Tina Gasperson – Jewelry Artist

August 4, 2008 By 9 Comments

From time to time I surf the web in search of new talent. Recently, I found Tina Gasperson, jewelry artist.  Tina’s studio is here in the Tampa Bay area, and she customizes jewelry for all occasions. I had the pleasure to sit down with Tina and get to know her and her talent in a bit more detail.

What got you interested in jewelry creation?

Jewelry by Tina GaspersonI’m very much a sensory-driven artist. By that, I mean the elements that go into the final product, and how I interact with those elements and how they interact with me, are all very important ingredients. I like to “get my hands dirty.” I discovered that silver and copper wire are quite sensuous in the way they respond to being worked, and I find that very enjoyable. I have always loved stones, gems, and crystals, and so that love aligns well with idea of bending and shaping the wire. The fact that what results is a thing of lasting beauty, is deeply satisfying.  Jewelry making seems to be particularly fulfilling in that way. Maybe it’s because we wear our favorite jewelry on our body and keep it close to us, we lock it up at night, we pass it on to our children. It makes an impression in a unique way.

Did you go to school for this trade or was it something self-taught?

I taught myself the actual craft of putting the jewelry together, mostly from reading books, online articles, and watching cool YouTube videos; then trying the basic functions myself, practicing over and over again to learn the right touch with the wire, to learn how to wrap a loop just so without nicking it all up, to figure out the right amount of pressure to put on the wire to make it bend smoothly without angles.  The whole thing started when I decided it would be a great idea to hand make 50 tiaras for a women’s conference – and I had never worked with wire before and had no clue what I was going to do. I found a book about tiara making, ordered it, and taught myself that way. I even came up with my own design, because the ones in the book were really pretty but didn’t quite fit the bill.  I went through quite a bit of 26 gauge silver wire and spent hundreds, maybe thousands of hours working, tearing apart, and reworking those crazy, beautiful tiaras. Ah, memories.

How many years of experience do you have with creating jewelry?

My artistic journey has led me around many twists and turns. I have been creating literally my entire life, using different mediums and building on that creative expression. In this part of my journey, I am working on jewelry. I’ve been doing that for about a year. Many of my creative pursuits overlap, for instance, I’m a writer. I’ve been supporting myself with that for ten years, but I’ve been doing it for much longer than that. I’m not going to stop writing now that I’ve begun creating jewelry. Those two things can work together quite nicely. I also play the acoustic guitar and sing and write songs. I attended the International Academy of Merchandising and Design (back when it was called that) and learned how to draft patterns, and do fashion illustration, and work with textiles. But before (and after) that I was always sewing. I designed wedding gowns and embellished them with crystals and pearls and sequins…. kind of sounds like what I do now, except I’m embellishing wire instead of fabric. I’ve recently become much more focused on my photography skills, especially composition, because I take pictures of all my jewelry work – but I’ve been interested in photography all along. It all overlaps and interweaves, and I think what I am doing now is really just a culmination of all the other things I have done — though I will say that jewelry-making is a particularly rewarding and soul-satisfying endeavor and I believe this is one of those things that I will want to keep doing forever. I think it’s a part of my soul. It just took me a while to discover it.

Jewelry by Tina GaspersonHow important is it to be unique in this field, and how difficult is it to do that?

I think that it depends on the individual. Some people make and/or wear very beautiful jewelry that isn’t necessarily unique. And some jewelry artists are very successful in selling pieces that are made with commercially-manufactured findings and beads. For me, I like to make each piece of mine by forging the clasps, jump rings, links, ear wires, chains, stuff like that myself, instead of going to JoAnn’s and buying a bag of factory made clasps. Now, I do use Swarovski crystals or faceted gemstones and things like that, but in my work I think the major focus is on the metallic elements and how they work with those occasional embellishments of a really nice agate or citrine briolette, or that deceptively beautiful labradorite chunk. So, it’s not hard to be unique, but it does take some extra work, maybe? Or maybe it’s just a different focusing of energies.
What kind of jewelry do you make, what materials do you mainly work with?

Right now I am working with silver and copper, sometimes oxidized, which is a very special quality in itself and really beautiful. I like stones, wood, crystal, and gemstones. I have been looking at gold-filled, and I have also used aluminum from time to time. I don’t want to box myself in or label myself as an artist, because a year from now I might have discovered something and started following a different direction in my path.

Do you do custom pieces or is it standard from a catalog you create?

