BEHIND EVERY ARTIST.....

BEHIND EVERY ARTIST THERE USUALLY IS SOMEONE THAT GIVES THEM SUPPORT SO THAT HE/SHE CAN DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN MY LIFE WHO DO THAT FOR ME SO I CAN FOCUS ON KEEPING ARGENTUM GROWING. ALTHOUGH I HAVE KEPT THEM IN THE BACKGROUND, MY PARENTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS ENDEAVOR. THEY HAVE BEEN UNCONDITIONAL AND STEADFAST IN THEIR SUPPORT OF MY DREAM.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOM AND DAD. I LOVE YOU.

ON A ANOTHER NOTE, I HAVE TWO OFFICIAL METALSMITHING STUDENTS! CLASSES ARE 25/HOUR FOR A TOTAL OF 10 ONE TO TWO HOUR CLASSES. CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED ON AN IDIVIDUAL BASIS AT MY SHOP. THE STUDENT OBTAINS ONE ON ONE INSTRUCTION ON THE BASICS OF METALSMITHING, SUCH AS LAYING OUT A DESIGN, SAWING, FILING, PIERCING, SOLDERING. LEARN A NEW SKILL THIS WINTER!!!!!

ARGENTUM TO OFFER INDIVIDUAL CLASSES

STARTING FEB 1, 2008, I WILL BE OFFERING A BASIC METALSMITHING CLASS TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT STYLES OF LEARNING METHODS. ONE IS FOR YOU TO BRING IN A DESIGN AND I SHOW YOU HOW TO EXECUTE IT AND THEREBY TEACHING YOU MOST OF THE BASIC SKILLS OF METALSMITHING. THE OTHER METHOD IS BASED ON LEARNING MOST OF THE BASIC SKILLS OF METALSMITHING THROUGH PRACTICING EACH SKILL, AND YOU MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY COME OUT WITH A TANGIBLE END PRODUCT. I WILL POST MORE ABOUT FEES AND SCHEDULES IN MY NEXT BLOG.

ANOTHER NOTE. LAST WEEK A RETURNING CUSTOMER CAME IN AND ASKED IF I CARRIED A PARTICULAR ITEM. I SAID I DID NOT AND REFERRED HER TO SEVERAL OTHER MERCHANTS ON MAIN ST. HER REPLY WAS: "THANKS BUT I WANTED TO BUY IT HERE, SO I WANTED TO CHECK HERE FIRST". I TRULY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND KINDNESS OF ALL MY CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU, LISA! CUSTOMERS LIKE YOU GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO KEEP CREATING.

ARTIST APPRECIATION

Occasionally I think it is important to acknowledge how lucky we are in this little state, in this little town called Wakefield, to have such an abundance of talented artists. In quiet moments, I look around the shop in awe of the art that surrounds me. Today, one of the artists brought in a lamp he made from stained glass. He also is a wonderful painter and sculptor, and constantly blows my mind with the variety of his talent. When he brought the lamp in today, I said, "Where did you get the lamp?" and he quickly responded "I made it, where do you think i got this lamp?" To which we both laughed and I thought "Stupid me, of course he made it". "And I made the little finial on top, too". The finial is made out of copper tubing and twisted wire with a hollow copper ball at the top. It is so very funky.

I love this job. I get to meet the most wonderful, creative, interesting and talented people. I have to pinch myself sometimes to remember that they have chosen to show their artwork at MY shop. And I do so appreciate it.