JD Tisdale: Metalsmith

Conversations - 02 - Craft and Art

2010-03-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

I have sat in a lot of conversations about craft and art. At some point despite the fact that it has 5 letters, Craft has become a 4-letter word. Many want to be considered artists and hate to be called a craftsperson. Or painting and sculpture are considered high art where the crafts would be considered low art if art at all.

Craft objects are typically created in wood, clay, metal, textiles, and glass. They usually serve a decorative function - "function" being a key word. Art does not have to function and typically it's better that it doesn't. Craft performs a function.

But what about craft as a verb instead of a noun? When an object is crafted well, or a person was able to craft an object, one would assume that the object was made with skill and human attention. This in turn gives the object more value than something off the production line somewhere overseas.

So basically, I embrace craft and consider myself a craftsman. I'll leave the art label to higher ed and critics. I want my pieces to function, be decorative and unique, and communicate Hopefully, the more people embrace craft - both from the creator and viewer sides - the better we'll be as a community. This I believe.

Conversations - 01 - Why Blog? Why Etsy? Why Flickr & Facebook?

2010-02-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

I'm typically pessimistic when it comes to the online world - until recently. I've had some conversations with people where I've had to explain my rationale about switching from a regular website to having the blog as my homepage. When I opened up the blog a couple of years ago, I only posted 3 times. And those posts were...well, they just were.

Although I still stick to my convictions that we all should be prudent when it comes to our use of technology, I think that I should be less cynical and more "involved" in the platforms I choose to use.

I feel that "blogging with focus" allows me to give insight into what I create and why. Or does that take away from the viewer's ability to make meaning and connection on his/her own terms? Regardless, this journaling allows the process to unfold over time. I also like the archiving of it. Over time, I tend to throw everything away. I can't tell you how many pictures, drawings, and books i've gotten rid of. I recently uploaded drawings and sketches on to my flickr gallery. If the originals get lost in the shuffle, oh well. It's not as if those were ever intended for the gallery.

The community component of these online platforms is something I've been ignoring. It seemed to be the only reason to be online was for self-centered reasons. After a conversation I had recently, I was given a new way to think about it. We were talking specifically about Etsy but the same applies to Facebook and Flickr as well. Craft is based on community. Yes, it's about individuals creating things but within a community and collective contribution. Well, how does that look in a society that is now global and online? Etsy is an example of craft people coming together, collaborating and participating in support of each other. I've always said that if you are in a crowd of 19 other people with everyone looking out after their own interest, you have only one person looking out after you - you. But if that same crowd is looking out after its neighbors first, then you have 19 people looking out after you.

All is this is a rambling that basically says that I've given it a lot of thought. And through some important conversations, I've redefined my views about the virtual world and will intentionally participate online with thought and focus.

Making a Pair of Buckles - progress to date

2010-02-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

I posted a couple of pictures on the next buckle - pair - that I am making. I've made some more progress and wanted to post the pics in order up to this point.

1. select etched piece from Print 01 plate

2. determine design and size

3. paste design on etching

4. select a piece that will show on the back and where the functional pieces will attach to

5. make the cut

6. scribe the design onto the silver (I'd like to figure out how to cut both pieces at once)

7. scribed silver

8. both pieces are cut

Change of Pace

2010-01-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

I walked to work this morning - 3 miles. Only takes about 50 minutes. Yeah...the car is in the driveway and fully functional, could take the bus which picks up at the apartment and drops off outside the office and I have a bike. But there is something about walking - change of pace, change of perspective.

I had been enrolled at UNT in the MFA - Metals program for the past 3 semesters. However, I have decided to not enroll for this Spring semester and to withdraw completely. In doing this, I told myself that I was going to spend the spring semester just kind of walking around, taking it easy. Being at UNT definitely helped me slow down in creating work. Before that I was listening too much to the "you can make money if you would do this..." And even though I never took the advice of the "money makers", it did create a hurried approach to my making. And with a hurried approach comes less thought. But it was my first exposure to an Arts program. It had a profound impact on my work - more focused and cohesive.

So I decided to take a step back. Maybe I'm not quite ready to pursue a career as collegiate studio professor. Instead, I'm going to walk around and tune in to the world around me. Because it's during those times when I'm concentrating and eliminating distractions that I'm figuring out what it is that I'm doing. That's when things make sense most. And it's during that process that what I want to create starts to take shape.

