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ARTELLAGRAM 3-28-09:
"In the Studio"
An Interview with Artist Kathy Davis
(This interview is continued from the March 28 2009 Artellagram...)
 One of the most important keys to success for a "Complete Idealist" is that she has true passion for what she does. Kathy Davis is the epitome of such passion. She obviously has a deep love for creating her beautiful jewelry and accessories in The Shoppes of Artella, and I hope you will enjoy this interview with Kathy!
Artella: How do you organize your materials? What are you best organizational tips?
Kathy: Organizational plan? You mean people use an organizational plan???
Actually, I bought one of those inexpensive plastic drawer shelf units that you can find in the hardware section of Wal-mart or K-mart. It looks like an industrial type drawer cupboard that men would put their nuts and bolts in. It's small enough to sit on a desk or table and is great for holding findings, wire, beads etc. My husband also attached a heavy duty magnetic strip to the side of my desk. It's strong enough to hold all my pliers and cutters. That's about it. I haven't really found the best organization style yet. My "mess" seems to grow in size as time goes by. I periodically (once a week or so), shovel it back into something resembling order and the spread starts all over again. It's like my purse. It's a disaster area to anyone else that sees it, but I know where everything is.
Artella: If you could apprentice with any artist (past or present) who would it be?
Kathy: Hmm... it's hard to choose. I would suppose that the first name on my list would be Leonardo DaVinci. Why? He was the ultimate think outside the box guy. He was an inventor, painter, sculptor, scientist, architect and engineer and I imagine I'm just scratching the surface. There was no medium of the time that he was not accomplished in. I know that he's probably most famous for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper but I particularly love his sketches and inventions. He was generations ahead of his time.
Artella: What is the weirdest art material you have ever used?
Kathy: My butt. OK. I was a lot younger and more daring than I am now. I got so sick of everyone trying to find a deep meaningful point with every piece of art they looked at. So I thought I would make a deep meaningful point and paint a canvas with acrylic paint using my butt cheeks to apply it. People actually liked it, but a few recommended that I use something else other than a paintbrush for my next painting. I didn't have the nerve to tell them I used my butt cheeks. By the way, no butt cheeks were used or harmed in the making of my jewelry.
Artella: Is it important to be in a good mood when you're creating?
Kathy: For me it is. Whenever I am in a bad mood and try to create I end up getting mad at everything I do and destroying it all. I suppose if I was more "adult" then I would say that you need to work through a bad mood and create anyway. Of course, then I would be lying. On the other hand, if I do get interested in something in spite of myself it puts me in a good mood. Go figure.
Artella: What do you do to overcome or get past artistic blocks?
Kathy: I sit and feel grumpy and sorry for myself for a while. Then I usually complain that I have no skill. After that I get mad and throw a hissy-fit. Once I've gotten it out of my system and put my big girl pants on again, then my brain can let the creativity flow once more. It's odd, but it seems to work.
Artella: What advice would you give to a total beginner who wants to try jewelry art? What kinds of classes, supplies, books, etc. do I need to get started?
Kathy: I had no money to afford classes so I went to the library and searched the internet and read everything I could find. The internet is full of free tutorials. Pick the easiest thing you can find that appeals to you. Try it. Successfully completing one project will embolden you to try something else. Believe me, and I know I've said this before (like a broken record) your creativity will build upon itself. Once you successfully create one thing, you can get the gumption to do more.
Artella: I never seem to find the TIME to make art. How do you find the time, and what tips can you offer for busy people to help them find time for creativity?
Kathy: Time? I've heard of that. It seems to be what everyone else has and I have so little of. The true problem is not finding the time, it's making the time. What you consider important you make the time to do. Understand that your art is a part of you and you must give yourself some priority. Constantly putting your needs at the bottom of the list just makes for a sad and grumpy person. You will find yourself more balanced, happier, and better able to deal with other demands on your time if you make the time to do something positive for yourself.
See Kathy's wonderful products in The Shoppes of Artella, here.
 Want more artist interviews from Artella?
Take a look at our eBooks Artist Profiles Assembled and Artist Profiles Assembled, Vol 2, and look at the "Ask the Artist" column every single day in The Artella Daily Muse, our daily online creativity newspaper.
Go back to reading this Artellagram
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