Featured Artist Friday - Joy Kruse
Artist name: Wild Prairie Silver Metalsmith Joy Kruse
Location: Wisconsin
Website: www.wildprairiesilver.com
blog: www.wildprairiesilver.wordpress.com
Do you have a dedicated studio/artistic space? Where is it located? Is it a large or small space?
My studio is in my basement. I did plan this when we built the house but I did not plan on taking over the entire basement like I have. I am lucky enough to have windows and in the winter the floors are heated which is awesome. My space takes up every little nook and cranny I can fill of about 700 square feet located in two separate rooms. It is a pretty large space considering I use to have no studio at all except the kitchen table.
What medium(s) do you work in? Do you have a separate area for each?
I work in Sterling Silver, Fine Silver, Gold, Copper, Bronze and some PMC. I do have a completely separate table setup for PMC. I also have a completely separate table for casting and my kiln.
On occasion I will do large outdoor projects in steel. These are not done in the jewelry studio. For example I do a sculpture every year for a charity in steel that is about 5 feet tall. I made all of my own steel displays for art shows and the gallery I have work in, made my patio table and my own hydraulic press. I can only do these things because my husband works in stainless steel so I have all the tools in a big outside shop. I don't mind this work but my hands are very small compaired to the tools used. You grow 'Pop-Eye The Sailor Man' forearms quick working with big sheets of steel! I am pulling my 'girl' card here ~ I like to leave hundreds of pound sheets of steel up to the guys.
How did you get started working in this art medium?
I am actually an RN and started beading as a hobby. I would always finish a necklace and say to myself 'I wish the entire piece was mine' I hated purchasing a finding and adding it to my piece. It seemed to say that it was no longer made my me if I added a store bought clasp. So, I started making the clasps, the jump rings, the ear wires, the headpins and that was it. I was hooked. Now I don't have time to be a nurse.
What one word would you use to describe your studio?
'Everchanging'
What do you think is the best feature of your studio?
The windows.....It's hard to work with no windows to look out of. I like the outdoors so much I often take my work outside when weather allows it.
What would you change if you could?
Like the song says 'If I had a million dollars...' I would have my studio in a little cottage outside of my house. I don't want a brick and mortar store ever. I like being a manufacturer/fabricator but having a little separation from home and work would be great. I just cannot imagine another building being a reasonable cost ever because of property taxes, heating, plumbing and security.
Can you share an organizational tip?
I am not very organized but not as bad as some. It helps me to keep things where I can see them. This helps my creativity too. I have lots of little storage bins and they are clear or out in the open so I know what is in them and know what materials are waiting to be used. Outta sight Outta mind for me. I need to see what I have.
Describe the usual state of your work table?
Mini Bomb just went off...... I make projects a dozen at a time. I work in batches. This way I am soldering all at one time, sawing all at one time, filing all at one time and polishing all at one time. I make my own findings and make enough at one time for the entire year or at least season.
Does your work table face out into the room or toward the wall?
My work table faces out to the windows. My soldering station faces a side wall so some of the light is blocked to it. I like my soldering table to be slightly shadowed. I also work a lot standing up so my work table is 42 inches tall. I think better while standing. My work tables in booth rooms have full rainbow spectrum 5600K daylight bulbs in them. This simulates natural daylight and is a nice light to see well in.
What's one drawback of your studio/artistic space?
Even though my studio is very nice and I have windows it is still in the basement. I would love my studio to be on a main floor or a second floor. This is really just psychological especially in the summertime when I want to be outdoors. Also my space is in a few rooms: a room with windows, a dirty room (polisher and big tools in there) and the utility sink room. It would be great to have just one big huge room: coffee pot, photo booth and computer included in that room because those tools are on another floor entirely. (The coffee pot is a very important tool.)
Do you have any studio mascots (pets, mannequin whatever)?
