Friday, November 14, 2008

The bench


This is where I work, play, and live. Notice my furry friend Marcus. He just loves to help...

Anyway, thought i would post the actual spot where i do things. Wish i had more tools, but on the other hand, minimalist tools really help out design wise. I have more freedom to explore the design issue versus the process. I love process driven concepts, but i get bogged down in the business of how i am making "it" instead of the what i am making.

When i get a new tool, I have to do it on my off season in order to have the time to play around and see what it is capable of. It takes me weeks of experimentation. My brain goes into overdrive and i don't sleep well--the gerbils are busy in there.... It takes me quite a while to incorporate new concepts into the stash of tricks to pull on when drawing up the new designs. I need to have the process of using the tool down well enough that i don't have to concentrate on how to use the darn thing so I can work on whatever is at hand to make. I hate being caught in the middle of making something and have to say, now HOW do i get there. For some this is why they make with their hand in the first place. The urge to solve the puzzle is paramount. I make things because i want the object itself and happen to enjoy the process of solving the puzzle as a bi-product of getting my sparkly pretty thing. So here is my question to go with the post:


Are you process driven or object driven?

5 comments:

Pal Gooz said...

Good question. I think I am mostly process driven. But at the same time, I have a look that I want to achieve, but definitely, it is the excitement over the question: How do I get there. I guess that is why I make mostly one of a kind.

metaldreamer said...

Interesting. Thanks for commenting and responding to my quirky questions. Seems we come at the art of jewelry making from opposite poles, isn't that cool. I love the backstory of objects as well as their own intrinsic beauty. have a great day-denise

Cristina Hurley Jewelry Design said...

For me it has become both, after doing it for so much time. I always think of a design in my head, know exactly how I want it to look, and most of the time work backwards in my head figuring out the techniques I will need to use to get to the finished product.
But process also affects my designs. For example, I don't design anything with pave ever, because I don't know how to do it. some day I may want to, then the process becomes the drive.
Does that make sense?

metaldreamer said...

Sure does Cristina. All that head time...does that happen at the bench or when you are elsewhere. Mine seems to be when I'm driving, or weirdly enough when i'm cooking supper for my family, but the best is STILL with my cuppa in front of this computer.

I have got to get a life and return to real world...I've been on flickr surfing way too long. See ya gals later--denise

Cristina Hurley Jewelry Design said...

It happens everywhere, all the time... But MOSTLY, and don't laugh, or do if you want to :) when I'm on the treadmill. I have one here, and I call my home my hamster cage, because it IS my world. I work, sleep eat play love and yes, run in my tiny little condo....