tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644803025916316132024-03-15T23:44:04.270-07:00Kathleen Dustin - Random Thoughts About Art and LifeTips, inspirations, challenges...random things that occur to me as I go through life as a working artist.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-1944387234434083312013-05-08T21:07:00.002-07:002013-05-08T21:08:38.642-07:00A Short Video of Me at Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbe7ISfkWYNte6bpYPM4YRawuRd1rIhnOD4bFlzGD_sStEdlg8JUauV93XXE9eMb5NxWtTu4eY7MvLufi4hjinc-_K_amx7V-6NQfiPhMQlHY2WYSh3TAsxychGevax_MMfy2XrRXDSex/s1600/BurstingBlossomPurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbe7ISfkWYNte6bpYPM4YRawuRd1rIhnOD4bFlzGD_sStEdlg8JUauV93XXE9eMb5NxWtTu4eY7MvLufi4hjinc-_K_amx7V-6NQfiPhMQlHY2WYSh3TAsxychGevax_MMfy2XrRXDSex/s1600/BurstingBlossomPurse.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><br />
<br />
If you want to see a glimpse of my studio, equipment, and technique, go to this link and watch. I think it's cute and hope it'll entertain you, although the music is pretty dumb. (Cut and paste the link into your browser.)<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
www.wmur.com/new-hampshire-chronicle/Thursday-May-2nd-Handbag-Designer-Kathleen-Dustin/-/13383450/20030586/-/5mc2gn/-/index.html</div>
Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-55380392591249950282013-03-25T09:18:00.000-07:002013-03-25T09:25:02.331-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4Su7CDlRIDojmJyzMmXPiSSKwzVnSizRSFADii5QfMpuss0pyYEcsCP_fxjX6IfFvyI3LjAs5PbwS1vKn9_pWtNkKT2kKLMZJX1uO3u999WVGIHrcJlXdk8plJmCbMX0k6g07RP1ruFe/s1600/LayeredBitsAndFragmentsBrooch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4Su7CDlRIDojmJyzMmXPiSSKwzVnSizRSFADii5QfMpuss0pyYEcsCP_fxjX6IfFvyI3LjAs5PbwS1vKn9_pWtNkKT2kKLMZJX1uO3u999WVGIHrcJlXdk8plJmCbMX0k6g07RP1ruFe/s200/LayeredBitsAndFragmentsBrooch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>GET INTO YOUR STUDIO AND WORK</b><br />
<br />
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle<br />
<br />
Whether you're a professional artist, semi-professional artist, or hobbyist you probably have resistance to making art from time to time (or all the time). I recently attended the Synergy 3 polymer conference and Seth Saverick and Melanie Muir both gave separate presentations that spoke to this very topic.<br />
<br />
Seth suggested "Creativity-Sucking Vampires" who tell you why you shouldn't be in the studio working. One vampire says, "Your work is derivative." or "So-and-so is so much better than you." Another says, "Who do you think you're kidding?" or "Your work sucks". Then there's always the vampire of perfectionism who says, "I'll make it tomorrow when I can make it perfect."<br />
<br />
When I was young, I realized that I needed to make some decisions about going into my studio, especially when I had two young children. So, I worked when they slept - in the evening or during naps. I decided to treat it like a job and do a couple of hours every day. That became a habit so that by the time they were in elementary school, I had them working for me (they were really good).<br />
<br />
Now, I can't imagine NOT going into my studio to work. This gives me a "home base", a structure on which to base my work.<br />
<br />
One of the few things Picasso said was, "Inspiration will come, but it must find you working."<br />
<br />
So, get into that studio and work. Don't listen to any excuses.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-71122648304878096382012-10-14T16:35:00.001-07:002012-10-14T20:05:18.352-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMfvwQl9MuXVkOO2uMIaY_5z7DOH2_yLncf7qLDB2GgOGivX6XepC0fXBpBqQMEoaYfU6D9B6G8oGlUh5HkS9x2BM6-DFIMd94wtcAssebE5hzTHSFrXGwJOa6iuzork3wQ6XfnFYPSLT/s1600/NigellaPodPurseCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMfvwQl9MuXVkOO2uMIaY_5z7DOH2_yLncf7qLDB2GgOGivX6XepC0fXBpBqQMEoaYfU6D9B6G8oGlUh5HkS9x2BM6-DFIMd94wtcAssebE5hzTHSFrXGwJOa6iuzork3wQ6XfnFYPSLT/s320/NigellaPodPurseCopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b><br />
<b>THERE'S NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN</b><br />
<br />
King Solomon said this a few thousand years ago in the book of Ecclesiastes and it's confirmed (although less elegantly) in a brilliant book I just read entitled STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST by Austin Kleon. <br />
<br />
Pablo Picasso said, "Art is theft."<br />
<br />
T.S. Eliot wrote "Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."<br />
<br />
Albert Einstein said, "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide you sources."<br />
<br />
I try not to be inspired by other artists, but rather endeavor to pay attention to my own life experiences and to pay attention to the natural world around me. But, sometimes another artist does something just so COOL, I can't help myself. And that's OK. Maybe it's some shape they've developed or a combination of unusual colors they use that hits me in the face and I want to use that too!<br />
<br />
It's when someone copies another artist's work and passes it off as their own that it's not OK.<br />
<br />
And the whole point of what King Solomon wrote is don't take yourself so seriously. You weren't the first one to think up your fabulous idea anyway. Don't get upset if someone "copies" you or takes "your idea". And it's OK to look at the work of others and use something they've figured out that hasn't entered your mind yet.<br />
<br />
<br />Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-33018947619530838692012-09-08T13:05:00.000-07:002012-09-08T13:05:29.713-07:00Extraordinary Evening Bags in Unusual Shapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZxzuDc5_3k3IRkHFK8xST-BS8nF1rD3IkVMC2yQcqUZ8_ZVXVTNvPKXH2JlOzuo1kwp-5rU3bMzKh5H2zqtaieDUNf-UUiikWEXWKgXKadzeu-tQ9ecCgM55ZrJ2UIkyi5JNx53uY0o7/s1600/ZinniaBudPurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZxzuDc5_3k3IRkHFK8xST-BS8nF1rD3IkVMC2yQcqUZ8_ZVXVTNvPKXH2JlOzuo1kwp-5rU3bMzKh5H2zqtaieDUNf-UUiikWEXWKgXKadzeu-tQ9ecCgM55ZrJ2UIkyi5JNx53uY0o7/s320/ZinniaBudPurse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eDOZ1I4yC59g2bhbD-na5Av7RWPRcNZxGb2t4_z-837_IegMPQaG_Iz1HQdar-Q9q6MzIimESqrZwDq0OG-b0rZcVE84QSFAWVpkC9uq3nx3aOX54SEHqrr7-ew6ESqouzj2NEP-UjvZ/s1600/RosebudPurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eDOZ1I4yC59g2bhbD-na5Av7RWPRcNZxGb2t4_z-837_IegMPQaG_Iz1HQdar-Q9q6MzIimESqrZwDq0OG-b0rZcVE84QSFAWVpkC9uq3nx3aOX54SEHqrr7-ew6ESqouzj2NEP-UjvZ/s320/RosebudPurse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Such is the title of a new exhibit at the Tassenmuseum (Museum of Bags and Purses) in Amsterdam. And these are the two purses included in the exhibit which are now part of the permanent collection of the museum!! I'm pretty excited and may just have to make a business trip to Amsterdam to check it out.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.museumofbagsandpurses.com/">www.museumofbagsandpurses.com</a></div>
Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-24195529004430020242012-04-11T07:02:00.012-07:002012-04-11T15:51:40.373-07:00"Layered Fragments"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw60ekpHHVzRPU6Mo2BgYskAkLRF1Ny6Rc_u_JZwUluc1zhLMCUGep_NtbYGoT-daUxu2piJLo6iHVYrrhxDnapeIOw70g-9-0r9JTcFy70NbSTpHdEOUnEo5gVjgW4l56RYAyFfu8jQyA/s1600/LayeredFragmentsPinBlue.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw60ekpHHVzRPU6Mo2BgYskAkLRF1Ny6Rc_u_JZwUluc1zhLMCUGep_NtbYGoT-daUxu2piJLo6iHVYrrhxDnapeIOw70g-9-0r9JTcFy70NbSTpHdEOUnEo5gVjgW4l56RYAyFfu8jQyA/s400/LayeredFragmentsPinBlue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730278412304245010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSJcqNLufKFkJnwuY8I5eKqpP31rl-Iq8aRwE7hOSIS5KkcfKX0k9ByGZj5vuolMWafwtu0U7667iXMA9DIXllP_RPi8-GwnCTD1rT1jXEDIYlrobUlPs0sjoSV8OxPX0vHvJ96YTAaIE/s1600/AsianImprovisationPurse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSJcqNLufKFkJnwuY8I5eKqpP31rl-Iq8aRwE7hOSIS5KkcfKX0k9ByGZj5vuolMWafwtu0U7667iXMA9DIXllP_RPi8-GwnCTD1rT1jXEDIYlrobUlPs0sjoSV8OxPX0vHvJ96YTAaIE/s400/AsianImprovisationPurse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730146610850687106"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7llNcIfQ-jav9NgLFWLL_nkFvoo_7XbShbLzAyVFolb_YnT0LXnggNXHHah-AVimVnfvW1fl3idnpruB06xyt6zQQm6jI4ZMZGwHQC6U0gurnPOJvWAlb9FbU9P2s9GsDXqejw99ZGPYR/s1600/LayeredFragmentsNeckpieceYellow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7llNcIfQ-jav9NgLFWLL_nkFvoo_7XbShbLzAyVFolb_YnT0LXnggNXHHah-AVimVnfvW1fl3idnpruB06xyt6zQQm6jI4ZMZGwHQC6U0gurnPOJvWAlb9FbU9P2s9GsDXqejw99ZGPYR/s400/LayeredFragmentsNeckpieceYellow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730144740138087986"></a><br />This is the perfectionist procrastinator writing after more than a year. I guess because there's so much shallow discussion of trifles on the internet these days, I don't want to add to it so only write when I think I may have something to say. This is it.<br /><br />In my last blog post, I talked about new work revolving around "the journey", or "the road of life" and working with less narrative representation. That was actually just a jumping off point and since then, my work has continued to become more improvisational and abstract. I know that many of you do not relate to it as well as to the narrative work, and I understand that. I have not discontinued the organic pieces altogether, but have incorporated the organic inspiration into some pieces that reflect both the narrative and abstract.<br /><br />Frankly, the abstract pieces are far more difficult than narrative pieces for me to do. Improvisation -- making decisions about color, composition, symbols, shape, line, and texture all while I am working on a piece makes the process both difficult and invigorating at the same time. I really have no idea what the final result will be. I have developed a vocabulary of symbols that I seem to always include, but other than that I start at zero and have to make lots of decisions quickly.<br /><br />It seems to me that truly abstract work probably most reflects our humanness because it is based on spirit and what we do NOT see or know. Narrative or representational work is based on what we see and know. It has been a true challenge for me to make work not based on what I see or know.<br /><br />This new work also makes use of a translucent layering technique I developed a number of years ago. I work on the bottom layer using heat set polymer paints and then bake it. Then I press thin pieces of translucent polymer on the surface with inclusions like powders and gold leaf, and then bake it again. Then I sand it, then carve the surface with lines and backfill them with colored polymer. Then I bake it again, sand it through 7 grits, then polish the surface with a buffing wheel. The result is a shallow depth that resembles fired enamel or fired glaze or glass. <br /><br />Now, I have to update my website to reflect this new direction - new background color? New theme? New Home Page? Any ideas?Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-27911696488217902872011-03-31T17:18:00.003-07:002011-04-01T20:13:04.538-07:00Art That's Personal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy5Tmqp34lXzt9kBZz2Dy4sSrA8h-I-C4UoeJ9yFXqWo3vLxWYhc9yWsBN8k-sbow8sJ0qEQ29hrPUZglysPCcsciycOxiySxgVGQey1uRa11qa9TicSI_76-roKEEAc13Y5DcjFSvg-M/s1600/CreativePathBeads.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy5Tmqp34lXzt9kBZz2Dy4sSrA8h-I-C4UoeJ9yFXqWo3vLxWYhc9yWsBN8k-sbow8sJ0qEQ29hrPUZglysPCcsciycOxiySxgVGQey1uRa11qa9TicSI_76-roKEEAc13Y5DcjFSvg-M/s400/CreativePathBeads.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590403594091217474" /></a><br />It's not hard to understand that the act of making things is a means of self expression and artists/craftspeople fulfill this in a myriad of different ways. Many approach it from a cerebral and intellectual way, finding solutions to aesthetic problems. Some approach the act of making art/things in a philosophical way commenting on the human condition or an activist way making political statements, for example "green" craft. Others, like me, take an extremely personal approach, telling the story of MY life. I've spoken about this in past blogs.<br /><br />Well, now as I approach my 60th birthday in the month of April, the story I've decided to work with is based on the idea of the "Road of Life" as in The Journey; The Creative Path; The Road Less Traveled; The Wide Path and the Narrow Path; The Roller Coaster of Life. So, some new work I'm beginning makes use of the translucent layering technique I developed about 15 years ago which resembles enameling, but with polymer clay and reveals a shallow depth of surface. The layers in this technique can also speak of the many layers of meaning, activity, and circumstances we have in our lives. <br /><br />Unlike much or my previous work, I have decided to be more non-representational, more abstract, so that I will not prescribe what others should see. This format is extremely difficult for me and that is why I want to challenge myself with it. The two large hollow beads pictured here together are called "Path" and this shows one of my first attempts at layered abstraction. <br /><br />Stay tuned for more work in this new direction. I'm still using the format of jewelry (and probably purses) because I LOVE to wear jewelry and I enjoy working small. Also, you might want to take a look at my website which has been updated with a few more recent images.