Posts
out on a limb
The last post generated a bit of conversation and a request. I am going to try to meet Ronna’s request here.
Ronna Sarvas Weltman wrote:Okay. I’ll start with the first beading magazine I subscribed to, Bead & Button. (btw, all of this comment will relate to the last issue received) The cover shows good use of bugle beads which is nice to see. Bugles are a great components and good designs with these bits of glass tubes are rare. The sushi platter is fantastic. It is offered as a subscriber download, not a magazine feature (go figure). The reviews on p11 are for two books that have been out for quite some time, something more timely (and not already in my library) would have been more to my liking. I enjoyed the bead knitting. The rivolis seem more of the same (p23) to be found just about everywhere. The beaded dahlia is interesting and a good technique article for those who do not yet have the technique in their library. The chain maille article repeats common designs and opening and closing jump rings. The sculptural peyote bow on p46 is wonderful, but how many bows can one stitch or would one without giving credit to the author. The earrings on p51 are nice, nothing special. As with the cuff on p54. The netted bracelet on p58 is a common design I’ve seen in my browsing. The color choices here are great and festive. On p62 is metal clay. I have resisted the draw of the metal clays (not hard to do..can’t afford them!).
Hi all. I write for a jewelry magazine, and I'm always very interested to hear what works for you and what doesn't. I understand what you're talking about (I'm a consumer too) but would love to hear more specifics if you're able to capture them. I know it's hard -- I love it when I see stuff that makes me gasp, get annoyed when it's trite and boring, but how to articulate what works for me? Hard! And of course what appeals to each of us is quite varied.
The turkish crochet is a technique I have seen before with finer designs. If this had been my first exposure to the technique I would not give it a second thought. I have seen examples I find more pleasing. P76 more gold and crystals. The polymer clay article is a clumsy, awkward piece. Fire Mountain’s ad is great as usual!
BeadStyle has a contest on the front page to win a kit for the featured necklace. The components are great. The necklace leaves me neutral. Artbeads.com ad on the inside cover is great. And I enjoy the atmosphere of the Jablonex ads. The coiled bead caps on p28 are very well done, the technique is in just about everyone of my wire books. The zipper hearts on p70 is really something out-of-the-ordinary. Another design by the same author on p74 is average wire wrap and left me wondering its inclusion.Wire mesh ribbon is used on p80. While the designs leave me cold, the explanations and tips are useful. There was little else to comment on in this issue.
Art Jewelry seems to be constantly changing. The News and Announcements always has something interesting for me. This time it was the reference to Arthur Smith’s work and the exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum.
(click on the link, you can purchase a catalogue). The business end of art is given room in the magazine (a plus). I enjoy this magazine. Many of the techniques I use with clay. Or translate them to base metals to use with clay. The lapidary articles may not be the most useful in terms of stone finishing (I do not plan on cutting and polishing stones) They do give me plenty of design ideas. Stone patterns and shapes. Did you know that the 5-minute epoxy many of have on hand is a resin? And can be used for resin designs before we decide to splurge on epoxy resins specifically formulated for artisan needs? Who’d a thought? Art Jewelry on p56! This is one magazine I still pour over.
Beadwork is a magazine that wows then gets you saying but… The designs are stunning, the elements repetitive. p40 is a hank of twisted charlottes with a bezeled drop. The designer of the year on p48, I found overdone. Designer of the year p52 is a simple right angle weave that is a first raw for many beaders (it was mine!). Yet another designer of the year on p57 and one more on p60. Maybe they are hedging their bets, one will be a hit? The article on David Chatt is interesting and I always enjoy seeing samples of his work.P68 has a cuff with a closure I have used and like and textured sequins I’ve not seen before (I like). The last few projects are a bit of a reach. Everything gets a fancy bezel today. Throw in a bit of crystal and it is a winner.
Interweave seems to be doing a bit of reorganization. They have discontinued one magazine and have a lot more online content. Possibly recognizing their own repetitiveness.
