Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
Usually, this is where I welcome you to my studio – but today, I’m welcoming you to the studio of Cindy Gimbrone and Mary Harding.
Here’s my studio….
Here’s Mary’s….
Now, I’m sure you’re asking, why is Mary on the tour today? Well, Dear Readers, Mary and I are collaborating.
and again you ask why?
We are the ABS monthly challenge sponsors for December. I wanted to “kick it up a notch” for our readers by collaborating with another art beadmaker-sponsor to create new beads based on the art for December. So I contacted Mary, asked if she wanted to collaborate and she was in! YAY! We’re now collaborating to develop coordinated beads for the December challenge winner.
Today is a peek into our studios as we create the December sponsor beads.
I’ve done several jewelry making collaborations where we made art beads especially for the jewelry and a discussion about color always comes first. It’s the first thing a beadmaker thinks about when making new beads. So our initial discussion focused on color and our own experience with the art. Each of us has a very interesting story about the painting and the artist that I’ll save for another day. And no, I can’t tell you which painting it is! Getting back to the topic, we’re working with a very deep color palette. From our conversations, I developed color palettes and saved them using my ColourLovers.com account. I sent the palettes to Mary and then we tweeked the colors a bit.
We’re in our studios now experimenting with color and forms.
Today’s question is, have you collaborated with anyone to create a piece of art? Tell me about your collaboration and be entered to win one of the new beads I’m making for December. (Shhh I can’t show it here because that will give it away!)
I look forward to reading about your collaborations!
Alice
October 24, 2009 at 12:55 pmCongratulations Brenda on winning Lynn's bead!
I've never collaborated on a jewelry project, but I'd love to in the future! It would be a great way to connect with other artists.
I love lampwork beads, and especially like to watch the process. At one time I wanted to learn the art, but the thought of working with flame, and the time and money involved in set up just won't work for me.
Thanks for showing your studios! I can't wait to see what the secret bead is.
Cindy Gimbrone
October 24, 2009 at 1:49 pmHi Alice,
Thank you! Lampworking is expensive – my checkbook and I can attest to that! LOL!
Collaborating is a great way to explore new ideas and stretch yourself. This collaborating with Mary is great fun!
Collaboratively yours 😉
Cindy
EmandaJ
October 24, 2009 at 3:54 pmHi Cindy,
I am actually in the midst of a collaboration with 5 other artists. Lorelei Eurto set up a Round Robin necklace swap (actually, she set up 2, I'm in the first) and each of the designers added something to all the necklaces before sending them on (check out the progress so far on my blog).
Anyway, this is not the first time I've collaborated, I'm also a quilter and I have done swaps and round robins in that medium too. It is always so much fun seeing the finished products and saying to yourself, "I did that bit, and that, and that."
Thanks for a great post — I am really curious about the secret beads!
Emanda
http://www.ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Patty
October 24, 2009 at 4:20 pmHi Cindy!
I am a lampworker and have been collaborating with other artists for a couple of years now. Two of my prior collaborations were with other jewelry artists, and one was with a bead weaver. The latest was a submission to the ISGB & Bead & Button exhibit, "Convergence", where Cyndie Smith and I made a carnivorous plant neckpiece.
I find that working with others stimulates my creativity in ways that I probably could not achieve on my own. It's fun to see how your partner sees things differently than you, and helps you to think outside your comfort zone. Ultimately, it helps me grow as an artist and I cherish this aspect. I hope to work with many different types of artists through the years.
Thanks for sharing a peek into your studios!
WondrousStrange
October 24, 2009 at 5:09 pmI sometimes will have a fellow potter throw a larger vessel for me to decorate. Fairly easy collaboration…I love working in clay but do not like the process of throwing on a potters wheel. But sometimes I just have an artistic need to decorate something larger than jewelry pieces.
Think I would like to learn lampwork…but too afraid of the open flame! You guys have to have such a concentration level to be save and do such beautiful work!
Gail W.
October 24, 2009 at 6:15 pmHi Cindy!I enjoyed looking at the studios and comparing them with mine.Mine is the kitchen table down to the floor and ending in the den.
No,I've never collaborated making anything with anyone,as far as jewelry goes.I think that would be a great thing to do.My daughter and I made a large stain glass window together,does that count?
Cindy Gimbrone
October 24, 2009 at 8:40 pmHi Emanda,
Sounds like collaboration is a regular part of your creative process. Awesome!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
October 24, 2009 at 8:42 pmHi Patty!
Oh yes, your name is very familiar to me from the glass world 🙂 Thanks for taking time to write such thoughtful comments. Glad to hear others find collaboration to be such a positive influence on the creative life.
