Mr. Keeling,
I have done something I absolutely never do. I just printed your
post, placed the copy in a file folder, and promised myself I would
pull it out at least once a year and re-read the wisdom and insight
you displayed.
Thank you, and Mr. Huffman as well.
Jon Michael Fuja
This creative thing that we expel into the universe is really about stroking our egos.(What a beautiful creation you have wrought!) It is the AHHH that people have pushed out of their larynx when viewing the Sistine Chapel. Even though Mic is dead, he was, deep down inside, while laying on that scaffold painting his brains out, going for the stroke. To his fortune his stroke came from the pope who included enough for himself, his wife, his many children and his entourage.
OMG, is that all it’s about? A part of me truly knows this is part
of it. BUT… I know, that for myself, I LOVE the process. If I
didn’t need to make a living, I would still be making things
[jewelry, or sweaters, or clothing or music or laying tile,
whatever!] just b/c of the way it feels to have the materials in my
hands. I feel a sense of purpose when I’m creating something. Of
course, I do love that compliment too… 
~Alysia
Who is far too talky today
Coming in late to this discussion - and trying to figure out what
the original quesiton was … Can’t we, and don’t we sometimes have
several different titles? I mean, can’t a “jewelry designer” [someone
who maybe designs pieces for mass production - whether it be in their
own studio or sourced out] also be a “jewelry artist”… creating a
few original pieces for galleries on occaision - and also, a
"jeweler" - someone who might do one or the other or both, but also
might offer custom services and/or repairs? I have never liked labels
… and yet, I struggle with trying to find the right “one” for me. I
think I’ve come to realize that I have many hats and no on can ‘pin
me down,’ LOL. I guess, since I was a kid, I’ve never understood why
we can’t do it all - of course, not all at the same time though -
which is such a bummer. 
~alysia in So. CA
the AHHH that people have pushed out of their larynx when viewing the Sistine Chapel. Even though Mic is dead, he was, deep down inside, while laying on that scaffold painting his brains out, going for the stroke. To his fortune his stroke came from the pope who included enough for himself, his wife, his many children and his entourage.
Actually, Michelangelo hated painting the Sistine Chapel, according
to a biography. Did it for the money; couldn’t get out of it.
Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
Hello again,
Just can’t refrain from jumping in!
I have been making jewelry as a pastime/hobby since the 60’s. I was
an Art major in college, and through an aquaintance got a summer job
working in the lab of a dentist that had been a crown and bridge
technician before and while in dental school. Well, I never finished
my degree, but the ‘artist’ in me led me to explore the world of
making jewelry for a ‘hobby’. Much of what I learned in the lab
helped me in the jewelry making, and visa versa, what I learned in
the jewelry making world was a help to me in the lab.
I am semi retired, still make jewelry as a hobby that pays its way.
I design, and fabricate or cast, and still get a ‘high’ when I can
pull off a new technique, or resurrect a mistake and complete a
difficult task! In doing this I have learned a lot about what will
work and what is just a good fig newton of my imagination! Anyone
that wants to be called a professional in any field should be
continually learning as much as they can about it even if it does
not connect directly with their everyday ‘hands on’ work.
I really love what I do, and consider life is an adventure, but not
a dress rehearsal. I was fortunate to find, and still have, a
mentor. I would never put myself on a plane with many of the
talented members of this wonderful list.
I guess what I want to say is that I have never stopped getting
enjoyment from learning, I am still learning, and realize that I
will never be able to learn as much as I would like. I would never
tell someone I was capable of doing a job I knew full well I could
not complete by myself. But… I will take on a job with their
knowledge that for certain aspects, primarily stone setting, I would
seek the expertise and help of my mentor and give credit where
credit is due. I heard this a long time ago: The definition of an
’expert’…an ex is a has been and a spert is a drip under
pressure. Thank you all for being here.
Gail
So I’m not overly enthused over (or impressed by) titles in this
field, either.
What titles? In my first job I was a "stone picker." Really.
This is off-topic, but, when it comes to titles, my second-oldest
daughter may take a prize… she’s a field biologist, and at one
point between years of college, she worked as a “creek monkey”. It
required a pail, a net, and hip-waders.
–Noel
DESIGNER OR ARTIST YOU PICK
most do not understand the differnce between a DESIGNER and an
ARTIST. most call them selves a designer but they really are an
artist. so what is the difference.