Neither or both, depending on how you look at it. I would tend not to make multiples of most things I do. This might sound way too artsy-fartsy, and I don’t mean it that way, but there’s a certain “spirit” that goes into some pieces that you just can’t duplicate easily. Then there are other fun, cute little things that I can whip up several of, like my swirly rings, for example. Or there may be a certain motif that you’ll see repeated in a lot of my designs, but the piece itself may not ever be duplicated. As far as custom work goes, if someone has a request I can certainly consider that. I’ve recently been commissioned to make a necklace and bracelet featuring a ginkgo leaf design. I find that challenging and really hope it will be a growth experience for me. Would I do just anything that anyone asked for? No. And I’m not sure ahead of time what would prompt me to decline or accept a commission. I think a big part of it is, how much artistic freedom are you willing to give me? Just like I don’t manufacture certain things over and over, I don’t want to simply “produce” someone else’s vision. We can perhaps co-envision, though. So if you have an idea, ask!

Are there any notable people that sport your jewelry today that you know about?

I’m quite sure not. I do know there’s a politician out in Hawaii who bought one of my bracelets for his wife, and a college professor out in Indiana picked up an ear cuff the other day. I think that’s about as notable as it gets.

Who is your greatest inspiration in the Jewelry field and/or art field

I don’t know that I have one source of greatest inspiration. I look at everything around me, and I look at jewelry specifically, and just absorb it all. I think there’s a danger in focusing too much on one person or source because I think then your work starts to reflect that, maybe more than you would want it to. Having said that, I greatly admire and respect artists who have captured the essence of beauty and are able to express that beauty using the elements at hand. I think a true artist can use whatever he or she has available to them to create beauty. I’m not a big fan of artists who purposely look for and express horror, gruesomeness, or perversion in their work. I’m not against expressing those feelings, because I think we need to express those things and get them out, as artists, but then turning around and casting that negativity on the world is, in my opinion, irresponsible. I believe that artists hold a certain power of expression, and we’re better off using that power for good.

Any advice for artists in your field or art in general?

Don’t be afraid of your talent. If others are moved by something you’ve created, believe in that, and act on it. And always follow your heart – it may lead you “out of the box” and in many different directions over the years, but you will be a much better person and a much better artist for it. Just because right now, for example, you’re a photographer, doesn’t mean you have to stay in that box if you’re feeling drawn and captivated by painting, or wire-work, or knitting, or whatever. Don’t let people paint you into a creative corner. Don’t let other artists get you down when they’re feeling negative about life or about their work. Exercise your freedom to be who you were created to be, and if you really honestly do that, you will be successful.

Where can people find your work today to view and/or purchase it?

I sell on Etsy, at tinahdee.etsy.com, and occasionally blog about the creative process and what I’m thinking about, at tina.gasperson.com. I am planning some local art/craft show appearances for later this year. I’ll also be at the Books-A-Million in Kissimmee (The Loop) on August 9th doing some free jewelry-making and wire-wrapping demonstrations.

To contact Tina Gasperson you can e-mail her at tinahdee@gmail.com, or leave me a voicemail at 813.230.1328.

The Expressionist Magazine

Filed Under: Jewelry & Glass Tagged With:

Criss Angel Clearwater Hotel Review

August 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I personally am a fan of Criss Angel, but this stunt left me with mixed emotions; not the way I saw him ending his career.  I was not impressed with this stunt at all, although the drama was there all the way through, the ending was weak and did not live up to the hype.

The act started with Criss outside handcuffed to the balcony railing on the second floor of the hotel. The clock started at 10:50 P.M. and Criss easily escaped from the Smith-Wesson police-issued handcuffs.  He then had to pick the door lock to enter the hotel room.  He failed, and shattered the hotel room window to avoid wasting too much time.

Its here my doubts about the act started, because within 2 to 4 seconds he managed to run through the hotel room, out the room door, run down the hall, open the first door to the stairway, and run up to the first flight of stairs to the second lock to pick?  Come on even the “Flash” would’ve had trouble pulling that off.

At the second door, he picked it without any complications, and ran up the next flight of stairs till he hit the roof.  At this point he is at about 1:30 seconds before implosion.  Criss then attempts to pick the final lock that will lead him to the roof and safety.  Unfortunately, he had the hardest time picking this lock, a lock he must pick to get out of the building alive.  The clock ticked down to 30 seconds, and the helicopter by law had to leave, so even if Criss managed to pick the lock he was stranded on the roof top.  Technically the act failed, and he was about to meet his demise.

