Anything (Any Material) Goes in Contemporary Art

Secondly, don't be afraid to take wild explorations and try new things in your art! As a conventionally trained metalsmith, I used to have expectations that in order to be taken seriously in the metalsmithing field, that my jewelry needed to be make of precious metals. I’m not really sure why I had that idea, but the eventual paradigm shift and resulting material exploration was profound. Similar to the contemporary metalsmithing field, my concepts about jewelry and what gives it value have evolved and expanded over time with the zeitgeist.

Broader Material Exploration

When I was in graduate school, I underwent a huge material shift motivated by a scientific curiosity of the extraordinary potential of raw matter that I found in my surrounding environment. I primarily focused upon the use of found (a.k.a. free) objects and materials as a driving force in my artwork, incorporated with traditional metalsmithing techniques. I wanted to challenge conventional societal perceptions as well as my own perspective on preciousness in jewelry. For this body of work during my MFA, I utilized terrestrial materials like different powdered minerals and colors of earth.

What We Make As Artists Is Precious, but We Can’t Be Too Precious About It

I use found materials as a departure point in my work, but I don't simply choose them because they are offered by nature as free for the taking. I select them because I have a profound sense of connection with them. Whether I am collecting seeds, soil, or stones that I find, they're all quite precious to me and I have a deep sense of reverence towards my chosen art materials.

There is no right or wrong way to be an artist! Don't allow yourself to be limited. Try anything. Follow every whim. See what path it leads you on. Look around you and consider the unlimited potential for exploration of the materials that are in your surroundings.