I stopped the Crafts Report. Last month I received a complimentary copy since FMG used some of my work in an ad. (inside back cover, thanks for asking). Why stop? The articles became repetitive. After a couple of years I found myself not even leafing thru. And seeing the magazine again, I have not changed my opinion. While I did enjoy the feature articles on the different artist groups, it was not enough to justify subscribing.
I have not renewed Step by Step Wire. Bead Unique is hit or miss. (I don’t have current issues to go thru page by page for you.)
So, you ask, what do I look for in a magazine. I want to see something fresh. I want the techniques to be ones that are not easily sourced. Designs should show alternatives. If jewelry, the pieces should be wearable (comfortable and nothing to snag).
Next I have a question. How are designers found? Seems some of the publications use the same designers over and over. Do publications encourage new designers? Looking at the guidelines for submissions many are overwhelmed. (me included!) What would happen if magazines actively recruited new ‘talent’? I’ve seen some delightful designs browsing the world in my comfortable chair.
Valerie
who hopes Ronna has a bit of info she can use!!
9 comments:
I think the problem is that they don't actively go out and "seek" designers. I've had a couple of my pieces accepted by one of the above-mentioned magazines, but I had to submit the piece. It was a big leap for me b/c I've only been beading for about a year and a half, and some of the younger, newer beaders with those awesome ideas don't have the ... See Moreconfidence to submit their designs. I also agree with you on crystals. They seem to have swept the jewelry design world, and I'm really not a huge fan. My things tend to be low key, but totally wearable. I agree with you that it's frustrating to get a magazine and see a beautiful design that's basically a showpiece. (I do not subscribe to Bead & Button for this reason) I also don't have a large budget to work from, so I tend to try to create things that are made with very simple materials and so if I like a design in a magazine, I"ll usually try to create something similar with more simple supplies. Thanks for your honesty, and I agree with you on your points. It's nice to know that someone else sees these things and thinks the same way that I do!
Marcie,
Massive KUDOS to you for taking that leap to submission! Hmm, just realized if that is not in fact a double entendre hidden in there?
Another issue I totally forgot to hit on was a recent event that hit the polymer clay community. An article was published that was a step-by-step repeat of a class given by a well-known artist. When that artist brought it to the attention of the magazine, there was no public response. I also emailed the editor. The response I received was it was not their responsibility to verify content originality. My goodness! Anyone versed in the polymer clay community easily recognises this particular technique and who is presently teaching it! At the very least I think a publication would have a consultant on staff to look at these type of potential issues. A quick Google would have shown the magazine the exisiting info.
I agree that the cost of most items in magazines far out reach my pockets. The challenge is to rework that design to meet what I expect of myself and my budget!
Thanks,
Valerie
Thank you -- this is very interesting, and I hope more will post comments. I'm a contributing editor rather than an editor, so I can only pass on your comments rather than answer questions, except to comment on my own experience, which is this: Whenever I see something interesting that someone has designed/made, I always encourage them to contact my editors, and always offer to help them in any way I can. Most people decide not to, and I don't want to be so intrusive as to ask why not. My editors LOVE it when I pass interesting things I see, along with contact information to the artist, because they're always looking for new and interesting projects. Some artists feel intimidated by the submission process, and some don't feel like sharing their techniques.
I also think there's a natural progression for all of us. Readers who are new to jewelry are usually more intrigued and enthusiastic. After we've been doing it for a few years our attitude tends to be "Been there done that." Simply put, the more accomplished we are, the harder it is to surprise us with something new.
Valerie, I'm with you: I love Ornament magazine, and probably approach it more eagerly than any other jewelry magazine. But it is not a how-to magazine, so they don't have to choose projects based on how easy it is to show step by steps or whether readers can readily obtain the materials. They're adding to the "conversation" but with inspiration rather than techniques.