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-15291423878159368912010-09-02T08:06:00.001-07:002010-09-02T08:12:21.865-07:00My New Shop Online<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKX-nOCz2uls_-r9y8JRnXieBsGwbf58zdjQHp2QHrcCVINqeISz2U88agu-ad60UVdvChM9PZiapgeeqO9z28LoWI0orhVn4-CHO7fz0fheCZmyuQZsgEWQVSt37bO20PaSGztJwCyJq/s1600/6GreenEucalyptusEarrings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKX-nOCz2uls_-r9y8JRnXieBsGwbf58zdjQHp2QHrcCVINqeISz2U88agu-ad60UVdvChM9PZiapgeeqO9z28LoWI0orhVn4-CHO7fz0fheCZmyuQZsgEWQVSt37bO20PaSGztJwCyJq/s400/6GreenEucalyptusEarrings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512334113672386498" /></a><br />Can't wait to get to my next show or can't get to any of my shows? Now, you can check out and buy some of my work on my new SHOP! Right now I have earrings, my most popular neckpiece, and my most popular purse design. I will also update the shop from time to time with new things and have sales.<br /><br /> So, go check it out and have fun.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-60013130029028788152010-08-31T14:47:00.000-07:002010-08-31T20:34:06.765-07:00Personal Myths and Wearing Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbsC28U_gX5tx6vAT85op6suebr1Y2PiZ3dMx_KgfYAfo_DJji3hCdwhyYDaFbBRsPg3WhpvOz7LeTf3LIDtJvOAgNvKfLXHKszoozIphyVApWtC0G9Y4FeWxA9Jh2WoHFIMnoK4m3TsB/s1600/StickStone&SpiralNeckpiece.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbsC28U_gX5tx6vAT85op6suebr1Y2PiZ3dMx_KgfYAfo_DJji3hCdwhyYDaFbBRsPg3WhpvOz7LeTf3LIDtJvOAgNvKfLXHKszoozIphyVApWtC0G9Y4FeWxA9Jh2WoHFIMnoK4m3TsB/s400/StickStone&SpiralNeckpiece.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511708134547192082" /></a><br />"One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art". This is a quote by Oscar Wilde that I've known for about 15 years, but only two weeks ago decided to put as a handwritten headline in my booth for shows. Having just returned from the American Craft Exposition in Evanston, Illinois, I am struck by the many familiar and consistent comments I hear at my shows. These comments all have to do with how we as women view ourselves and how I have learned NOT to view myself, but rather as Oscar says - either being or wearing a work of art.<br /><br />When customers come up to my booth, I sometimes hear gasps, often hear comments like "I've never seen anything like these!", and often get lots of questions like "Are these really purses?" or "Is that really a pin?". But then, when they really start looking at my work, the comments get personal and I hear things like, "Oh, you have to be tall to wear those neckpieces", or "I'm too tall to wear that neckpiece", or "My chest is too small to wear that", or "My chest is too large to wear that" or "I don't go anywhere to wear that" or "I wish I could wear that". Now, I realize that sometimes these comments are just ways for people to tell me that they don't want to buy my work and are moving on, but often, they REALLY like the jewelry or purse and spend a bit of time looking at everything in my booth. <br /><br />I have decided that all of these comments are myths we create about ourselves and have imbedded into our identities. Maybe it's something our mother told us or something we just prefer to believe because it's an excuse to not try very hard to look nice. One of my best collectors is a petite woman (5'1" or 5'2") who wears statement neckpieces and bracelets. Another is tall and very thin. Another is extremely full-figured. They all look terrific in my jewelry and purses and they carry it well because they have the self-confidence and interest to wear art. What they also have is the courage to change and the courage to try on new things. <br /><br />I see too many women who look dumpy and unhappy because they wear baggy, shapeless, or uninteresting clothes with a little tiny silver chain with a heart on it. Sometimes, spurred on by friends, they try on one of my less showy neckpieces with a silver spiral, faux stone, and silver stick on steel cable that is sophisticated and artistic in an understated way, and they find they look and FEEL terrific! Then if they buy it, they go off feeling so good about themselves. They had the courage to try on something they wouldn't normally try on and the courage to change.<br /><br />When I know I look good, I also feel good. That's why even though I live and have my studio out in the woods of New Hampshire, I wear a neckpiece and/or cool earrings every day as well as put on makeup and spend time on my hair so that I'll feel good while I'm working. <br /><br />The point is, being a work of art or wearing a work of art is not for others, it's for YOU.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-79915204976979145332010-07-27T13:57:00.000-07:002010-07-27T20:52:43.469-07:00Creative Success and Late Bloomers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9JeQRmYk4sOoLVv54mBlBN7wACmrc8uhQ30Z9whptHEOaaQmYyQZIjwdX2UYyamqj2uMn5oZe4uCOaEUvUIAHQZVb1jBR4GkoYyAt2JBrePL5RYNhiSrGKpd-Z27jipi-38VxeUvjBW_/s1600/AutumnDriveNeckpiece.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9JeQRmYk4sOoLVv54mBlBN7wACmrc8uhQ30Z9whptHEOaaQmYyQZIjwdX2UYyamqj2uMn5oZe4uCOaEUvUIAHQZVb1jBR4GkoYyAt2JBrePL5RYNhiSrGKpd-Z27jipi-38VxeUvjBW_/s320/AutumnDriveNeckpiece.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498799891371524034" /></a><br />Having become a huge fan of the nonfiction writer Malcolm Gladwell after reading OUTLIERS: THE STORY OF SUCCESS, I began reading WHAT THE DOG SAW while visiting my newly married daughter and son-in-law in Minneapolis. Minneapolis, by the way, is a wonderfully artistic and cultural city that is also a very forward-moving, bike-friendly, diverse place with LOTS of incredible restaurants. And in case you hate winters, the whole downtown has over-the-street enclosed walkways -- two to every block as well as a nice light rail system. My daughter works in the gift shop of the Walker Museum of Contemporary Art so we had a very in-depth tour. I came away tremendously inspired.