Read more about the article #43 Maria Tritico: Jewelry Artist and Art Therapist

#43 Maria Tritico: Jewelry Artist and Art Therapist

Jewelry artist Maria Tritico tells me how she developed her current style of jewelry, after making many very different pieces during her college years. She also talks about her year as a Resident Artist at an art gallery and school, and the application process and what is expected of a resident. In her current position, she is teaching jewelry techniques to adults and teens, and she’s also developing an art therapy program. She shows her jewelry in galleries locally and in other states.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Maria Tritico

Three works she made while in school. This first one is her Mirror Cape.
Hair Collar
Birds Brooch
Skyscraper Necklace
Moderne Necklace
Moonscraper Brooch
Cable Bridge Brooch
Aqueduct Bracelet
Cinderblock Necklace
Sketching out a design.
Making a paper model of a design.
Asymmetrical Hoop Earrings
Moonrise Over Missoula Brooch
Detail of Moonrise Over Missoula Brooch

Here are some of the things we discussed in this episode (click on the names to follow the links):

You can visit Maria’s website at mariatritico.com. 

She is also on Instagram and Facebook.

In November, 2018 in New York City, Maria exhibited her jewelry at Artist and Fleas Soho at the #fail#success exhibition during NYC Jewelry Week.

Maria teaches jewelry making at the Lighthouse Artcenter in Tequesta, Florida. 

She was previously a Resident Artist at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

You can find out about the Armory’s Artist in Residence program here.

She is a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode:

  1. Artist residencies enable you to create a body of work over a period of time. You can search online to find many types of residencies, from 1 week to a year long.
  2. Maria held a residency that required her to teach classes. When applying for an instructional residency, tell how you will add to the organization by teaching something new.
  3. Create an artist’s CV so that you’re ready with it when someone asks.
  4. Take great photos of your art, and have them available so that you can enter a show at the last moment.
  5. Find or make a light box to photograph your jewelry and minimize reflection.
  6. Jewelry will look beautiful photographed on either a white or black background, but remember that galleries often require your photos to be on a white background.
  7. Display jewelry with a bright background so it will really pop, like Maria did when she used a dark teal background.
  8. Also when displaying jewelry, ensure that it is secure and cannot be removed from its case. Figure out a way that it can be lifted just far enough so someone can try it on. Maria has used monofilament tied to the jewelry piece and held down by fishing weights.
  9. Find shows to apply to on Instagram by following the hashtag #callforentry. These are often free to apply rather than requiring a large fee.

I hope you enjoyed this episode about Maria Tritico and her beautiful jewelry.

Update: Maria Tritico tragically died in December, 2020. You can hear more about her in Episode 193.

Read more about the article #42 How to Hang and Display Your Art

#42 How to Hang and Display Your Art

Every artist should know how to hang and display their art because its not always done by a gallery staff. In this episode, I’ll go over three areas you’ll need to cover when hanging art for a show: #1 Preparing the artwork for display; #2 Arranging where the artwork will go and what it will need to be displayed; and #3 Doing the actual hanging and setting up the art.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Artwork from Continuum 2018 pop-up Gallery. Notice the two different ways that the jewelry is displayed.
Notice that the artwork is in line vertically and the second columns are in line horizontally.
In this image from the 2014 Continuum gallery, the sculpture has been put on the pedestal against the wall so that it can't be knocked into. The bird pictures by artist Anthony Burks, on the right, are treated like an installation and were arranged and hung by him.
Notice that the sides of the paintings are finished and they have the same visual line down the wall.
Read more about the article #41 Karla Walter: Ceramic Artist and Maker of Crows

#41 Karla Walter: Ceramic Artist and Maker of Crows

Karla Walter is a ceramic artist living in Florida. Her environment gave her the idea for what she wanted to make in clay: She decided she was going to make crows. But crows aren’t her only subject, and we talk about the other birds and animals and fish that she makes. We also talk about her art installations, which are so much more than a single bird, as they create a whole scene that tells a story in the gallery.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Karla Walter

McCrowV
Crow with a Pearl Earring
I'm So Fancy
Navigator in Black
Karla with her Caracara

Here are some of the things we discussed in this episode (click on the names to follow the links):

Karla Walter’s website.

You can also find her on Instagram and Facebook.

Karla is the Art Gallery Specialist for the Palm Beach State College art gallery.

