[TheForge] question for part-timers & hobbyists

Sat Mar 1 00:45:00 2003

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fiorini & Skiles" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 9:50 AM
Subject: [TheForge] question for part-timers & hobbyists

I'm enjoying reading the variety of responses.  My turn to answer now

> Back to the questions.
> What are your personal goals for blacksmithing?
technically- to master techniques specifically involving the manipulation of
sheet metal, like chasing & respouss�, but not limited to those two.
design wise- to be among the best at nature designs and someday at narrative
designs
>
> Are you more interested in technical skills, design skills, or equally
> devoted to both?

both, although my focus fluctuates with each project.

> Do you like to do projects or make up your own, or both?

I prefer to make up my own, but I occasionally will work on someone else's
design, if it suits my style and pays well.

> How much time per week, or month do you set aside for your blacksmithing?

Ideally, Bill and I have our childcare time split so that I get 20 hours a
week in the studio.  In reality, Bill's University job and those 2 kids
often throw a wrench into our plans.  If I get 12-15 hours I'm happy.
>
> How much time do you set aside for studying blacksmithing in other ways,
> through book research or your own sketching?

I try to do a minimum of 15 minutes a day sketching.  I'm not doing much
metal related reading right now.  Recently I have started writing about
metal and creativity at least 3 times a week, short essays or rambles.
>
> Do you set yourself certain goals in the shop?- for example, maybe in
June,
> you are going to work strictly on collars, or in August, you are going to
> work on perfecting scroll designs.

I set goals, but not according to rigid timelines.  Right now my studio goal
is to learn the repouss� acanthus leaf techniques.  My design (15 min
sketches) goal is to do gestural self portraits that I like, something along
the lines of Chagall style.  It's one small step into the world of narrative
designs.
>
> If you don't like to work with a goal system- then how do you decide what
to
> work on ?
I let the client give the assignment.
I love commissions.  Each one becomes a challenge.  How do I take this set
of parameters and come up with a design that is uniquely and recognizably
mine?

> What motivates you?

Sometimes ambition, sometimes fear of failure
Most times the pure desire to make something exquisitely detailed and
beautiful out of this material that seems so contradictory- hard yet soft &
incredibly plastic.  I love everything about the steel, its color, surface
quality, the way certain alloys move and so on...
>
> Do you have anything else to add that I didn't think about asking?
I haven't thought of anything else since I asked the questions, but I'm glad
that others have.
>  -Kirsten
> [email protected]
> http://hosting.acegroup.cc/~koka/
> http://www.mnartists.org/?loc_name=viewartistfeature&artistid=2713
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  [email protected]
> password:  anvil
> ___________
>
>