Pages

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Art and Soul Retreat Virginia Blog Hop: Presenting: Jen Crossley


 The instructors for Art and Soul Retreat in Virginia Beach are having a blog hop! It's a great way to get to know each other better and to share information and great photos with our readers!

Today I have the honor of visiting with Jen Crossley.

Jen is a generous and vibrant self-taught mixed media artist who has a passion for working with found objects, combining them in her work, to produce unique jewelry.
I'm a real fan of her work and of her online store, A Mark in Time. I was hooked as soon as I saw her homepage. Check out her blog, also called A Mark in Time.

Jen Gets an Idea




 I interviewed Jen about her work and classes. Here's her description of her classes at Art and Soul Virgina Beach, coming up March 1-6.

 In my workshops, we will unlock the secrets of found objects and journey through the world of mixed media to create unique and personal works of wearable art.

Tell me about your teaching experience:
I have been teaching for many years throughout Australia I have taught in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and also taught for a week at the Fibre Forum in Geelong, which was a great honor last year.
Last year I taught and took classes at Art and Soul Portland Oregon which was the highlight of my teaching career.
 I have been published in several US Magazines, which include Somerset Studio, and Belle Armoire Jewelry. I also have been published in several Australian magazines. The passion for what I do comes out in my workshops. They are usually packed full of laughs with beautiful projects finished at the end.



 
What aspect of teaching do you love the most?

I love the students seeing the light go off in their eyes when they learn something new. I love seeing what they create. Everyone’s creations is so different and unique to them.
The energy that follows in a class situation there is a vibe you get from one another, there is nothing like it. I know online workshops are all the go at the moment but nothing beats the interaction with students and a very special bond forms with each of them-- teacher to student and student to teacher.






 
Why do you choose to work in Metal/found objects? (fiber, mixed media, paint, etc.)
 I have always loved metal! I started off in paper but started adding metal, and found objects.
I wanted more, though. I love jewelry and wanted to combine more metal with metal or found objects. The passion grew and I'm a real metal head now. Don't get me wrong, I still love paper,but metal is my first love (sorry, to my hubby Mark.)

Have you always considered yourself an artist?
 No I have never considered myself as I artist.To me, an artist was supposed to be trained in Fine arts.
I consider myself as self-trained, a jack of all trades; master of none.
              
 If not, when did you realize that you are an artist?
I'm still coming to terms with this concept Me: an artist? Maybe?

Do you work in a planned or intuitive way?  How would you describe your approach?
I don’t have a plan or sketch of what I’m going to create it comes to me in different way sometimes, I see something and think I would love to make that in metal. I might see a found object and think, Wow, that would make a awesome project. Sometimes I might even be tidying my work area and throw a few things to the side and think, hmm, that would go with that other thing. I really don’t know how it works but 9 times out of 10 it does.

I'll say it does!  Thank  you for visiting my blog, Jen, and I look forward to seeing you in Virginia Beach soon!

7 comments:

Katie said...

What a great interview Serena! I am now in love with her found art jewelry and books! I'll have to look for her classes next year. So many classes to take... :0)

spindelmaker said...

I love to learn new techniques! So that would be my number one goal for a workshop. It´s also nice to make a product. So if the two can be combined, that´s perfect. I took Jen´s class at Art N Soul in portland last October, and her class filled both my criteria: I learned several new techniques, I walked away with a treasure of a necklace, and on top of that, she´s such a pleasure to be working with! Filled with humor :-)
Now I´m looking forward to discovering your blog! :-)

jEaN said...

Oh, Jen, you ARE an artist, for sure! So repeat after me, "Jen Crossley is an artist ... Jen Crossley is an artist ...!"
LOVE Jen's work!

Janet said...

I think Jen's jewelry is fab. I didn't get to take a class with her yet, but I know there was a lot of buzz about her classes last fall in Portland. The projects that people made were amazing.

Thanks also to Serena! I took a couple of classes with you last fall and had a blast. I'm loving the pictures that I bought from you - thanks!

lindacreates said...

This was a fabulous interview! Most definitely Jen is an artist extraordinaire! I have had the pleasure Of working with her and she truly is an artist. Yes I agree, say it Jen, over and over, I am an artist.

Unknown said...

I definitely believe Jen is an artist so much so I've signed up for 4 of her classes, great interview, now I can harly wait to get to class!

Terri said...

Wow! Jen is amazing. I loved reading about her. Her art is fascinating. I too love found objects and creating some thing totally new from items of age.
Thank you so much for sharing about her.
Hugs,
Terri