<br /><br />But, I digress - back to WHAT THE DOG SAW. In the chapter entitled, "Late Bloomers: Why Do We Equate Genius with Precocity?", Gladwell bases his discussion on a study by David Galenson ("Old Masters and Young Geniuses: The Two Life Cycles of Artistic Creativity"). He describes prodigies like Picasso as rarely engaging in open-ended exploration, tending to be conceptual in the sense that they start with a clear idea of where they want to go and then they execute it. Late Bloomers, on the other hand, are experimental, searching their whole lives, wanting to hone their craft, and are often dissatisfied with their work. Late Bloomers do not necessarily start late in life and often do as much artistic endeavor in their youth as prodigies do, but their approach is different. Gladwell compares Picasso to Cezanne who even though was an artist all his life, did not have a major exhibition until the age of 56. <br /><br />While reading this whole article, I kept thinking, "That's like me....that's like me....that's like me....I'm a late bloomer". Even my previous blog in which I describe my struggles as a 59-year-old artist fits the description. I've endeavored to hone my craft my whole life, still experiment with techniques, and am searching about what I want to say now. One more thing that Late Bloomers have in common is a "patron". By that he means, someone who is supportive, both financially and emotionally to the artist, someone who believes in them. <br /><br />I can say here that I would not be where I am today without the support of my husband, David. Before we were married, he bought me a potter's wheel because I had taken a class and became enchanted with clay. Then he bought me a used electric kiln after we got married. Even though I have a degree in mathematics, he never told me I should be out working in a "real" job and has always told me how proud of me he is. I can also mention my mother who always said while I was getting my degree in math, "You should be taking art." I got an MFA when I was 29, indicating eventually I realized she was right.<br /><br />So, I'll bet there are a lot of you who are also Late Bloomers. Just knowing there is a description of an "Old Master" that sounds like me is exciting. Struggle is all part of the process. But the most encouraging of all is ---- THE BEST IS YET TO COME.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-24383589097796586502010-05-23T20:26:00.000-07:002010-05-23T21:15:21.371-07:00My Struggles as an Artist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ac5T9PMz_2Q0IuBi2KmKEg9p8b3eeegiDscaZvd10-1Tj0XOm7BumkUXScRcp-bvXXNr5OcQ1iEdaMVW3q43WK8GfRVDXQnVdT8Bt6oT1GmLoYKB5GMFarvN-9EIYM7ciSbnVzmRgMDS/s1600/Leaves&PurplePod-lightenedNeck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ac5T9PMz_2Q0IuBi2KmKEg9p8b3eeegiDscaZvd10-1Tj0XOm7BumkUXScRcp-bvXXNr5OcQ1iEdaMVW3q43WK8GfRVDXQnVdT8Bt6oT1GmLoYKB5GMFarvN-9EIYM7ciSbnVzmRgMDS/s320/Leaves&PurplePod-lightenedNeck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474684655599634962" /></a><br />Even though it's been 18 months since my last published thoughts, I have been actually thinking a lot. Since the last post, I've successfully curated a museum show, had a one-person show at Snyderman Works Gallery in Philadelphia, done a number of retail juried shows, and taught a number of workshops. So, why do I feel at age 59 like I'm still struggling as an artist?<br /><br />Yes, art is a struggle for me. I feel compelled to make art all the time, I've been doing it professionally for over 30 years, and I've been doing it my whole life. Yet, I still am struggling with whether I have anything to say, what should I be saying, and how should I say it.<br /><br />When I got my MFA, the most important single thing I came away with was said to me by a professor during a critique session. "Make your work personal". It wasn't all the technical knowledge and skill I took from my degree, but that single phrase, that was the most crucial thing for me. But how was I to do that? I've taken that phrase very seriously over the years and made different series of works that reflected the stages in my life, my inner struggles and feelings about the outer circumstances of life.<br /><br /> I did a series of sculptures based on the interiors of the houses of my midwest relatives when I was growing up, then a series of "Housewife Queens", then sculptures based on my daughters' childhood drawings, then a series on the Arabian Bedouin Women I bought bits and pieces of jewelry from while living overseas, then a series on the Village Women I encountered in Turkey when we lived there, then a series on women's faces and Biblical verses that were autobiographical in emotion (including a scream based on my own ruptured aneurysm 9 years ago). More recently I've done a series of pods, grass, buds, and moss sculptures/purses based on the woods I walk in here in New Hampshire.<br /><br />While older work involved representational imagery of women, more recent work may not seem related because it is "inspired by nature" - a phrase I always detested as being trite and overdone. But, in fact, my more recent work of pods and buds is voluptuous at times, nearly always feminine in meaning having to do with seeds and perhaps the end of my own reproductive years and beginning of grandmotherhood. <br /><br />But, now I'm at a standstill. Where do I go from here? Do I make sculptures of death even though I am most likely many years away from the end of my own life? How do I translate that into sculptures that are actually purses? <br /><br />I'm actually feeling right now like all those years of making "stuff" in the end is just that - "stuff". I'm feeling like king Solomon right now when he said in Ecclesiastes, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity and chasing after the wind". I want to still make stuff, but is it just a job to make money? Who cares in the end? I want to still make my work personal, but am struggling with how to do that right now. I am feeling the meaninglessness of worldly striving. <br /><br />Art is hard work!!! If it weren't, everyone would be an artist.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-91185843621089777942008-11-24T21:01:00.000-08:002008-11-24T21:21:01.279-08:00Perseverance in a weak economyWith this economic crisis looming over us craftspeople, i'm thinking about business survival over the past 30 years. The late 80s were the heady days of craft when I could sell ANYTHING I made, and for a good price. Then a recession came during the early 90s and everything plummeted. I was fortunate to be living in Turkey at the time because my husband, Dave, had a job there so I was not as affected as my artist/craftsmen friends. But, the best craftsmen survived.