Thanks so much to you Valerie, and others who are commenting and/or will comment. And my offer stands to anyone reading this as well: If you have a project you want to submit to a magazine but feel insecure about it, drop me a line. I'm happy to help. It doesn't matter whether it's an Interweave magazine (who I write for) or one of the other publishers. They're all always looking to encourage new contributors, and if I can be helpful, I'm happy.
I think that submitting often times seems more difficult than it actually is. Lisa Kan actually wrote a really informative article about this for our December Spotlight on...http://www.softflexcompany.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=spotlightarticle_Dec09.html.
I think that the same artists are often time featured because they submit lots and lots of designs. I don't think that it is a preference by an editor for only a few specific designers. I agree, that more designers with different points of view would be nice. It does sometimes feel like I am looking at the same magazine time and time again.
Sara
While I generally agree with Valerie's excellent evaluation of publications, I think there must be a lot of pressure for editors to find great new stuff all the time. They work 6 months or more ahead and have to satisfy our cravings for more, newer, better. Big job. They do all seem to follow the trends, i.e. crystals everywhere. (Personally, I prefer rust...)
However, what is old hat for you & me might be totally new information for others. I was a newbie once and soaked up everything I read, now I'm more picky/discriminating/hard-to-please.
Beading/jewelry mags have proliferated in the past couple years - many more than when I first subscribed to Bead & Button - since beads/
jewelry etc has become to popular.
I am astounded that a magazine claimed no responsibility for verifying their content, especially for distinctive, recognizable or signature style being copied. But many, many people do not seem to grasp the vagaries of intellectual property and what is legal or ethical and what is not. Or perhaps they just don't care.
As one who has had a couple projects published at 2 different publishers, I found submitting ideas got easier after having one accepted. Sort of an affirmation that encouraged me to do more. And the editors I worked with have been a great help to me.
But being published was an eye-opener. Reader response came from 2 types: those who learn intuitively by reading, looking and going on with their own interpretation and those who want to do the EXACT project, same bead colors, following my 'recipe' bead-for-bead. Those in the second group are the target market for some of the publications being discussed.
Thanks for the discussion.
PS I met Ronna at Bead Fest in Philly and her stuff is always amazing. That's what I'm looking for - a new approach, a fresh idea, surprises.
Hi bylynette,
You are so right in your comments! Editors do have a 'big' job. A great editor has a great publication. I think we are seeing a reorganization currently. Step-by-Step Beads is being phased out as a separate publication. Interweave is consolidating. I do not think it is merely due to the economy. In part this may be due to a saturation of the market.
The publications that show alternatives to the featured design are trying to address the issue of readers who cannot deviate from the published design. The one design I had published also elicited the response you describe. I encouraged those who contaced me to chose their own colors and to substitute to make the design their own. On the occassion that did not fly, I put together custom packages to send.
I am happy to hear that you have had such great experience with your editors. My own timid testing of the waters got very neutral response and my hesitancy increased!
Valerie
Hi Sara!
I just finished reading Lisa Kan's article at http://www.softflexcompany.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=spotlightarticle_Dec09.html
Excellent. I also must commend companies like yours (Soft Flex), that encourage new design and give all of us a venue to show our work.
Thanks!
Valerie
Valerie,
Wow! What a nice thing to hear! I feel fortunate to work for a company that encourages creativity.
I might as well just say what I was thinking! My big bone to pick with the industry magazines is when they won't allow a designer to name our products in their materials list. Some publications will only use terms like "flex wire" or "beading wire". Our brand has specific diameters, colors or levels of quality that other brands don't have. It can be quite frustrating that they just group all "beading wire" together as if it is all the same thing. And in many cases, the publication requires that the magazine staff who are creating projects to use each brand that is advertised in the magazine even if it is not their preference.
C'est la vie!
Sara
Sara,
I was aware of the generic terminology being used, not the last bit. And it is that last bit that is unfortunate. I have different beading wires on hand and use them differently. The brand I choose depends on the specific need.
I am going to post about the various challenges & contests sponsored by suppliers. In many ways the print publications are being challenged by these companies. I find the dynamic quite fascinating.
Valerie
Post a Comment