#1 a designer is someone that works with a client and makes it his
or her job to understand and listen to what the person would like to
see on their finger. (they try to mind read) (creates a concept)
#2 an artist creates a piece with no indended person in mind for
the final product. (creates a piece)
if you read the definition in the dictionary it basicly breaks it
down that way.
so in short most people are really artists either working as and
artist or they are an artist impersonating a designer!
so pick your career, jewelry designer, jewelry artist, or a
designing jeweler.
ah a new one a designing jeweler i believe is a trained designer that
works with retail or wholesale clients, and designs pieces based on
the clients “individual needs” then that same person has the
technical skills to analytically constructs the models for the final
piece, based on their precise mm drawings. these people are
jewelers, wax carvers, stone setters, etc.
also designers call the people they work with their "Clients"
artist call the people the work with their “Customers”
dont everyone go out and change their business cards to quick.
thoughts by Matthew
OK…I think Matthew hit upon something here. Some people who fancy
themselves designers will draw up a sketch for a client without
having the faintest idea as to whether it will or will not translate
into metal. The jeweller or the caster is stuck with trying to keep
as close to the original idea without ending up altering the basic
design. The same thing goes for customers who present their own
original designs for a commission piece and can’t understand why it
might be impossible to fabricate as presented. There’s more to
designing a piece than just making a sketch. There’s a heck of a lot
of engineering involved. The biggest problem is how to satisfy
everybody without ruffling too many feathers or bruising a lot of
overstuffed egos.
Dee
jewelry designer - 326,000 hits Anybody out there seeing this or am I just having a bad day?
This is my first attempt to post. The subject is awesome as well as
all the replies. Makes a person stop to think with the saturation
of want to be jewelry designers out there does it dilute the
progress of the truly talented designers?
In my corner of the world everybody wants to be a designer. I once
read that a true designer can create what he or she designs. That
statement makes me reflect on exactly how many designers I actually
know and or have worked for. To me there is a big difference
between placing a pencil to paper and placing a file to metal.
Seems to me there many stages to the process of making a piece of
jewelry. Creating the drawing, carving the wax, casting the item,
finishing the metal, setting the stone, polishing the piece, boxing
the finished jewelry, and shipping. Most competent people can learn
most if not all of the above mentioned. Individually these tasks
are just jobs. However collectively they become the craft. The art
of making jewelry.
There is a BIG difference between knowing the job and knowing the
craft. I try to distinguish between those who know a job and those
who know the craft.
Good Day!
just lucky to carve wax
michael goin
Seems to me there many stages to the process of making a piece of jewelry. Creating the drawing, carving the wax, casting the item, finishing the metal, setting the stone, polishing the piece, boxing the finished jewelry, and shipping. Most competent people can learn most if not all of the above mentioned. Individually these tasks are just jobs. However collectively they become the craft. The art of making jewelry
To this list I would include the art of merchandising, bookkeeping,
self promotion, customer education, accounting and advertising, in
other words business. I think business people can make it in the
jewelry biz what ever they call themselves ( designer, craftsperson,
artist, WHATEVER) because they know business and don’t get all
caught up in the ego that comes with the art side of things. Artists,
and I use that term to include all the above mentioned labels for
simplicity sake, have a harder time making it in the biz because ( I
will use myself as an example)I make my art jewelry for myself and
then get pissed when nobody who is in a positon to buy it “gets it”.
I used to be amazed that clients or customers (again WHATEVER) could
see what an amazing artist I was…LOL. Could’nt they see what
amazing stones I used? how I mounted them? why couldn’t they see my
vision??? I feel I’m too close to the problem, the problem of selling
my art work to make a living. I don’t feel it is that my work is not
saleable or over priced. I feel it is becasue I 1) don’t know my
product, 2) don’t know my market 3) don’t know how to effectively
reach my market and 4) when I do have success I don’t know how to
handle my money. I have been learing about these specific problems
over the past few years, gotten advisors and read books. I feel I’m
on the right track and have to let it happen in it’s own time. I am
fortunate enough to limp financially through these years by selling
my work. I feel I’m in charge of the fishing, not the catching.
Humor and spirituality and work are the ways I deal with the times I
am down about my situation.
Sam Patania, Tucson
www.patanias.com