Melanie Schow Archives

Five tips to fit creativity into your busy life

May 30, 2019 by Melanie Schow Leave a Comment

Too much to do, too little time to create

It was the end of a long day and my artist friend and I took turns apologizing for yawning through dinner, cross-eyed from too many days of busy-ness. Like usual, our conversation turned to the art projects we’ve been working on. Kathleen mentioned a new watercolor series she was thinking about starting.

“I wonder how I could carry color from one painting to the next?”

Suddenly, we both perked up. My favorite conversations start with, “I wonder how…” This question invites curiosity, creativity, and new possibilities to explore. Ideas were flying about color and technique. Suddenly, we were both energized as the creative possibilities bubbled up. We could hardly talk fast enough!

A colorful, complicated quilt block I completed thanks to Tip #4.

How to perk up your creativity

It gave me an idea to share with you some of the ways I bring creativity into my life when there isn’t enough time to make art. If your projects are languishing untouched, and your to-do list is long, I hope these ideas inspire you.

Tip 1: Ask artistic friends what they’ve been creating lately.

This is an enlivening topic of conversation for creative people. It opens up a world of discovery when you ask about what’s on someone’s easel or needles or workbench.

Tip 2: Talk about what you would make if you had more time.

This is the creative person’s variation on the “what would you do if you won the lottery.” Even when life intrudes, you can take your creativity to the hypothetical world where you have lots of free time and no other commitments. What would you create? What techniques or mediums would you like to experiment with?

Tip 3: Ask “I wonder what would happen if…”

In the case of Kathleen’s project, she was considering a larger question about color-blending techniques. Although her medium is watercolor, I shared about creating gradients with yarn (alternating rows of the previous color and the next color) and seed beads (increasing and decreasing percentages of colors). It gave us both a new appreciation for how widely-different media create similar visual impact. Wondering out loud is juicy!

Tip 4: Sign up for an in-person class. If there is a physical location to visit and people waiting for me, it really does make me prioritize creating. I’m nearly finished with a complicated quilt because I enrolled in a class with a friend.

Tip 5: Offer a class.

This is one way to really force yourself to create even when the stack of mail beckons. Teaching a class means creating samples and showing up in person to assist others. If you have access to space and a local following, this is a great way to get out of a rut and have fun creating. It’s an extra bonus that I often learn as much from the students as they do from me.

How do you fit creativity into your busy life?

Do you have ways to bring more creativity into your life when it’s busy? I’d love to know about it in the comment section!

My new wire art class!

December 14, 2018 by Melanie Schow Leave a Comment

A new wire art class

For the first time in six years, I’m offering a new advanced wire art class! It will feature creative skills for working with wire including bending, embellishing, shaping, adding hanging elements, and balancing a piece. I’m very excited! Here’s the first of two samples, this one is in silver:

Designing a class is an art

Not surprisingly, the process of designing a class requires creativity too.

The name of the class is Meander. Being a lover of words, the first thing I did was look up the definition and make notes about the descriptive words. This set the tone as I wrote the class description and made a list of materials.

Artists who teach likely have two general strategies for preparing a class–a chicken and egg approach, if you will. The first way is to create a piece with a specific class in mind, taking careful notes along the way, step by step. The other approach is to create a finished piece and then think, “Hey! This would make a great class!” This is more challenging because you must reverse-engineer the creation process from memory so that students have clear instructions.

When I create art pieces, my primary focus is always to ask “is this sturdy and stable?” I hardly ever think about the order I did it in. Fortunately, for the Meander class, I did it the first way and have good notes.

New wire art skills and techniques

In the past, I’ve taught classes that feature a specific project that participants walk away with. I’m excited that this advanced class focuses exclusively on students pushing the limits of wire, embellishments, and balance. Instead of a carbon-copy, students develop their confidence in creating an original piece using the techniques discussed in the class.

Since I last taught a class, I have learned new skills from the art I’ve been making. Sometimes wire does unexpected things in the course of producing new work. I am eager to share these discoveries with students. One of the other departures in this class is the option of rhinestones – something sparkly – instead of my more usual pearls or beads (I’m more of a monochrome designer, but hey sparkles, what’s not to like?). We’ll be playing with curves where you can choose to add rhinestone chain (among other things!).

One of the signs of artistry is being able to develop your own design aesthetic and learn to trust your own sensibilities. This class will be an aesthetic challenge for participants to discover what’s pleasing to them. To answer that age-old question: “How do I know when I’m done?” For all these reasons, I can’t wait to teach the class in January!

Learn more about my newest wire art class!

