Finding Inspiration

As an artist there is one question that I get asked a lot. "Where do you get your inspiration?" One would think that would be such an easy question to answer, however, it's one I struggle with each and every time I'm asked.

My inspiration comes from all over the place, from nowhere, from nature, from architectural designs and curves, sometimes even just from something someone said.

Sometimes the inspiration is quick and instantaneous, like a light bulb getting turned on in my head. Other times it takes time to cultivate in my imagination. And sometimes I have to force the inspiration by getting online and pouring over hundreds of pictures of all kinds of things.

It's something that it always there, though. Even now, as I finish up a piece, my mind is already working itself around my latest inspiration - a contest on a jewelry community forum that I'm involved with http://cageycrafters.invisionzone.com/ (which, by the way, is a fantastic collaboration of like-minded individuals.). The contest is to make a piece with a butterfly incorporated into it, using one of the color palettes found here - http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/06/01/colorful-beauty-in-nature-butterflies/. These are all colors palettes of real butterflies! How fun!! So my mind is racing with inspiration at the moment.

So you see, a question that is seemingly such a simple one, is one of the most difficult for me to answer.

The beginning

Everything must have a beginning... There are so many people that ask me when I'm going to start a blog. "Oh, sometime." I've always responded. Well, with the new year came new goals for me. Not resolutions persay, just things I aspire to acheive in the coming year. This blog is one of them.

As any of you that know me well already know, making jewelry is a very important part of my life. Instead of just being a hobby or even just a job, I am discovering that my relationship with the art of jewelry making is a journey. It's a journey in which I hope will take me in a particular direction, but as every journey does, this one has many twists and turns along the way, many of which are dictated by my muse. As an artist, I follow her along willingly, and every time we turn the corner, I am more than delighted with what she has to show me. I do believe this will be a life long journey for me, as I never want to stop learning, and trying new things, and following my muse wherever she feels I need to be led.

I've decided that this year, I would like to invite you to enjoy a bit of my travels in this wonderful journey, if you would like...