by MJ Brown

Created on: April 26, 2008

Is Jewelry Making An Art Or a Craft?

This particular debate is likely to never be settled since beauty is purportedly in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps another category such as "artistic craftsman" could add more fodder for the discussion. I personally lean more toward the artist side. A local portrait and abstract artist called me an artist when she decided to sell my jewelry in her art gallery. Heretofore, I had thought of myself as a jewelry designer but was told that designing, in and of itself, is an art. If one creates art, it follows that one would be deemed an artist.

There are multiple layers and levels to the debate. Is art defined by strict though unwritten codes and rules? Should it be defined by the number of jewelry sales and its reputation for quality? Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, should the label of art or craft be decided by the admirer or the maker? It has been my experience that artists who went outside the lines, ignored the rules, going wherever their creativity took them are the ones who remained memorable across time. Thus should longevity be considered as a determinant?

Perhaps I am an artist after all. I am driven to design, name and describe my jewelry, and not just to have fun or make money. There are times that the right piece of plastic or polymer will compliment a semi-precious stone in such a unique way that it sells immediately, obviously going against any unwritten codes or rules. In addition to letting my creativity take the lead, color, texture, weight, pattern, and overall appeal are also considered. A craftsman is defined as a skilled worker; an artisan is defined as a skilled craftsman; art is defined as human creativity, skill, any branch of creative work or its application, any craft or its principles and any branch of creative work. Surely artisans, craftsmen and artists alike employ all of the above and go through a similar process when designing.

At the end of the day, perhaps the designer subjectively decides the label by which one is called. I consider myself and those who utilize creativity, skill and vision as artists.

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