Craft Pays Me
In response to the current global crisis, Craft Nova Scotia’s current focus is on how to make use of available digital technologies to help maintain and grow the craft industry on a regional level. Our goal is to facilitate online showcases, and to assist our members in reaching national and international audiences through innovative use of online marketing and social media platforms. Working with content creator Duane Jones, who currently produces a podcast called “Art Pays Me”, we are excited to be producing a mini-series of craft-focused podcasts using Duane’s expertise.
The “Craft Pays Me” podcast will include six episodes, produced bi-weekly in January through March 2021. We will introduce six craftspeople from varying backgrounds, and representing a cross section of mediums (wood, metal, glass, leather, clay, textiles, stone & bone, and visual art) and skill levels, from emerging, mid-career, and master artisan levels.
TONI LOSEY
In episode one of the six part Craft Pays Me Series, I speak with Ceramic Artist, Toni Losey about her creative process, her influences and managing a creative practice that includes both functional and boundary pushing sculptural work. We also talk about how having different aspects of your practice can make promoting yourself on social media complicated, adjusting to the pandemic and how she was able to get the attention of both retailers and galleries.
LORI NASON
Lori Nason, The Fused Glass Diva shares how she turned a hobby in glass into a business after working in studios in the US. We talk about the origin of the Diva moniker, how painting plays a part in her process and why she’s drawn to glass as a medium. We also got into the importance of pricing your products appropriately and how language is important when marketing your work.
JENNIFER MARLOW
Woodcarver Jennifer Marlow discusses her creative process, common subjects in her work and how she balances the various aspects of her practice that includes independent projects, commissions and teaching.
FRANCES DORSEY
Artist, Frances Dorsey and I talked about her creative process and why she avoids putting a label on her art. We also talked about how the chance discovery of a book on weaving set her on the path she’s on today, how studying and then teaching at the university level impacted her practice. We learn about her latest project, Plant Kingdom and why you should just “Go for it”.
RHONDA MILLER
Bookbinder Rhonda Miller shares with us what bookbinding is and how she found herself working in this medium. She also talks about how she was able to grow her customer base, factoring in your experience level when pricing your work and why she has a diverse service offering.
K. CLAIRE MACDONALD
On the final episode of the Craft Pays Me series, Artist and Jewellery Designer, K. Claire MacDonald talks about the symbolism in her work and the importance of sharing the stories that go with it. We also talk about how having secondary creative outlets can influence your primary pursuit, what she learns from going for a daily run, her experience doing an artist residency and the business behind being a jewellery designer.