SuSu (pronounced SueSue) This a clown fish I have in my studio in a saltwater aquarium. My children named him (or her) that for whatever reason I do not know. He is very animated and curious. He thinks he is a shark and will try and nibble on your fingers if you put them in the tank. (Useless interesting fact that clown fish can change their sex. If two males or females are put together they will either fight to the death or one will change sex to become a mated pair. It that not amazing?)
Do you have an idea wall or inspiration board?
Oh Yes!!! I have a huge cork board and it has all kinds of stuff on it. It is an anything goes board. I also hang up goofy stuff in my shop: sayings etc... I keep peoples cards I run into and hang those up too. People I have met along the way and they have made some kind of impression on me. The older I get the more I realize we are only 6 people away from knowing everyone in the world. I am amazed by human beings in general. We are all so different as well as the same. If you don't have an inspiration board put one up immediately. Write your goals down and pin them up there. Write your crazy thoughts out and pin them up there. Sketch out ideas even if you cannot draw and pin them up there. Throw stuff out often and pin something else up.
Do you listen to music in your studio? What kind?
I rarely listen to music while I work even though I love music. I have children and enjoy the quiet while they are in school and music distracts me from doing precision work. When I have music on I don't get as 'lost' in my work as I do when it's quiet.
Do you display your own work in your studio? Other artists' work?
I don't display any work in my studio or others work. I don't have the space for it and all of my own work is either gone to a gallery or locked in a safe. I wish it did not have to be that way but it does.
What's one quirk or unusual feature of your studio?
The heated floors rock! Pure pleasure in the winter. And the saltwater fish tank...kind of it's own universe in a glass box.
Location: Wisconsin
Website: www.wildprairiesilver.com
blog: www.wildprairiesilver.wordpress.com
Do you have a dedicated studio/artistic space? Where is it located? Is it a large or small space?
My studio is in my basement. I did plan this when we built the house but I did not plan on taking over the entire basement like I have. I am lucky enough to have windows and in the winter the floors are heated which is awesome. My space takes up every little nook and cranny I can fill of about 700 square feet located in two separate rooms. It is a pretty large space considering I use to have no studio at all except the kitchen table.
What medium(s) do you work in? Do you have a separate area for each?
I work in Sterling Silver, Fine Silver, Gold, Copper, Bronze and some PMC. I do have a completely separate table setup for PMC. I also have a completely separate table for casting and my kiln.
On occasion I will do large outdoor projects in steel. These are not done in the jewelry studio. For example I do a sculpture every year for a charity in steel that is about 5 feet tall. I made all of my own steel displays for art shows and the gallery I have work in, made my patio table and my own hydraulic press. I can only do these things because my husband works in stainless steel so I have all the tools in a big outside shop. I don't mind this work but my hands are very small compaired to the tools used. You grow 'Pop-Eye The Sailor Man' forearms quick working with big sheets of steel! I am pulling my 'girl' card here ~ I like to leave hundreds of pound sheets of steel up to the guys.
How did you get started working in this art medium?
I am actually an RN and started beading as a hobby. I would always finish a necklace and say to myself 'I wish the entire piece was mine' I hated purchasing a finding and adding it to my piece. It seemed to say that it was no longer made my me if I added a store bought clasp. So, I started making the clasps, the jump rings, the ear wires, the headpins and that was it. I was hooked. Now I don't have time to be a nurse.
What one word would you use to describe your studio?
'Everchanging'
What do you think is the best feature of your studio?
The windows.....It's hard to work with no windows to look out of. I like the outdoors so much I often take my work outside when weather allows it.
What would you change if you could?
Like the song says 'If I had a million dollars...' I would have my studio in a little cottage outside of my house. I don't want a brick and mortar store ever. I like being a manufacturer/fabricator but having a little separation from home and work would be great. I just cannot imagine another building being a reasonable cost ever because of property taxes, heating, plumbing and security.
Can you share an organizational tip?
