Why Participate in an Artistic Challenge?

This question was posed to participants of the Ring of the Week challenge:

Rings

“What are your reasons for participating in Ring of the Week (RAW) 2011?”

Here are mine:

• Finding Inspiration

  Having a deadline to produce a new item every week, although it may seem a chore, is highly inspirational and these items often become prototypes for new product lines, or larger pieces.  Having to come up with something entirely different every week really gets the creative energy flowing.  Being involved in a group that is mainly fine metal artists and jewelers, I knew that there was inspiration to be found outside of my flameworking glass community.  I noticed early on in this challenge that I was seeing possibilities for rings everywhere and was finding circles, squares, and other geometric shapes that could become a “ring” of sorts.  Some of my rings have seemed to just appear on their own.If you are in a creative slump, I highly recommend getting involved in some sort of challenge.  There are many out there and you will find one that is right for you or specific to your medium.

• Exploring New Techniques

  One of the things I have wanted to work on was complex cane which would was used for the bands in my first rings and one of them became my first ring of the week.

• Expanding Product Lines

  Periodically I have gotten requests for rings and I have never had any.  This challenge has been a great opportunity to expand my product line into new areas.  My experience with rings has been limited and this has been a great opportunity to work on these small sculptures.

Check out more answers to this question from this great group of artists:

Marcie Abney – labellajoya.blogspot.com
Joanne Harrill – www.jojobell.com
Thomasin Durgin – www.metalriot.blogspot.com
Amy Nicole – www.rubymtnbeads.blogspot.com
Janice – www.doxallodesigns.blogspot.com
Aleksandra Micic – www.micicart.blogspot.com
Lana Chu – www.ginkgoglass.wordpress.com
Evelyn Markasky – www.markasky.blogspot.com
Kerry Alice-Twigs and Heather – www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Lorena Angulo- blog.lorenaangulo.com/
Kate Jones– www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
Maria Apostolou- www.createjewelry.gr/blog
Sarah Small – www.bysalla.blogspot.com
Rebecca Bogan – www.Adobesol.com/blog
Elaine Luther – www.CreativeTextureTools.com/news
Rebekah Timlin Meddles – www.lunasadesigns.blogspot.com
Laura M (Zoeowyn)- zoeowyn.blogspot.com/
Kimberly (bahamadawn) – www.bahamadawn.blogspot.com
Erin Austin – www.metalmusing.blogspot.com
Catherine Witherell – www.happydayart.typepad.com
Michele Grady- www.michelegradydesigns.blogspot.com
Joan Furilla – jfurilla.wordpress.com/
Kathryn Cole- www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com

~ by ginkgoglass on February 21, 2011.