displays, new ways of selling. Hang tight!
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parkwestgallery.com
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