April Member Interview: Jean R. Skipper

Jean R. Skipper

Jean Skipper Originals

Website: www.jeanskipper.com

Online Stores: www.jeanskipper.artfire.com or www.jeanskipper.etsy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JeanSkipperOriginals
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jeanskipper
Blog: http://www.jeanskipperoriginals.blogspot.com/

Inspiration from a recent afternoon on a farm

1.  What inspires you to create?    

Inspiration surrounds me on a daily basis.  Buildings, machinery, natural elements, industrial implements, and found objects are all fodder for my imagination.  Each piece of jewelry that I craft has a story of its own.  Time spent with family, friends, and customers drives me artistically, and solitary moments are also a necessary part of the process.  They allow all of the creative stimulation to transition into workable concepts for my jewelry design.    

2.  When did you decide to pursue art or did art pursue you?  In my childhood, Art and I enjoyed a mutual attraction.  Creating was easy, and I always seemed to have time for it.

As a young adult, Art pursued me as I was diligently establishing myself as a professional in the financial services industry.  When I would slow down enough to be aware of it, Art was ready and waiting in periphery of my mind.  It eased its way into my life slowly and steadily.  First there was a watercolor class that led to the awareness that photographing the subjects of my paintings was infinitely more interesting to me than actually painting them.  This was followed by membership in a local photo club, a series of awards, and eventually my first solo show on Ocracoke Island, NC.  This show ushered in my first sale, my first gallery representation, and the publication of one of my photos on the front page of The Ocracoke Island Observer.  Each of these milestones increased my confidence and established the fact that I was really ready for a committed relationship with Art.

In midlife, I’m pursuing Art with a passion, and it’s an integral part of every day of my life.  I’m a full time working artist, and I’ve never been happier. 

Memorial Bracelet

3.  If you weren't an artist, what would you be? 

If I weren’t an artist, I’d be a gallery owner.  I owned Artist Alley in Southern Pines, NC for five years, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I adored my customers, my artists, and the thrill of being surrounded by amazing artwork.  My decision to leave the gallery behind was one of the most challenging of my life. 

4.  What other jobs have you had which have aided you on your artistic path? 
I established my first business when I was eight years old.  During the winters in Pittsburgh, PA, I would shovel a sidewalk for $ .50 or a driveway for $ 3.00, and I had the self-produced business cards to prove it! 

Since then I’ve worked as a waitress, a retail salesperson in a fine jewelry store, a laborer in a dry cleaning facility, a waitress, a telemarketer, a Mary Kay Lady, and did I mention a waitress?!?!  I often worked two or three jobs at a time before beginning my career as a banker.  In banking I worked as a teller, a customer service representative, a marketing officer, and eventually a cash management officer.   The skills that I developed throughout my years in these positions are still aiding me in my artistic life today.

5.  At the art supply store, which section do you gravitate to first? 
The last time I was at Jerry’s Artarama I went straight for the journals.  I have a thing for buying and starting journals.  Finishing them is a completely different story!  I also love to search for unexpected finds in the aisles; tools and supplies that can be used in my jewelry in surprising ways always fit the bill.  During my last visit, copper mesh and Prismacolor Pencils snuck their way into my shopping cart.  Watch for them in my work in the near future.

Jury Image Collection Necklace

6.  What new technique or art form would you like to learn?
I adore a good class; but my longing to fully explore all that I’ve already learned trumps my desire to enroll in any new ones at the moment.  I’d really love to have the opportunity to participate in a solo retreat or an artist-in-residence program.  The notion of dedicating several months to the development of my craft thrills me to no end.   

7.  If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?  If I could do anything… I’d create art for the sheer joy of it without consideration of the financial consequences of my actions.  I’d give most of my creations to those who love them or to organizations that could benefit financially from them.  And I’d also start an arts incubator program to give a hand up to those who are just beginning their artistic journeys.  


Believe Necklace from the Baker's Dozen Collection

Thanks for the interview, Jean, and we'll be on the lookout for your newest creations with those sneaky pencils and mesh!

January Member Interview

"Brown, Red & Green"
mirrored pendant

Jennifer Partridge
www.jenniferartundone.blogspot.com
www.lookingglasslane.etsy.com
www.bondedllama.com/wordpress/tenants/jennifer-partridge/

What inspires you to create?
My first response is to say everything because my work is an exploration of life, its various stages, and the paradoxes and beauty that are inherent to it. Depending on my mood anything can spark my creative muse. Sometimes inspiration comes from a quietly withering rose and other times a boisterous belly-dancing hafla. And it seems the more I explore, the larger the breadth and depth of my inspirations become. This journey of discovery is also greatly aided by the other wonderfully creative souls I am meeting along my path. Their loves and passions have inspired me in ways that I found quite unexpected!