Karla has shown her art at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

You can find Karla’s art on her website and at MAE Gallery in Delray Beach and  Armand Bolling Fine Art.

She has also displayed at the Whitespace Collection’s Out of the Box show.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode:

  1. Karla spoke of a couple of her professors when she was at art school. Art instructors can be an ongoing source of mentorship and collaboration.
  2. You need to find your why in everything you do. Seek it out until you know that you’ve truly found it.
  3. See if your town or county has an art and culture organization like the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. These organizations may have exhibit opportunities, and may provide business courses or training for artists.
  4. When displaying 3D artwork on pedestals, use museum gel or putty to keep it in place so that it doesn’t get damaged.
  5. Turn to other artists when trying to solve a problem with your own art, as Karla did when she approached an artist who had a foundry about making sturdy feet for her crows.
  6. One art piece can be displayed at a gallery, but many can be displayed as an art installation in a gallery, like Karla has done with the scenes she creates with her crows or her sardines.
  7. When showing an installation at a gallery, include everything that is part of your art piece, and include detailed descriptions of how it should be arranged and hung.
  8. Attend art events to meet other artists and find out about exhibit opportunities.

This week’s episode #41 bonus business episode will be about displaying your art. Be sure to give that one a listen too.

Read more about the article #40 What to Expect at a Destination Art Class

#40 What to Expect at a Destination Art Class

Art classes that you travel to, whether for a day or a week, within your town or out of the country, are a great way to learn a new technique, and concentrate on art with other artists. Many people love this opportunity to get away from their busy lives and create without interruption. I’ll tell you what to expect from these types of art classes, including the costs, the traveling, and the different classes available.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Students taking a class at Way Art Yonder Studio (see episode 39)
Students at Way Art Yonder Studio working outside.
Stephanie Jones Rubiano teaching her students.
Students at one of Stephanie Jones Rubiano's workshops (see episode 9)
The setting for one of Beverly Ash Gilbert's workshops in Whidbey Island, Washington. (see episode 25)

In Episode #12, I’ve listed a lot of destination art classes you may find interesting. If there are any you’d like me to add to the list, let me know.

Read more about the article #39 Jana Freeman: Creator of Way Art Yonder Studio

#39 Jana Freeman: Creator of Way Art Yonder Studio

Jana Freeman has created a business called Way Art Yonder Studio near San Diego, California. There she hosts art workshops for instructors and students from all over the world. Her studio space can hold up to 20 people comfortably indoors, but the bonus is she also has a large outdoor space where they can do the messier part of art making, like encaustics and eco-dying. She also offers free open studios every month so that you can join her community of artists and create art in her space away from your busy life. In this episode we talk about how Jana’s art has evolved and how she created her studio space.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Jana Freeman

The studio set up before a class.
The archway outside where they can make art under cover.
Crystal Neubauer teaching at Way Art Yonder Studio
Students at Crystal Neubauer Workshop
Students doing mark making outiside the studio.
Student work at Roxanne Coble's Mini Book of Shadows workshop.
Students at Erin Faith Allen workshop.
Artwork by Jana Freeman
Artwork by Jana Freeman
Artwork by Jana Freeman
Artwork by Jana Freeman

Here are some of the things we discussed in this episode (click on the names to follow the links):

Visit the Way Art Yonder Studio website.

You can follow the studio on Instagram and on Facebook.

Here is the calendar of workshops for 2019:

Here are some other things we discussed in this episode:

Check out the architecture of Frank Gehry.

Jana was inspired by an early workshop by artist Lynne Perrella.

Roxanne Coble has taught at Way Art Yonder Studio.

Leslie Marsh and Richard Salley will be teaching an upcoming workshop.

So will Crystal Neubauer.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode:

  1. For some great design inspiration, check out the buildings of architect Frank Gehry.
  2. Try online classes to see if that’s a style class that works for you. You can find just about any art technique taught in one of these classes. I give a lot of information about online classes in my episode #10.
  3. See my episode #12 show notes for links to a lot of destination art classes, including Way Art Yonder Studio.
  4. If there are no classes near you, invite instructors to come to you.
  5. Remember that instructors book their classes well in advance, so you’ll need to book them 6-12 months before the class date.
  6. If you have extra room, you can start your own open studio.
  7. Inviting other artists over will help you to form your own creative tribe.
  8. As Jana says, if you want something, you can make it happen.

Be sure and check out the calendar of events on the Way Art Yonder Studio website. There are still spots left in some of the classes.