<br /><br />We just kept making things, selling them the best we could and we survived. The reason is that we persevered. There is nothing like perseverance when it comes to art and fine craft, in the midst of economic downturns, in the midst of creative blocks, and in the midst of getting rejected from shows we always used to get into. The best craftsmen persevere, and maybe it kicks them in the butt in order to do a little changing and growing as well.<br /><br />So even though I may not make as much money now as I have been in the recent past, I will persevere. And I will continue to strive for excellence, not dumb down my work to make it more "saleable". "There is always a market for excellence" I read once. I will persevere and continue to make excellent things to the best of my ability.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-39153598659917493822008-09-14T19:27:00.000-07:002008-09-14T20:00:35.691-07:00Fashion WeekI have had a very busy summer and so I am sorry for not having written anything for a couple of months.<br /> <br />Last week I went with some girlfriends on an overnight trip to New York city with the idea of going to Bryant Park to check out all the glitterati in their Manolo Blahniks going in and out of the designer runway shows (one of my friends weaves and makes clothing for a living). Amazingly, we saw the college-age daughter of another friend of ours who is a student at NYU and who was doing an internship stint at Fashion Week. Knowing it is impossible to get into the shows unless you are someone, we asked her if there was any way she could get us into standing-room-only at a show. She went to find out, and she got us some tickets! <br /><br />Granted it was the collection of a young and supposedly up-and-coming Russian designer, but still it was a runway show in New York city! The show lasted all of 12 minutes with young, blond concentration-camp-like women walking very fast down the runway in his spring collection. The clothes did not make a lasting impression on me, but it was pretty exciting.<br /><br />After that we went to a shop on Madison Ave. called "Julie: Artisans' Gallery" which is a gallery of wearable art, and there in the front window were 7 or my purses! I had just sent them to the shop and they had mentioned that maybe they would put some in the window, but it was still terribly exciting. They looked terrific.<br /><br />We ate in a fabulous restaurant in the Meatpacking District and shopped in the West Village. Then we took a very cheap bus back to Boston ($18 one-way), then another bus up to New Hampshire. All in all, it was a splendid way to spend time with girlfriends.<br /><br />But frankly, I am really glad to be home. I got my big-city fix and can now reflect on the whole experience. It seems trite to say it, but the whole Fashion Week experience was shallow. Is this what life is all about? To some people it is - paying attention to the latest must-haves. And actually I am quite ambivalent because this is the market I sell to. <br /><br />I sell cool little containers and artsy jewelry for people to carry around and impress others. I feel uncomfortable about that and yet I really enjoy and have a passion for what I am doing. <br /><br />I don't know if other artists are in this quandary. Maybe it's a result of living in frugal New Hampshire. Or maybe it's a result of my Christian faith and reading in the Bible about materialism. What ever it is, I've been doing a lot of thinking about it.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-83774067021454571682008-06-05T16:41:00.000-07:002008-12-12T16:12:47.940-08:00Thoughts About Color, but First My New Granddaughter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglONgPBVXfimv5f3ziD0vqqAVwbhAGqzGhR5SJGkUHX_TE4ltK0bdQ6x7BGB3W3sKQK0AMCxdDJmd7WitJsKm1zdGhJ6ffmZqtHqQiXMYHjTURsSg17nw5I6eBEyAcc287oDNW0oLVOEt5/s1600-h/Gramma+and+Ellie.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglONgPBVXfimv5f3ziD0vqqAVwbhAGqzGhR5SJGkUHX_TE4ltK0bdQ6x7BGB3W3sKQK0AMCxdDJmd7WitJsKm1zdGhJ6ffmZqtHqQiXMYHjTURsSg17nw5I6eBEyAcc287oDNW0oLVOEt5/s320/Gramma+and+Ellie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208568347212010002" /></a><br />It is such an exciting time in my life right now because I have a first grandchild, born May 31st, and her name is Eleanor Mae (sounds like a good novelist's or artist's name). I'm spending time at my daughter and son-in-law's helping to take care of her. I have to tell you right now, grandchildren are the best reason for having children. What a blessing from God she is!<br /><br />In the midst of all this, believe it or not, I've been thinking about color. Maybe it's being impressed with the wonders of God's creation and color is a big part of that. Having a pretty good grounding in color theory from my formal art training, I feel I have an adequate ability to lay down and organize colors to express what I want or to make a good composition. What is more intuitive, however, and continually changing in my work is color mixing and color choice. Because I am now allowing nature to inspire me, I've come to notice the incredible range of colors that exist on the surface of one smooth stone or one small clump of moss. The wide variety of greens in a clump of moss may be extremely subtle and difficult to notice, but I strive to do just that and this enables me to get a real richness that I'm striving for in my work. <br /><br />And so, I've been spending a great deal of time recently just mixing colors of polymer. For example, I'll mix an interesting green, then cut it up into 8 or pieces and add a small amount of another color to each piece and mix it in - maybe white to one piece, ecru to another, a teeny bit of red to another, yellow to another and mud to another. So all the pieces work well together because they have the same base green, but yet all are different. The resulting richness of color enables me to achieve a successful organic quality.<br /><br />This richness is particularly evident in my "Blowing Grass Purse". I first mixed a large Skinner blend made of 5 colors - purple/ecru/green/ecru/peachy orange - then cut it up into 6 equal pieces and added small amounts of other colors to each blend and mixed each in. So I ended up with 6 variations of one Skinner blend and rolled many pieces of grass out of each, then assembled them all into one clump. These variations are called color shifting and can become extremely powerful when used in one piece of artwork.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-26971184966528802872008-04-21T10:40:00.000-07:002008-04-22T11:23:03.238-07:00Thinking BigWhile doing the Smithsonian Craft Show last week, I was able to take an hour to visit the Helen Williams Drutt Jewelry Collection exhibit at the Renwick Gallery Museum of Fine Craft. It's an understatement to say I was absolutely blown away by the collection of art jewelry she has collected over the past 40 years.