Photograph from theater performance of "Cntrl+Alt+Dlt"

Did art pursue you or did you pursue it?
Both. I grew up in a home full of crafts and music. From age five to fifteen I took dance
lessons and acted. When I went to college I tried to negate my love for the arts and pursue science but ended up frustrated. I left college with a media communications degree and wandered through several jobs, many of them in the arts, trying to find my niche. I realized during this time I really wanted to be a selling artist; however, it wasn't until very recently, through perseverance and divine intervention, I created art uniquely my own and also commercially viable.

"Wild Roses" hand made cards

If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
Sad. My creativity is a huge part of who I am and not honoring my artistic soul would leave me very unfulfilled. With that said I think that my artist can have many different outlets. Currently I'm enjoying creating a business to sell my art. I love talking to others
about art and teaching people about it so if opportunities arise to do that too I will!

Attendees at Bonded Llama open house working on
my first Re-arrangeable painting

What other jobs have you had that aided you on your artistic path?
Oh my goodness I don't even know where to start! Many of the jobs I have had validated how much I wanted to be an artist although sometimes it was because of how
miserable I was when not working in a creative environment. Let's see... in college I worked as an on-air d.j. and manager at WKNC. I was also chief promotions officer
for a local promotions agency and record label. Out of college I became a band's tour manager for a summer. Then I returned to NCCU to pursue an art education degree. While there I worked at the NCCU art museum as part of my work study and loved it. Learning about artists and art history is so exciting! After that I worked at a photolab; printing photographs, installing murals, mounting slides, laminating signs, and trimming prints. While working at the lab I learned all about photography and became a photographer. I worked with other photographers around Raleigh as an assistant and second shooter. I love to take photos although my favorite photo shoots are when people are having fun and mostly pretend I'm not there. I also enjoy going out on photo adventures just to see what I can find! While working on my photography business I waited tables...a lot. blah! Although I laugh because waiting tables seems like such an
artist stereotype :P Most recently I was the production manager for an independent

"Red, Green & Black" Tennis court
abstract series

artist. This was probably the most helpful in recognizing that I could go into business for myself selling my own art. It just took me awhile to discover what art I could make that was commercially feasible. Currently my biggest and most important job is being a mom. I have learned patience, compassion, selflessness, perseverance, and loyalty. All of these gifts I had touched upon through art but never grasped them the way I have through parenting. Now my art has far more meaning and depth.

At the art supply store which section do you gravitate to first?
Where I go usually depends on what I'm working on. Recently I've been spending a lot of time creating jewelry. My shopping cart has been full of adhesives, plastic gloves,
metal working tools, butane torches, wire, jump rings, and resin. Although I always enjoy just wandering around to see if anything new catches my eye ;)

Asian-inspired photographic
pendant

What new art techniques would you like to learn? Do you have plans to do so?
Right now I'm working on expanding my metal-smithing and acrylic painting skills. I have some experience with both but would like to achieve a higher degree of skill in these areas. My plans are to take another jewelry metal smith class through Pullen Art Center in March and a few painting workshops with Liz Miller in the spring.

If you could do anything, and knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?
Make the Arts a core part of schools' curriculum. It saddens me deeply that Arts are not valued (by some) within our schools. Arts teach self-expression, compassion,
tolerance, diversity, self-awareness, appreciation, critical thinking, and perhaps most
importantly creative problem solving and emotional intelligence. Arts reflect our culture,
our beliefs, our fears and our desires. It baffles me that some people do not see that
these attributes are just as important to society as science or math. If I could not fail
I would help the blind see that it has been creativity which has driven us forward. All
the math and science in the world won't solve problems, it is the people who seek new
ways to answer old questions that bring about change. It is my greatest hope that as
our technological engine plows forward people have the forethought, self-awareness, and
emotional intelligence to steer it in the right direction.

Thanks for your thoughtful answers, Jennifer...we're really looking forward to seeing your new work this year!

Happy New Year from CMMAG!

In this brand new year, we wish you good health, happiness, creativity and fun!

Watch this space for more artsy events, images, and the work of our members...

It's going to be a GREAT year!