Want to see a second sample piece in copper and read about the class? Visit Creative Castle’s websit e.

Opening a treasure chest

November 16, 2018 by Melanie Schow 1 Comment

The other day, I opened a box of treasures and everything inside was my own work!

Like a lot of artists, I’m most productive when I have a deadline. Art shows in particular motivate me to think creatively and often put me into that flow state where I hardly know I’m creating—present, focused, and enjoying myself.

Working for that deadline, I don’t stop until I’m done. I don’t take photos. My other tasks fall off the radar. All my energy is focused on finishing my art pieces and delivering them in enough time for the show.

That’s why opening this box was such a surprise. As I marveled at its contents, I kept wondering, Did I make all this?

I did! Last year, I showed my work at a local gallery where the shows, deadlines, and new themes kept me hopping. When I requested last year’s pieces back, I opened the box and could hardly remember making it. So much fun stuff!

Best of all, this means I have extra goodies to bring to a holiday boutique this Sunday—along with new pieces too. If you happen to be in southern California and didn’t get the email invitation, please let me know!

In the doghouse

July 24, 2018 by Melanie Schow 1 Comment

I wear lots of hats—artist, farmer, dog mom—but this year the farm has moved from the back seat of life to the front. Correction: The farm is actually driving.

For that reason, it’s remarkable that I’m still managing to work on an art piece for an upcoming show. In fact, it’s one of the more fun pieces I’ve created in a while. I’m sharing it because it’s cute and also to hold myself accountable for finishing it, no matter where the farm takes me.

A weekend with my art group

For a busy artist, there’s nothing more helpful or encouraging than time away with other creative souls to get stuff done. There’s fun, banter, and conversation while each person creates her own project.

When I spent a weekend with my art group recently, I started a new piece for the 25th annual Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts Show put on by the Madera County Arts Council or as we say, “the Ag Show”. This is a juried show with five competition categories all related to agriculture and it even has cash prizes.

The theme is “Agriculture’s Animal Friends”. I imagined a black-and-white farm dog in a rustic dog house, resting in the shade. In terms of structure, my inspiration was the woven owl box piece I created for the 2017 Ag Show (recognized with an Honorable Mention and sold!), only larger and more rustic.

When you create art with wire, you have to think beyond its finished appearance to the sturdy internal frame on which you build color and embellishments. Not only does this piece need to stand up on its own, the doghouse itself will hold a pendant when it’s not being worn. A hanging pendant needs good support, so I am considering a base of antiqued wood.

The engineering of a piece is often the biggest challenge. Creating component pieces that work together and display art jewelry for everyday enjoyment is an especially fun challenge.

The dog bead (made by the lovely lampwork artist, Tammy Mercier) will have a red collar made from wire I special ordered. I was at a local craft store when I found some really unique blue wire, but I really wanted red. Imagine my delight when an online search revealed a line of 12 colors in the same style. Eureka!

While I proceeded with weaving wire into the structure I built, it looked too fragile. I debated taking it out and redoing it, but things have a way of working out. I tried switching to thicker, 21-gauge, half-round wire. Now it looks sturdier, and the different color wires give it a rustic feel.

I created a prototype to put grass and plants in front of the doghouse. Although the copper one I created looked great, I remade it in green wire. This conveniently covers the smaller-gauge wire too. I love it when it works!

When it was time to add a roof, securing the textured copper sheets proved challenging. The doghouse has a steep peak with a lot of space between wire. Without too much trouble, I used the vertical wires to create rustic-looking nails, wrapped down even and tight.

The pendant itself will be simple with a collar under the face and a dog tag. I’m also considering paw-print earrings to complete the ensemble.

Want to see the dog house when it’s finished?

Be sure to follow me on Facebook! I will submit it to the Ag Show by August 1. Hopefully it will pass the jury, and you can see it in person at the opening reception on September 13. Wish me luck!

Lampwork glass at the heart of my art

April 18, 2018 by Melanie Schow Leave a Comment

Lampwork glass and wire, together

Lampwork is the art of making glass beads in the fire of a lamp or torch. At the center of my wire art jewelry, often, are other artists.

I love working with wire. I love its challenges and the creativity that wire inspires in me. Although I’ve dabbled in other mediums, wire suits me best. But I also love the depth, color, and variety of lampwork focal pieces.

As I watched glass artists at their craft, I realized that no matter how gorgeous, I didn’t want to learn this craft just to have beautiful focal beads (plus fire—ack!). It is intricate, delicate work. So instead, I’ve become a connoisseur of lampwork and the artists who create using glass.

