Yummy encaustic work from "Mind Your Own Beeswax" at Art and Soul VA Beach

I am excited to share these innovative and diverse pieces from last week's class at Art and Soul Retreat in VA Beach. This was a fun class full of enthusiastic and talented students!

 

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!