<div><br /></div><div>After looking at the breath-taking jewelry pieces made by many different artists, what I came away with more than anything is the question "Why don't I think that big?" By thinking big, I don't mean big in scale, although that can be part of it, but rather <span style="font-style: italic;">big </span>in idea, or <span style="font-style: italic;">big </span>in elaborateness, <span style="font-style: italic;">big </span>in complexity, <span style="font-style: italic;">big </span>in the amount of time it takes to make it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, sometimes we think that in order to make any money doing what we do, we have to do "affordable" work, or work that is popular. I'm not convinced that we have to think small in order to make a living and in fact, we may make a better living if we occasionally think "museum stuff" -- meaning work we would like to have in a museum or a conoisseur's collection someday. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have seen so much unassuming polymer work -- little earrings, one small pendant on a cord, a bracelet made up of 10 or 12 beads. BORING. Not only would it never be in a major show, but people would not buy it for more than $5.00. Now it's fine to have some pieces that are affordable to the mainstream, but you also NEED pieces that are spectacular and even "pricey" to draw customers to your work. Also, there are people who <span style="font-style: italic;">only </span>want to purchase spectacular pieces, and they don't want $5.00 earrings!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thinking big takes risk. What if we spend all this time on one piece and it looks lousy when we're done? What if nobody likes it? I have created pieces that I was very excited about, but in the end didn't work out to my liking. But the next piece -- or the piece after that -- succeeded and in the end it was worth taking the risk to learn and develop. Everything worthwhile in life requires risk.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thinking big takes work. I have once or twice taken a couple of months to make a piece, from sketching, planning, working it out and perfecting. Some of the pieces in the Renwick exhibit, however, I know took more than a couple of months just to work out the idea. Some of us are just not that interested in really putting a lot of work into something, we're a little lazy. Well, unless you are willing to <span style="font-style: italic;">work </span>at it you'll just have to realize that your work will never be that good and you may not be as successful financially or artistically as you might like. That's OK, you just have to understand that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thinking big also takes perseverence. I've realized over 30 years of working at it that yes, being an artist takes some talent. But far more than that it takes <span style="font-style: italic;">passion </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">perseverence</span>. Just keep making things, just keep doing it, just keep working and the ideas will come, you'll keep getting better and better!</div><div><br /></div><div>As I'm writing this, I'm saying it to myself, even though I know it all already. <span style="font-style: italic;">I need to Think Big!</span></div>Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-25709569066911490682008-04-10T10:04:00.000-07:002008-04-10T10:23:19.037-07:00An award from the 2008 Smithsonian Craft ShowKathleen is currently in Washington, D.C., where she is exhibiting at the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show through this weekend (Sunday, April 13th). Yesterday she was very honored to receive the show's <span style="font-style: italic;">New Direction - Excellence in Design Of the Future</span> award. To give some context, the annual Smithsonian Craft Show is one of the two most discriminating and prestigious shows in the world for contemporary fine craft, in the opinion of many leading artists. Kathleen was juried into this show several times earlier in her career, and indeed was profiled by Smithsonian Magazine in 2000, but had seen a Smithsonian dry spell in recent years. She asked me to share with you that returning to that extremely competitive show, with a risky/bold new body of work, was the culmination of a dream/goal for her, and she is thrilled to have received this award. She will share many more of her feelings and observations about the state of fine craft (including polymer clay) gleaned from experiencing this show upon her return. Now she will have some time to get back to blogging, which is still a new thing for her.<br /><br />Sincere regards to all,<br /><br />David DustinKathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-80112879234348999962008-03-09T19:31:00.000-07:002008-03-11T16:35:01.043-07:00I just returned a few days ago from doing two presentations at the Synergy Conference at the same time as showing and selling my work at the American Craft Council show in Baltimore, then traveling immediately to Florida for the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, and then an unexpected 2-day workshop at Ocean Reef near Key Largo. Needless to say, I'm exhausted, but not too exhausted to remain inspired by the ceramic work of Andy Rogers at Baltimore. You may see his work at <a href="http://www.andyrogersceramics.com/">www.andyrogersceramics.com</a>. He came to my booth exclaiming about how much crossover there is between his work and mine and then I went to his booth and we talked for quite a while about images, techniques, and books -- giving ideas to each other and getting ideas from one another. <div><br /></div><div>I'm telling you this because even though I endeavor to get my inspiration purely from nature, it is impossible not to be influenced by fellow artists. I mean this in a positive way. Andy was very open with me as I looked at the shapes of his pods, excitedly mentioning what good purses they would make. I was very open with him as he saw and asked about how he could use polymer clay for little spikey parts of his organic forms. We BOTH benefited from being open about ideas and techniques.