Next project is making a pair of buckles. I'll put up pics as to how they come about.

So I've been staring at this piece for the past several months. This is the last of the plate that went into making Print 01 (see Photo Gallery > Prints).

So finally decided. I've gotten a lot of compliments on Buckles 3 & 4 of the 2009 buckles. So I came up with the design of the water cut out. That's where I'm at now with it. Hope to start making the cuts next week.

What's up for 2010?

2010-01-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

Every year I decide on a theme. Last year the theme was to Simplify and Focus. So I asked myself, "What am I doing? Or 'what the hell am i doing' as Mara - my wife - puts it? And whatever I'm doing, is it necessary or unnecessary?"

Now maybe I have a tendency to get lost in my head and think too deeply about things...but anyway...

That theme helped structure my work for 2009. I cut out some of the unnecessary things distracting me from giving each piece thought and focus. So looking at how to build upon that, this year's theme is Concentrate - to focus one's powers, efforts, or attention.

In this digital age, we are exposed to so much information, imagery, and communication. It seems as if we can do anything. Just look it up online and learn the "how to." It is very easy to get distracted from what you really want to do and become a "multi-tasker." We pride ourselves on our ability to be present in small percentages to various tasks at one time.

So how does relate to my work with metal? I want my work to reflect this theme of concentration and my efforts in the studio to be intensely focused on craftsmanship. When looking at and holding my work, I want the viewer to feel the energy that went in to each piece.

And that's what's up.

Looking back on 2009

2010-01-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

It's been a transforming year. My first year in the UNT grad metals program has taken me in some new directions with my metal work. I've brought back techniques that I haven't used in awhile such as etching and riveting because I was focused on wax carving and casting for the past few years. With learning to make intaglio prints at UNT, I'm able to apply etching in a new way. It's been a bridge between my interest in drawing and metalwork. Being in class has also allowed me to take a step back and focus on each piece and craftsmanship. I feel that that is something I was losing sight of with thoughts of sales and production.

I really feel that I've come into a new stage with my work. I'm still learning and always will by experimenting and trying new things. But this new stage is one where I feel I'm communicating and creating what's within me. The resulting work is created on a solid foundation and with conviction. Because of this, I was able to close out the year by making 2 custom pieces requested by friends for their significant others. What I find cool about that is the fact that I was thought of by someone for someone else. They had to go out on a limb because they knew they liked my stuff but how could they be sure of that for whom they were giving it to. So i find that to be a good indicator that I'm doing the work that I should be doing. And that's cool.

Here are those 2 pieces:

Online Forums

2009-12-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

I continuously debate with myself on how I want to use the internet. Being a craftsperson/artist/artisan/whatever and also posting in a virtual world creates an internal dilemma/discussion. Sometimes I'm at peace with the existence of both and sometimes I struggle. As I engage in this internal conversation, I keep a few words close to define my approach to whatever I do on the internet: prudence, discipline, focus, and tool.

So I've decided to create a Facebook page for my work. In the past, I had a personal page which I have since abandoned. It became overwhelming for me, but may be something I come back to in the future. Here's the link to that:

http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/#/pages/Unique-Sterling-Design-by-John-David-Tisdale/218928151020

Blogging is a new thing for me. But it has made sense thus far to have it. Eventually I may make it my website home page and not pay web space any longer.

Next up, Etsy.

More of the latest

2009-11-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

More latest buckles

2009-10-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

Latest Buckle

2009-10-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

sterling silver, copper

techniques: etching, piercing, riveting, soldering

HIGH ART

2009-09-14T19:37:00.001-07:00

There was a discussion today about craft and art. Craft being something separate from the high art realm. What is "high art"? We live in a society that doesn't care about the process of getting to an end result. We value the title one carries and/or the title a person holds as valuable. No one knows what high art is. Someone pulled it out of the thin air.

Does it make sense that in the art world, we are discussing how to be labeled "high art" even though the rules say that metal work, along with media other than painting and sculpture, are not fine art? Since when did creating art become about demanding a higher price point or acceptance into an elite classification?

I make buckles. They are useful and necessary if you are going to wear a belt. So you might as well wear a buckle that is badass.

