Working with beads is a very hands-on activity. At the League of NH Craftsmen, we are always talking about master-level handmade crafts, but it is amazing how often technology enters the discussion! Right now I am typing on my computer to share this information with you. When I launched my site I reached out electronically to friends, family and supporters across the globe. I also reached out to the two Yahoo beading sites of which I am a member. While I am not an especially active member of either, I get daily email updates and enjoy that connection with other beaders both here in NH and around the world. There are several amazing artists whose work inspires me and I check their work online regularly, too. I patronize my local bead shop (Go Bead It!) and shops on all my travels, but I also buy beads and supplies online. Technology is an even more integral part of my work, though. I find that it is helpful to me to have multiple projects going at once. I have a beautiful studio, but space is limited and once I've laid out the design for a project, I usually have to pick it up to do other work. That's when I pull out my digital camera and photograph the work in progress so I can easily go back to the design later. I also keep photos of all my work on my computer.
At the League, we talk about CAD (computer-aided design), lasers, and other ways technology is changing the way art and craft is done. Many League members use smart phones and have little devices that allow them to process credit card purchases with their phones. One artist, just back from a trade show in New York yesterday, was amazed by the technological innovations she saw. She was impressed and inspired, but she left "wanting the touch of the hand." The balance between the advances of technology and the need to do it by hand always makes for a lively discussion at our meetings. Finding one's comfort zone as an artist is an evolving process.
At the League, we talk about CAD (computer-aided design), lasers, and other ways technology is changing the way art and craft is done. Many League members use smart phones and have little devices that allow them to process credit card purchases with their phones. One artist, just back from a trade show in New York yesterday, was amazed by the technological innovations she saw. She was impressed and inspired, but she left "wanting the touch of the hand." The balance between the advances of technology and the need to do it by hand always makes for a lively discussion at our meetings. Finding one's comfort zone as an artist is an evolving process.