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a very important idea to me. You as artists and craftsmen MUST be open, sharing, and eager to help other artists/craftsmen. Believe it or not, it hurts YOU and the whole community when you are secretive about what you do. In history, there were families of potters in China and glassworkers in Egypt who kept their techniques and recipes secret and it was lost to the world when everyone in the family died with the secret. It's OK to give things away to the artistic competition because it actually keeps you on your toes and doesn't allow you to become too complacent about your work, doing the same old formulas over and over again. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is why I teach everything I do, at least eventually. I may not teach a class on a new and exciting technique I only recently discovered and am still developing, but I will at some point. Because my work is so personal, no one else can or should want to do what I do specifically, so I do not feel threatened by teaching the techniques surrounding it. After all, wise King Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, "There is nothing new under the sun," so who am I to think that the techniques I use cannot be discovered independently by someone else, or be done even better by someone else?</div><div><br /></div><div>It is also OK to "borrow" or get ideas from another's work, as long as you push it and move it enough to make it your own. It is also courteous to give credit to that artist when it is appropriate. But, the art we make should come from inside us -- inside our brains, inside our experience, inside our guts -- so we don't have to depend on someone else's ideas or techniques to make art.</div>Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-51613783735422696812008-01-24T15:48:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:12:48.420-08:00Pictures from La Cascade (Oct. 2008 workshop site)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirudHd1qaiVX2EmbTB_HZNoZPxYoWULOcRM87SOHmCDhevKr8mQLCF7edFpaSYyR3XEcQR_PKPhFYZfc_jc-0g19CMXL3q8KWk6r7M2NN7aKdQUiZZgDH5FxNjO_efMohZn04riJ5rUmT1/s1600-h/diningroom.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirudHd1qaiVX2EmbTB_HZNoZPxYoWULOcRM87SOHmCDhevKr8mQLCF7edFpaSYyR3XEcQR_PKPhFYZfc_jc-0g19CMXL3q8KWk6r7M2NN7aKdQUiZZgDH5FxNjO_efMohZn04riJ5rUmT1/s200/diningroom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159264512477751282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUhHKV_Mse9-CAwGW8EQq8p0Ljgg9fRnX5EH0jeJTvZ979P4uwwtnie32AGLEKu25IbrZQjLyu5E-WHoolof6Q5zCvQDPNI5QOSuBDYNYVnVmnHAeWdyywwjrJavm37cMlwPqYdgeu7ZR/s1600-h/a+bedroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUhHKV_Mse9-CAwGW8EQq8p0Ljgg9fRnX5EH0jeJTvZ979P4uwwtnie32AGLEKu25IbrZQjLyu5E-WHoolof6Q5zCvQDPNI5QOSuBDYNYVnVmnHAeWdyywwjrJavm37cMlwPqYdgeu7ZR/s200/a+bedroom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159263554700044258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkg6pvrkTBxYD-5rw0faxWtkXRpq_ePLwFANI-9kRVONoLh-YW5ozGH-Mo83hO4v14Yr0x2mnoodY3yBDi9lepUIpS3G_JHIXpl6P6JKtWOwz25bDMoSMoki-RsTbMROfKpfP-Gd34KEZ/s1600-h/the+street.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkg6pvrkTBxYD-5rw0faxWtkXRpq_ePLwFANI-9kRVONoLh-YW5ozGH-Mo83hO4v14Yr0x2mnoodY3yBDi9lepUIpS3G_JHIXpl6P6JKtWOwz25bDMoSMoki-RsTbMROfKpfP-Gd34KEZ/s200/the+street.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159263043598936018" /></a><br />Here are some pictures taken at La Cascade, an artists' retreat in the medieval village of Durfort, France, the site of my October "French Connection" 5-day workshop. Penina, a student I had in Sacramento last week, had studied there last summer and said it was the most quaint place she'd ever been to and that it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Owner Gwen Gibson just sent me these pictures, which were taken by Denise Andersen (thank you!). There are still spaces available and I am looking forward to this in-depth, inspiring study experience! Visit the Calendar page on my website for details...Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-39478780157393248472008-01-16T20:19:00.000-08:002008-01-16T20:31:37.815-08:00My Craft Cast interviewCraft Cast has just published an interview with me on the web. If interested you can go to <a href="http://www.craftcast.com">www.craftcast.com/</a>.Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-8899044055822358422008-01-08T20:08:00.001-08:002008-12-12T16:12:49.152-08:00New Work for the New Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGLkTgbcmCyJpzIJ6lvPB3qGJTw8vjCYlImSw_eLPr0iePxRBs2qyIBDdrntogtQBZVrnQB-CpPXyFS8OyuJdQqDljN8azaoPh85_F7T4ypSNKOSr6yKbm_kdPymaciETLi7CRUVjEcnt/s1600-h/_DSC2188++jas%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGLkTgbcmCyJpzIJ6lvPB3qGJTw8vjCYlImSw_eLPr0iePxRBs2qyIBDdrntogtQBZVrnQB-CpPXyFS8OyuJdQqDljN8azaoPh85_F7T4ypSNKOSr6yKbm_kdPymaciETLi7CRUVjEcnt/s320/_DSC2188++jas%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153338964666907090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn1Bhlvkdlzeqqcx5alg7d8yH2RheMgLnpApsuxbNExUvXhD01Spi74-DkukcyRajqMhgNAIrFWusXRpMJIPjFUZiCkRE-RuzGbJPSzJYnUnvVb6q7hwAy0B1A4KJbLIa3MJ86cRK858B/s1600-h/_DSC2197+jas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn1Bhlvkdlzeqqcx5alg7d8yH2RheMgLnpApsuxbNExUvXhD01Spi74-DkukcyRajqMhgNAIrFWusXRpMJIPjFUZiCkRE-RuzGbJPSzJYnUnvVb6q7hwAy0B1A4KJbLIa3MJ86cRK858B/s320/_DSC2197+jas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153338973256841698" /></a><br />Here you see two images of new work that is not even on my website yet. This continues within my recent "Pod" series where I make use of tiny organic forms and reinterpret them on a different scale. The series began with the idea that a pod is a hollow container designed to hold and protect something that is fragile and important. This idea seemed appropriate for the function of an evening bag as well, and so began the series.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div>So, expanding on that original idea, I noticed some beautiful tall grass blowing in the wind by the side of the road with purple tips, green and peachy stalks and I thought, "What beautiful grass. Now, what can I do with that to make a purse?" After doing some drawings and thinking about it for quite a long time, I came up with "Blowing Grass Purse." (Catchy title, huh?) I am very excited about this piece!