- Ft Hills Artists Gallery
Interview with Jeanie Thorn Designer and Maker of Wearable Art
What is your medium and why did you chose it?
My education and back ground is in architectural design and I love construction and figuring out the connections between materials. I was always designing things but
someone else was doing the fabrication which is really what I wanted to do. So I learned to weld and began designing and making steel wall pieces incorporating stones, wood and
clay.
At the same time I was playing around with other metals and began taking metalsmithing
classes. One day I realized that that I had gravitated from making wall art to making
wearable art. So now I mostly work in silver. I still love stones though. Oh, and gems and
fossils and other found objects. I also use organic material that has been cast into silver.
How long have you been making art?
I’ve always been an artist and designer. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a maker.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I tend to agree with what painter Chuck Close said about inspiration….
"Inspiration Is for Amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work".
It sounds harsh but the best way to get inspired is to get in the studio and make something. The late fashion designer
icon Karl Lagerfeld said something similar, “Ideas come to you when you work”.
Even if you’re having a bad day, being present is what counts, and there’s no better way to hone your skills.
What does your studio look like?
Like most makers I’m a little bit of a tool junkie. My studio is a mess when I’m working but I like to reorganize everything between projects to start with a clean slate.
I also like to surround myself with things that have personal meaning. I’m a collector and
I’m always picking up twigs, seedpods and of course smooth stones that I find on my daily
walks and travels.
What is your favorite time of day to make art?
I’m a morning person but I can work most any time of day. I’m used to deadlines and they are great motivators.
Do you listen to music or have complete silence when you work?
I do both. It depends on the mood I’m in.
Describe your creative process.
In design school you are required to draw everything and I still like to sketch, at least to
get the general idea down on paper. Once I begin the fabrication process I tend to go with the flow and not try to force things too much.
What else would you like people to know about you or your art?
I think most artists will tell you that art chose them and that they couldn’t imagine doing
anything else and I’m no exception. By buying handmade you help keep craft skills alive,
you end up with something unique, and you support the local community. I am so
humbled and appreciative when someone chooses to buy my art. It’s what allows me to
continue being a maker
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