The clock struck 0:00 and Criss still had not picked the lock.  The cameras go dead before you hear any blasting, which seemed a bit funny to me, and in seconds a magnificent display of pyrotechnics took down the Clearwater hotel, with Criss Angel inside. Certainly the most awesome part of the whole act.

At 10:58 P.M. Criss emerged from the scene, shocking the audience, but you didn’t see him fight his way out of the rubble, instead you see him crossing the street to get to the beach, this part to me, destroyed the act proving it was rigged. They could have made it look more believable. First of all, it’s impossible to survive 4500 tons of concrete falling down on ones body.  If Criss went down with the hotel and survived, he would have been buried in the ruble like the World Trade Center victims. None of them came walking out, they were dug out by rescue workers. The same would be true in this case as well. Even if Criss was on the roof when it imploded he still would have been buried alive. Upon walking across the street, Criss not only had no cuts or blood, odd for someone who just experienced sharp shards of concrete and steel falling all around him. His acting was terrible. He tried to look dazed and confused while walking a straight line with vigor. The concrete dust on him looked like one of those old Rice Crispy Treat commercials, where the mother throws flour in her face, to give the effect that she slaved over these treats all day, when really she was in the kitchen reading; it looked like someone threw concrete dust on him right in his face, because the rest of his body from the waste down was clean. Nobody would act or look as clean as he did if they went down with a building.  They should have brought him out with glory, clean as a whistle, like he magically “poofed” himself out at the last minute.  That would have been more amazing.

Overall, the master escape artist could not pick 2 of the 3 locks; not like Criss at all.  The act totally failed and it was so rigged at the end, that for me, this act was a complete disappointment. I’ll say it again, what a lame way to end your escape career. They said if he pulls this off he would earn his spot with the masters like Houdini and Copperfield, now we all know that it’s an illusion, but at least Copperfield and Houdini made it look real at the end.  Criss did not earn his place with those guys off this act.

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** I used the instance of the World Trade Center to convey a point that I hope everyone could understand what it takes to survive a building that collapsed; you can’t just crawl out of it like Angel did.  I hate that I had to use this example, but its the only example I know that publicly showed on TV that someone could relate to.  Every time something like this happens its a tragedy. I never meant any disrespect or to make fun of the tragic event.  I respect all that died and died trying to save the entrapped.  The World Trade Center, and the families of the 9-11 event will always be high in my heart full of my respect and forever on my mind!  They will never be forgotten!  Their lives will never be lost in vain!
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Art of Hair Styling – J.Joseph Salon

August 2, 2008 By 2 Comments

J.Joseph Salon - Dowd Studios

If you want to see what it feels like for Paris Hilton to have her hair done, then J. Joseph Salon is the place for you. Good news is you don’t have to travel to Los Angeles, this salon is right here nestled in downtown Land O Lakes.

Roy Naccor, the owner, studied in Sweden for 3 years to get his hair styling license; and also studied in countries like France and Italy. Hair is something he’s been passionate about since high school.  Roy has styled hair across Europe and has been doing what he loves for 8 years. A key to his success is that he keeps a constant watch on the fashion industry, to keep up on the trends.  One way he does this is traveling once a year to Paris for a hair show, which is coming up September 9th. This show will display some of the new trends in the hair styling industry that he will utilize upon his return to the salon.

Today, Roy owns one of the best salons in the Tampa Bay area.  He accomplished this dream before his 27th birthday. Roy credits his “don’t give up” attitude to his success and never let his age stand in the way of his dreams.  “My salon is a success because it’s not just a hair cut it’s an experience.  From the moment you walk in the door you will see why.”

J.Joseph Salon - Dowd Studios

J. Joseph Salon in itself is a work of art and part of the “experience”, decorated with the dark wood tables and sofas, flat screen televisions, elaborate mirrors and beautiful hard wood workstations. It’s pleasing to the eye and very relaxing. After the beauty of the place sinks in, the next step of the “experience” starts.  Like a doctor you fill out an application, which is reviewed by your technician.  You’re taken to the technician’s station where you can have a drink of wine, beer or soda and privately discuss your hair likes and dislikes.  The technician will see what works best with your features, based upon the situation and the changes you want to make; mapping out a hair plan that’s right for you.  The technician will make the plan a reality and create a work of art designed especially for you.  Once your hair style is complete, they train you to maintain the same style and quality you received at the salon. “If I see you in Publix a few days or weeks later and your hair is not the same or close when you walked out my door, then I have not done my job” Roy said, “it’s up to me to teach you about how to maintain that salon styled hair you dreamed about.”

