Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for your note!

And for the encouragement! :) Most of the things I make are given away, kept by me, or in a box somewhere because I dubbed them 'not good enough'. In the beginning, and really up until just recently, I'd get so focuses on one aspect of a piece that I'd ignore everything else - leaving parts unfinished or poorly done. I am finally slowing down, taking time with each step, and trying to finish all pieces, front - back - sides, etc.

You sound like you live a very full life. I look forward to getting to know you and the other 'nuts' here. I consider myself a little nutty too so I think I'll fit right in!

~Janice
www.doxallo.com

I'm my worst enemy when it comes to judging my work. Post images of your work as you have and use us as sounding boards. I've learned that artmetal list and site members have more art sense then I have for my own work. Plus it's nice to have supportive eyes looking at work.

Elizabeth M. Meadows
Mother, Metal Sculptor in that order.

"When in doubt, use a sledgehammer. It helps!"

Elizabeth! I did that the other day, didn't realize I wasn't logged in.

Yes, I'm very harsh on my work - I'm kinda ok with that. I don't have to like the style or whatever - but I have to like the construction of it. I'm just now getting to that place. I'll keep sharing, I love having a sounding board (I am involved in a couple of jewelry communities online - they have been instrumental in my growth)

~Janice

that means a lot coming from you - I was looking at some of your work around here earlier I do believe....you do some repousse? Thats on my list of things - I've got some pitch and my bowl and am ready to give it a go. Hopefully without making a huge mess of things.

~Janice
www.doxallo.com

Thank you for the compliment. I've always liked learning new techniques and unfortunately, that makes me a master of none. Repousse is time consuming but you can fall into a meditative state and suddenly, it's a lot latter than what it should be.

marilyn

I am so glad to meet someone else who understands! I chat with some other jewelry artists online and they don't seem to understand how I feel - I mean they do in a sense, but basically want me to get over it. And I can't - not yet. Its hmm, not that I have to be perfect - but um, yea, I have to be perfect. I just don't want to send work out the door that I know isn't my best. I'm getting nearer to being comfortable with where things are - and I still can't say I'm perfect - but its my best at a higher level I guess, and I'm okay with that going out the door. Finally.

If that makes any sense.

(oh and I have the website, and the blog - but I don't sell anything yet. but I'm close...)

~Janice

Janice,
It's been my observation that perfection is an illusion created by people that don't have either enough information or lack sufficient magnification. When I was taught to throw a cylinder on a potters wheel my mind grasped the concept easily, Before I could get to do the things that I wanted I had to throw six cylinders at least six inches tall.. The six were all sliced to see if my hands had learned how to do cylinders.. Took about fifty tries to get six . The passing six were the last six in a row..All of us students were sure that this instructor had some weird concept of perfection set up for us..But it was his clay so his rules..The surprise and understanding came when he did a demo of cylinder throwing about three weeks into the class. About half of us had completed our cylinder requirement..
He had prepared a dozen balls of clay and one monster ball..
Without saying a word he sat at his potters wheel. Everyone gathered around.. He smiled as he put on a blindfold. I watched him throw 12 all matching..only removing the blindfold to cut the piece off the wheel and transfer it to a board..Blindfolded again he took the monster ball and threw a twenty inch cylinder..We were all silent as he sliced all of them so we could see the wall thickness..Some silly freshman asked why his were so nice "perfect even" and hers weren't...His only words to this demo were "Because I'm a potter." with that he put his pipe in his mouth and went back to his office smiling. Some of us got it..You have. Brad