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ideas like this come about because I feel my job as an artist includes "paying attention". Earlier in my life when we lived in big cities, in other countries, while I was raising a family, I was paying attention to the stages in my life, paying attention to the lives of other women, and I tried to pay attention to my inner life. All of this is reflected in earlier purses that you can see on my website. Now, with more time and living in the woods of New Hampshire, I am paying attention to nature, not because I ever intended to but because it has pretty much forced itself upon me. I used to resist being "inspired by nature" because it seemed like an overused theme for artists. Now, here I am looking at grass and reinterpreting it in colored plastic in the form of a purse.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By paying attention and then putting it somehow into my work, I hope then to open other's eyes and perhaps enable them to pay attention: to life, to the world, to people, to whatever they might be missing at the moment.</div></div>Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-760787990018328082007-12-19T18:25:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:12:49.183-08:00Edible Neckpieces at the Istanbul Bead Conference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIkIcFoTeIpSlxof6Ik2CXSYYrgpRRyYPp75lvvQTKewlCOJLm639HZHxhsstZQUxHQLaPsnQ55pU43EO0YJ0tNkqS6dEBxpKWwZVjSS1zxDl8IR0otrIG7tcZQjHPYgNsQI9sSc7m3MM/s1600-h/DSCN3027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIkIcFoTeIpSlxof6Ik2CXSYYrgpRRyYPp75lvvQTKewlCOJLm639HZHxhsstZQUxHQLaPsnQ55pU43EO0YJ0tNkqS6dEBxpKWwZVjSS1zxDl8IR0otrIG7tcZQjHPYgNsQI9sSc7m3MM/s320/DSCN3027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145875849104750946" /></a>Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-84714895432922638452007-12-19T16:56:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:12:49.472-08:00My Istanbul Workshop and Meeting a Wonderful Turkish Polymer Artist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbswlrzLaV-GgznVMHx6ibRsDYMTwP8X_jInHUF0eIHoGTjkwg9rZ1rxNhEZD0guMbunRpI3VyAcXF7QOdJ1JnCNynqCADbQAONVhdQ_w8Bfw-9OBs6VJYJU5fQ5QODmCLIeo0qJGR5oS/s1600-h/KathleenDustin+Istanbul+Workshop+2007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbswlrzLaV-GgznVMHx6ibRsDYMTwP8X_jInHUF0eIHoGTjkwg9rZ1rxNhEZD0guMbunRpI3VyAcXF7QOdJ1JnCNynqCADbQAONVhdQ_w8Bfw-9OBs6VJYJU5fQ5QODmCLIeo0qJGR5oS/s200/KathleenDustin+Istanbul+Workshop+2007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145879409632639346" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Over Thanksgiving week in late November my husband and I were at the International Bead and Beadwork Conference in the most fascinating city in the world, Istanbul, where I taught a workshop and gave a presentation on the "Early Development of Polymer Clay in Beadmaking". With leading bead experts and artists from around the world, the conference promised to be exciting and parts of it were, but unfortunately due to incredible mismanagement and disorganization as well as alleged criminal behavior on the part of the organizer, it left a sour taste in just about everyone's mouth. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The best part for me were the 11 students in the workshop I taught who came from Turkey, Israel, the UK, Belgium and the US. We had a terrific time despite a few language barriers and I actually had to use what little Turkish I can speak (I lived in Ankara, Turkey from 1989 to 1993). They all produced very nice pieces in spite of the strange oven we had. Fortunately a previous student and friend of mine, Lorna Woods-Johns, was there to manage the oven.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Something else I loved at the conference was a display of edible neckpieces on black mannequins. They were bold assemblages of dried fruit, dried peppers, dried flowers, dried spices, candies including Turkish Delight, pastries, etc. and were spectacular. There was also a nice exhibit of contemporary art glass beads put on by the Bead Museum in Glendale, Arizona entitled "Trajectories" and an exhibit of a Turkish woman's collection of ancient beads by themselves and then how she put them together into interesting contemporary designs. This exhibit was entitled "From Collection to Creation."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The most incredible part of the whole Istanbul trip, though, was meeting a Turkish artist named Alev Gozonar who began working with polymer clay only a couple of years ago after her sister had been to the U.S. and was introduced to it. Alev's website is www.alevg.com and she does very contemporary wallpieces using Fimo with plexiglas or wood. Some of her pieces include hundreds of millefiore slices floating around under plexiglas and some include many polymer covered wood blocks mounted on plexiglas. She's just finishing up a commission for a hotel lobby in which 300 wood blocks covered in polymer are mounted on the wall. I am very impressed by her work and we became instant friends.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It is my intention to post to my blog at the beginning of every month. I want to mention here that I will be teaching a workshop in the small village of Durfort, France at La Cascade, a medieval artist's retreat, the first week of October, 2008. It promises to be a uniquely rewarding experience for students and teacher alike, and we will be making a purse. Go to www.gwengibson.com for details.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div></div>Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764480302591631613.post-47230802260988374692007-12-06T16:39:00.000-08:002007-12-06T16:59:13.732-08:00Another work in progress...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Not sure yet how this works, but welcome to my blog! I've been very very busy lately -- still unpacking from the International Bead and Beadwork Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, in late November, then immediately into a show in Boston. I had a wonderful time teaching a workshop at the Istanbul conference and was honored to present a paper on the history of polymer clay beadmaking, which got its start here in the United States. However, the overall conference itself was very problematic and the issue with presenters and teachers not being compensated, as agreed, probably is becoming well known in the international art community. It was a double tragedy for those, like myself, who have such long and fond memories of Turkey and the warm and friendly Turkish people. I will have more to say on this subject and my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">super</span> Istanbul polymer clay students when I have had time to recover from the past 2 weeks!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Kathleen</span></div>Kathleen Dustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13794850777094967786noreply@blogger.com6