Borne of fire

Each lampwork bead has layers and layers of glass from rods and tiny shards that artists work in a flame. The flame makes the glass fluid; it melts as they work, so they have to keep the piece in motion to keep it from dripping to the floor. It’s mesmerizing to watch.

Some of my favorite lampwork artists

This month, some of my favorite talented lampwork artists are allowing me to feature them in this post, hard at work. Read on for a sneak peek into some of the art they’re creating right now.

Gail Crosman Moore

Gail’s studio is in Provincetown, MA and has won many awards for her glass art. She uses various types of glass and her use of materials continues to expand. Often her work features metal or fiber along with the glass.

Gail’s glass art in progress

Here are three of Gail’s recent works:

My necklace, Breastplate for Ninsun, features beads by Gail.

BreastPlate for Ninson lampwork wire art necklace (c) Melanie Schow

Molly Cooley

Molly’s studio, Windswept Tree Glass Art, is in Michigan. She told me, “My space is a complete mess…for some reason I can’t create if it’s clean!” (It looks colorful and gorgeous to me!)

Here are two of Molly’s recent works:

This is a holiday-themed necklace I made with one of her tree-themed pieces.

Viktorija Vait

A few months ago, we featured one of Viktorija’s peices. She’s located in Lithuania and many of her beads are mix of both glass and paint (Etsy).

With Viktorija’s lampwork red bird bead, I created this necklace:

The best part of buying art from different lampwork artists is the variety. There are so many styles—from humorous to artful and everything in between. If I made my own, I’d be much more limited to my style only.

In creating my own art, I love that I get to support other artists. Be sure to check out what these talented women are creating!

My artful and art-filled studio

February 19, 2018 by Melanie Schow 1 Comment

Nothing inspires me like other people’s art. Especially when my life is busy, and I don’t have time to sit down to create my own. Seeing the unique ways that people express themselves inspires me. Having splashes of color around me is uplifting.

Nowhere is this more true and visible than in my studio.

Present-wrapping in progress…

In our old home, I had a shared office with some art snuck in. Now I have my own studio to decorate as I like. As I’ve moved into this space over the last few years, I’ve collected watercolors from Kathleen Mattox, big wire pieces from Paul Parichan, and ceramics from Laura Fraedrich.

With gorgeous books as backdrops, quirky little things I’ve picked up find a home on the narrow shelf that runs the length of the room.

The little vignettes around my studio reflect my creative process. Pulling treasures from everywhere create something even more fun and fanciful. Plus, this guarantees that I’m surrounded by my favorite color (pink), even if the rest of the house is more neutral and rustic.

Sometimes I escape to my studio for a phone call or business planning—something unrelated to art. Sitting in my cozy orange chair surrounded by color and fun brings joy to the most mundane tasks.

It’s so important to bring beauty and inspiration to our creative spaces, to have something that reflects who we are and what we strive for. If the practice of creating and enjoying art is sacred, then my studio is a sanctuary.

How to wear a statement necklace with flair and confidence

May 18, 2017 by Melanie Schow 2 Comments

Put it on!

A lot of people own a statement necklace, but hesitate to wear it. Art pieces draw attention, so you might feel awkward if you’re not sure it “works” with your outfit.

Want to wear dramatic art jewelry with confidence and style? I have some ideas for you!

Monarch Duet necklace (c) 2016 Melanie Schow -- a dramatic statement necklace

How to wear a statement necklace with flair

It’s easy if you make showcasing the art your primary goal. Your clothing becomes the gallery wall that makes its artwork stand out.

Dark backdrop: To make your necklace pop, wear dark clothing that accentuates its design. A black, boat-neck dress or velvet top highlights the necklace’s colors and sparkle

Bright, solid backdrop: Choose a color from the piece and wear a solid top in that shade. This allows you to wear something colorful without overpowering the piece. An alternate way to add color would be to wear a matching-color jacket or skirt.

Nude backdrop: If you wear a dramatic piece on any shade of flesh-colored clothing, it provides a simple canvas for the art. You can also wear a low-cut top or dress so the piece is displayed against your skin.

Use caution with patterned clothing: It takes a skilled eye to combine patterns and statement pieces. Because prints add more visual elements, they can be too busy and detract from the necklace’s effect. If you want to try patterns, choose those that have low contrast and the same color spectrum (all reds, for example).

If you check your closet, you’ll probably have at least one item you can wear with a statement necklace.

Morning Song rooster necklace wire art jewelry

Why wear dramatic art?

The most fun part of wearing a statement piece is people’s reaction. When you wear something dramatic, it gives you a kind of freedom and license to be someone different. Very often, you get a compliments and attention wearing something bold.