Enjoy!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
October 24, 2009 at 8:47 pmHello WonderousStrange (I know that's not your name but what a great one it would be, huh? 😉
A collaboration can take different forms, yours is to take a piece from another clay artist and add your own to it. May not seem like much but it still feeds your creative soul and that's a very big thing.
Thanks for the kind words about lampworking. Don't be afraid of the flame – try it!
Artfully yours (grin),
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
October 24, 2009 at 8:49 pmHi Gail,
Nice to see you here today! Yes, working on a stained glass window with your daughter is definitely a collaboration!
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
The Joy of Nesting
October 25, 2009 at 1:13 amHi Cindy,
I find it extremely hard now to collaborate because of the lack of postal service in Mexico. 🙁 I did work on a Christmas book last year which was so much fun. Well except for figuring out how to get the book down here and then back to the States. Oh but I would do it again in a nanosecond!!!
Pattie 😉
Mazatlan Mx.
TesoriTrovati
October 25, 2009 at 2:11 amGreat question! I LIVE to collaborate with others. I can think of no better way to spend my creative time.
I had the good fortune of being invited to play with Heather Powers, Lorelei Eurto, Erin Siegel and Christine Damm for the "Sisterhood of the traveling bracelets". It was WAY too much fun! And it really fueled my NEED to do more of that!
I am currently working on a Thanksgiving earring exchange organized by Leslie of Bei Mondi and I am also in a Charmsters swap with a theme "Words, Words, Words".
I am always seeking new ways to collaborate because there is such an intense level of creativity and a desire to challenge yourself to rise to the next level.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Brenda
October 25, 2009 at 3:09 amI am so excited to be the winner of one of Lynn's text charms! Thank you so much!
Hugs,
Brenda
Kate
October 25, 2009 at 4:49 amCollaboration, such a friendly word, if only the whole world would work together as artists do, how much different and wonderful that would be?
I, like Emanda have collaborated in the textile field and it's always great. It takes a lot to surprise me but collaborations have that mysterious quality that can't be pre-guessed as you never know what they might see and feel will look right to add.
As far as jewelry, I was in a bead swap so there were collaborations in the finished pieces and each one a delightful surprise.
I guess you could call the finished project the baby as you get 'artistic DNA' from each artist and the end result is the child of that union.
I would love to participate in one like Emanda mentioned, she has been trying to convince me to start one after the business of the holidays is past, I am still mulling that one over. 🙂
Nice peek at your studio, love all those colored rods, and have always been facinated with colored glass. don't ask me how much money I have in Stained glass supplies in my basement studio! My grandfather worked for Wheaton Glass if you are familiar with that or maybe You've heard of Wheaton village. I've also been to Corning and the museum there.
I know you didn't ask but I think a cool collaboration would be crossing time. In that I mean to acquire some ancient Roman glass pieces and add your own touch to them. I think that would be a very interesting collaboration of craftsmen (women), one known and one unknown. Something potters could do as well I think with pottery shards. (sorry this comment got so long! ) 🙂
maryharding
October 25, 2009 at 8:51 amHi Cindy,
I am certainly enjoying this collaboration project. Great post and wonderful comments from your readers. Thanks so much for doing this.
Susan Z
October 25, 2009 at 10:47 amIt sound like fun–working on one project with more than more person-collaboration. The only time I've done that is in charm swaps–then I take the charms and make lovely necklaces and bracelets. I would love to make glass beads–but I have enough crafts on my plate (paper, jewelry, stained glass and now trying to do polymer clay). I'll just enjoy all of your beads!
bellajoya
October 25, 2009 at 1:12 pmIt's strange that you mention collaborations, I'm in the midst of one right now with an extremely talented ceramic artist. She has sent me some beautiful cabochons and asked me to "get creative" with them. I'm lovin' it and definitely look forward to more collaborations in the future.
sandi
October 25, 2009 at 5:48 pmNo, I haven't – yes, I would luv to be part of a collaboration.
There's also a great story in the current issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry about collaboration by Ruth Rae and Kelly Snelling, along with photos of beau pieces.
sandi
quiltingjewel39
October 26, 2009 at 2:20 pmIt was interesting to see your studios – thank you for sharing. I haven't collaborated while making jewelry but have several times making quilts – it was a fun and interesting experience.
Cyndi L
November 6, 2009 at 3:39 pmI've been involved in many many collaborations, and the most important thing, I think, is for everyone involved to have a sense of humor, because nothing *ever* works out exactly the way you plan it! But it always works out the way it's meant to 🙂