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.
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| 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.
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!
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