It’s a joyful experience. I’m reminded of the artist Susan Golden—wearing primary colors and her great big beaded bangle bracelets—carrying off a style all her own. Get inspired, see how it’s done in Advanced Style, a photo book about New York’s most fashionable older women by Ari Seth Cohen. It features lots of over-60 women looking classy, dramatic, artistic. They’re my sheroes!

Classy, brave, inspired. This is how I want people to feel when they’re wearing my statement necklaces.

Where to wear your statement necklace

To the supermarket, of course! If you love wearing dramatic jewelry, be bold, and wear it for no occasion at all. If it makes you happy, put it on. Take yourself to dinner. Wear it to an art event. One of my favorite customers bought a piece from me and then shared it with her sister. They take turns wearing it to events.

And—since you can’t wear a dramatic necklace every day—you can also display it as art. One of my friends hangs hers in a shadowbox and another shows hers on a neck stand. Instead of tucked away in a jewelry box, you can enjoy looking at it all the time. Why not display it as art?

The most important thing is to enjoy your art jewelry.

If it’s something you love, just wear it. You can carry off anything. You just have to DO it!

A flowing year for my art

December 24, 2016 by Melanie Schow Leave a Comment

Celebrating a year

In some respects, this month is the most productive of the year as I prepared for holiday shows and created new art for them. In other ways, it’s a time when I reflect on the year’s accomplishments.

2016 was probably my most art-filled year in recent memory—a fact I’d love to celebrate with you. I haven’t had a year with this much artwork in a long time.

Here are my four big successes from 2016….

One: A more satisfying process for producing art

This year has been about flow and new energy. Instead of being surprised by deadlines, I planned ahead and got the dates down on my calendar. This allowed me to focus on meeting one deadline and then look ahead to what I wanted to participate in next.

What was really different is how I planned in enough time for the creative unfolding process. You can’t execute big art pieces in a day, but it sometimes still surprises me how long things take. Every project has at least one “OMG this is never going to come together” moment. With better planning, I could work on it, step away, and keep coming back until it starts to come together.

Spaciousness and time make better art and a happier, saner artist.

Two: More art pieces than in recent years

This spring, something just clicked for me when I started working on the piece below, a free-form sterling wire necklace with a lampwork blossom bead.

Then I created Breastplate for Ninsun using this same free-form style. I loved it so much, I even decided to submit it to Bead and Button.

BreastPlate for Ninson wire art necklace (c) Melanie Schow

It’s common for artists to focus on a particular color or medium for a while, creating a series of pieces that use a similar style. Once I got rolling, this new, bigger style kept flowing through the subsequent pieces of jewelry and wire embroidery.

All of the designs revolved around the theme of precipitation and water. Talk about flow!

Organized Precipitation Little Sister necklace

Organized Precipitation’s Little Sister necklace

Three: Recognition for my art

I entered Organized Precipitation (below) into Madera County Art Council’s Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts 2016 23rd Annual competition and exhibition. It won second place for the category “Water… Agriculture’s Lifeblood.” I received a Certificate of Recognition for the award from California Legislature assembly and senate with my name and title of piece and stamped with a silver emblem.

The Alliance of California Artists Open Show’s theme was Falling into Winter. I submitted The Sky is Falling, a wire embroidery piece depicting rain turning to snow. For the rain, I used glass beads, crystals, bugle beads, and wire. The snow is wire with sparkly Lucite beads in stars and shapes. I won Honorable Mention in the category of Three-Dimensional Drawing and Non-Traditional Artwork.

Four: New venues for my art

The Art Shop at Vintage Market at 601: This year, Paul Parichan created an art shop dedicated to local artists. All of the participating artists make diverse and high-quality art in a variety of media—including mixed media, ceramics, fabric pillows, wire work, paintings jewelry. I’m really honored that he invited me into this prestigious group and featured three of my artworks (Monarch Duet, Breastplate for Ninsun, the “baby sister” of Organized Precipitation).

New online shop: People have always asked if they could purchase my work online, and this year, it’s finally possible! Although, it’s on vacation mode during the holidays, my online shop will be active again in January. Here’s the link to see what’s new in my online store.

If you’re in or visiting the San Joaquin Valley, I’m also showing my work at:

Mixed Messages in Sanger, CA
The Art Shop at Vintage Market at 601 in Fresno, CA
Circle Gallery in Madera, CA

My hope is to ride the energy and success of this year into the new one. In the meantime, I’m wishing you a fruitful and flowing new year!

Clouds in my Coffee (c)2016 Melanie Schow