This salon is a gallery to the art of hair styling.  Each head of hair is a masterpiece designed by a skilled hair stylist to compliment your facial features and body structure. If you’re a man or woman, young or old this salon will accommodate you and make you feel like a new person with a fresh start on life.  If your tired of the old you, come have an artist rebuild your look and create the “new” you at J. Joseph Salon.

www.jjosephsalon.com
The Expressionist Magazine

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Journey Won’t Stop Believing

August 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment

This morning I crawled out of bed to my alarm, which had been ringing in my ear for about eight minutes. Stumbled to the closet to get dressed (in clothes that I realized hours later did not match), brushed my teeth and rushed to work. It wasn’t until I said ‘good morning’ to a co-worker passing by my office that I realized I had seriously lost my voice. She was also kind enough to point out that my hair was a mess. After fixing my hair in the bathroom, I smiled and re-assured myself that these are signs indicating last night was a good night. I couldn’t help but write this review of the Journey show I attended last night at the Ford Amphitheatre!

Back to yesterday: I’m at my desk staring down the clock with an hour until I leave straight to the concert. The Weather Channel indicates that there is a 90% chance of rain. Did I mention that we had lawn tickets, which have nothing covering you overhead? Even if it didn’t pour the whole night, I’d never sat in the lawn section and was not looking forward to being so far from the stage and speakers. I have to admit I was doubtful at best that I would have a good time at this show. To make matters worse, I had just found out that Steve Perry, Journey’s original singer and songwriter, is no longer touring and that a new guy had replaced him.

My wife and I met up with two of our friends to drive together (although the parking ended up being free), and picked up our tickets pretty quickly. We all met up with the other couple joining us and found the closest open patch of grass to the stage we could. Luckily we all got there early enough to get a spot that wasn’t right in front of a giant pillar. We laid down our blankets and chairs, sat for a while, then I decided to buy a $13 cup of rum and Coke-I was ready for some 80′s pop/rock.

Natives to the Tampa area, Cheap Trick, opened the show as we were walking in. It sounded like they were a cheap opening act. I have to say I was really looking forward to hearing them almost as much as Journey, and that they have written a few of my favorite songs, but Cheap Trick was the biggest disaster I have ever heard. Granted part of it was that their sound guy had such a noisy, unclear mix you could only hear half of what was going on. The half that I could hear was sloppy and lackluster, almost like they had been playing the same songs for the last 25 years. At this point I was becoming very concerned that our lawn seats simply weren’t close enough to the speakers, and the whole show would be ruined by not being able to hear. I was amused with how they “finished” their set, received no encore, then proceeded to play more songs anyway. Big let down.

Next to take the stage was Heart. I had no expectations for them and could only have named two of their songs. I figured as long as they were better than Cheap Trick I would be happy. The moment they played their first riff I could tell that the sound was going to be pristine and clear. It was also starting to get dark, so the stage lights got cranked up which made it much easier to see the band. Things were starting to look up. Heart was excellent, almost as entertaining as the inebriated 40-year-old women who were attempting to dance to them. One of my favorite parts of their set was when they masterfully performed a Led Zeppelin song. I would say that I am now a fan. It wasn’t until Heart had finished their set that I noticed we had not had a single raindrop fall on us yet, amazingly. The weather was almost like a misty haze that kept the temperature comfortable. Everything was falling in place.

After a short wait, the stage went pitch black and crazy noises started blaring through the speakers. Everyone new that it was Journey, and when the lights came up the whole crowd went nuts. They came roaring out of the gate playing four consecutive songs without stopping. The first thing I noticed was that the new singer was about twenty years younger than the rest of the band, but actually looked similar to Steve Perry. It was clear that he sounded astonishingly like the voice of Journey we’ve always known and loved. The guitar solos were top notch, the synthesizer was full and huge, the drums were thunderous. Did I mention that the singer was blow-you-away-incredible? The whole show was awesome. The weather stayed favorable. I have to admit, unlike Cheap Trick, Journey sounds fresh as ever. They could have easily kept up with any group of 25 year olds. I can’t say that I had the privilege of seeing them in the 80′s, but Journey put on an incredible show that made for a late, but special night.
The Expressionist Magazine

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