I am not very organized but not as bad as some. It helps me to keep things where I can see them. This helps my creativity too. I have lots of little storage bins and they are clear or out in the open so I know what is in them and know what materials are waiting to be used. Outta sight Outta mind for me. I need to see what I have.
Describe the usual state of your work table?
Mini Bomb just went off...... I make projects a dozen at a time. I work in batches. This way I am soldering all at one time, sawing all at one time, filing all at one time and polishing all at one time. I make my own findings and make enough at one time for the entire year or at least season.
Does your work table face out into the room or toward the wall?
My work table faces out to the windows. My soldering station faces a side wall so some of the light is blocked to it. I like my soldering table to be slightly shadowed. I also work a lot standing up so my work table is 42 inches tall. I think better while standing. My work tables in booth rooms have full rainbow spectrum 5600K daylight bulbs in them. This simulates natural daylight and is a nice light to see well in.
What's one drawback of your studio/artistic space?
Even though my studio is very nice and I have windows it is still in the basement. I would love my studio to be on a main floor or a second floor. This is really just psychological especially in the summertime when I want to be outdoors. Also my space is in a few rooms: a room with windows, a dirty room (polisher and big tools in there) and the utility sink room. It would be great to have just one big huge room: coffee pot, photo booth and computer included in that room because those tools are on another floor entirely. (The coffee pot is a very important tool.)
Do you have any studio mascots (pets, mannequin whatever)?
SuSu (pronounced SueSue) This a clown fish I have in my studio in a saltwater aquarium. My children named him (or her) that for whatever reason I do not know. He is very animated and curious. He thinks he is a shark and will try and nibble on your fingers if you put them in the tank. (Useless interesting fact that clown fish can change their sex. If two males or females are put together they will either fight to the death or one will change sex to become a mated pair. It that not amazing?)
Do you have an idea wall or inspiration board?
Oh Yes!!! I have a huge cork board and it has all kinds of stuff on it. It is an anything goes board. I also hang up goofy stuff in my shop: sayings etc... I keep peoples cards I run into and hang those up too. People I have met along the way and they have made some kind of impression on me. The older I get the more I realize we are only 6 people away from knowing everyone in the world. I am amazed by human beings in general. We are all so different as well as the same. If you don't have an inspiration board put one up immediately. Write your goals down and pin them up there. Write your crazy thoughts out and pin them up there. Sketch out ideas even if you cannot draw and pin them up there. Throw stuff out often and pin something else up.
Do you listen to music in your studio? What kind?
I rarely listen to music while I work even though I love music. I have children and enjoy the quiet while they are in school and music distracts me from doing precision work. When I have music on I don't get as 'lost' in my work as I do when it's quiet.
Do you display your own work in your studio? Other artists' work?
I don't display any work in my studio or others work. I don't have the space for it and all of my own work is either gone to a gallery or locked in a safe. I wish it did not have to be that way but it does.
What's one quirk or unusual feature of your studio?
The heated floors rock! Pure pleasure in the winter. And the saltwater fish tank...kind of it's own universe in a glass box.
*************************
Thank you for participating Joy!
If you would like to be a featured artist, just shoot me an email at : Melissa@kcjewelbox.com and I will send you the questions and information.
Thank you for participating Joy!
If you would like to be a featured artist, just shoot me an email at : Melissa@kcjewelbox.com and I will send you the questions and information.
Posted by Melissa Muir at October 14, 2011 7:37 PM 
Categories: Featured Artist Friday
Tags: Featured Artist Friday Joy Kruse
Categories: Featured Artist Friday
Tags: Featured Artist Friday Joy Kruse
Great feature on Joy Kruse! She is one of my favorite artists and a real inspiration (as are you, Melissa). I love the way she does stuff women are generally afraid to do.
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Great interview!
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Thanks, Melissa, for the peek into Joy's studio. Although I've known Joy for a while now, I've never had the pleasure of seeing how and where she creates her beautiful jewelry. Joy, you rock!
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