Tuesday, March 22, 2011

No Shortcuts. None At All.

That's perhaps the most profound lesson I've received from being a jewelry/metal arts student. There are no shortcuts. You must put in the serious time, be meticulous, measure twice (or more) and cut once, sketch, design, hammer, file, solder and polish until your fingers are ready to fall off and your mental state is questionable at best.

When you are tempted to shortcut, thinking that something is "good enough" and you'll just go with it and make it work, you end up creating dozens of hours of extra work for yourself. Such a different mindset from all of the other university experience I've had, where I could always procrastinate and then cram at the verylastminute for an exam, knowing that I had the writing and presentation skills to pull off almost anything and get a really good grade.

This is such a different world. :)

Right now I'm technically on spring break, but rather than going on vacation or lounging at home, I'm holed up in the studio 9+ hours per day. I have a giant project due the day we get back from break, and if I don't put in the time there's no way I will be finished.

My hands are insanely sore, but all this work kind of feels good. Hopefully I'll have been successful in my time management and my project will be finished in time for class on Monday.

6 comments:

Ellen said...

I received a pair of beautiful green earrings from you in the mail today. They are wonderful- my favorite color and part of a program for Uganda, which has a special place in my heart. All around great.
The only thing is, I'm not sure why I got them.
Were they a gift from someone? I'm assuming so, because otherwise I don't know how you got my address.
Thank you!
Ellen

Ali Ambrosio said...

Ellen! The earrings are from Jenna! I imagined ahe would have told you, and certainly didn't want to spoil a potential surprise if not. :) I made them as part of a fundraiser for a friend who is adopting a boy from Uganda. Xx

Unknown said...

Thinking of you!
You are brilliant and I know your passion for this will lead you through.

Stacie said...

I can't wait to see the final photos! I was thinking of you the other day when I saw (somewhere) a call for print designer...I know you are a jewelry designer, but man....your pattern design work is really good....anyway you could do both?!? LOL....you are really artistically talented, Ali...you will pull through this project with flying colors. Miss your more frequent postings, but understand, as Shayne is virtually in the same boat as you are and I never see him either. Sending Love !!!!

Marcia (123 blog) said...

I'm so proud of you for doing your passion even though you don't have the luxury of taking shortcuts.

You're already so good and I can't imagine how much better you're going to be when you've completed all your training.

Sending big hugs to you and Rico!

Ali Ambrosio said...

~Laundrygirl - Thinking of you, too. Wouldn't it be fun to do a museum date at some point? I just saw the Balenciaga show announced in the paper and it looks so amazing.

~Stacie - Yes, I'm definitely on board for doing both jewelry and print/pattern work. Best of luck to Shayne to make it through the semester!!

~Marcia - Thanks so much for the support. You'd be proud - I'm slowly but surely organizing my studio/office. I'll post photos when it's done. ;)