Dominion

2009-09-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

I was talking to an individual the other day. He asked me if I had kids, and I responded that I just had those 3 that were barking inside the house. About which he responded that some people treat their animals better than children and started to talk about how the Bible states that humans have dominion over the creatures of the earth. Naturally, I spent the next few days thinking about it.

What does that mean? I know that dominion means "control over", "sovereignty", "power", etc. But what does that really mean if we are to think/believe that we have control and power over all living creatures?

Is it a right or a responsibility?

There have been times where I've been sitting with friends talking about what purpose various animals serve in this world. Inevitably, I get stumped as to what purpose gnats serve in this world. And I'm ashamed to say that I never looked it up in order to satisfy that curiosity. But never has the question come up, "What purpose do humans serve?"

Why do we see ourselves as apart from the natural world instead of a part of the natural world? After all, we are animals just the same as lions, elephants, dolphins and even gnats.

The Good Art Company

2009-08-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

My wife and I traveled down to Fredericksburg, TX this past weekend. My mom has her jewelry up at The Good Art Company. She has shared some of her space with me. Currently I have some buckles, a cuff and prints in there. We met the owner, Jill Holland, who is a painter. Really cool woman. So if you get down there, be sure to stop in and support.

Check it out:
Fine Handcrafted Jewlery by Linda Tisdale at www.studio1532.com
The Good Art Company www.thegoodartco.com

Fredericksburg is a cool, little German town. Pretty relaxing. We went to a winery Saturday, but the highlight was definitely chilling under the tree at Luckenbach, Texas. A couple of guys were playing their music up on stage. Quite a diverse group of people sitting around on the picnic benches drinking beers, water, etc. I will look forward to going back their for sure.

The other cool thing we did on the way back was stop by Enchanted Rock. The Rock is a huge, pink granite boulder that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level, and covers 640 acres. It is quite a site and well worth walking up. Wear sunblock, take some water and plan on sitting up there for a bit to really take it all in.

Earrings from the December 2, 2008 posting - Finally

2009-07-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

These earrings - all 10 pair - were created shortly after that 12/2 posting. I guess I'm just now getting around to posting the results.

It was interesting to do a production piece. Even though it was only 10, it gave me an idea of what it would take to produce quantity - the planning, the repetition, work efficiency - all the things that go into the goal of selling these at an affordable price.

It also gave me an idea of how I wanted to approach printmaking and how to use the etched plates after I ran the prints. I'm still sorting through these ideas.

Finally, this idea of repetition and production that I struggle with. It seems pretty monotonous to do production pieces because of the repetition. Maybe it is due to my restless and impatient personality. But one thing I hope to gain with running prints and then utilizing the plates in the production of multiple works is patience and a body of work that has variety and relates to each other. Also, repetition is important in meditation and ritual. Maybe the work can start to reflect those qualities and my daily life as well.

Send it to the press!

2009-07-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've been learning intaglio printmaking this last semester at UNT. It works well with the metal work that I have already been doing and it's really cool to run prints and then cut the plate up to make buckles and jewelry.

I'm picking up a press this week to add to my studio. I am fortunate to have friends to were willing to pass it since they are moving.

So anyway, I'll be able to run prints at home. I'm pretty excited about that.

Latest Project: Earrings (multiples)

2008-12-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

I'm doing a production project for class. I decided to make earrings - 10 pair. I'm interested in etching and will be taking printmaking next semester. So for this project, I etched a 6x6 sterling silver plate pulling the imagery from a Z-plant we have in the house. Today, I cut up the etching into strips that will be made into earrings.

I'll put up the earrings when complete.

Skull (sterling silver buckle)

2008-11-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to decide how I want to use a blog with my website. As I'm learning about various online tools, it makes sense to utilize some of the free-ware. It also allows for easy updating to stay current.

The portfolio of my most current work is located at my website www.jdtisdale.com. The entire portfolio is on Picasa which works out really well.

I envision utilizing the blog for new projects and posting them from the initial ideas to the final product.

Upcoming Show: Art With A Cause

2008-10-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Join us for an Art Show and Sale featuring myself and 13 other local Dallas artists. This is a benefit for Hope for Peace and Justice.

www.artwithacause.org

Details:
Saturday, November 1, 2008
5:30 to 10:00 PM
Bank of Texas
4217 Swiss Ave at Peak St.
Dallas, Texas

Free admission - wine - hors d'oeuvres, silent auction, and live music

banner

2008-01-25T14:31:00.000-08:00