Featured Artist: Jane Pierce

Jane Pierce is our featured artisan this week. Her artist and shop name is zJayne. Early on Jane wanted to be found easily online so she added the “z” in front and the “y” in the middle because when she Googled “zJayne,” not a single name came up, and she thought that would make her easier to find. You’ll also find her using “artzJayne.” artzJayne came about when she realized that “z” meant she was at the end of blog and team lists! Let it be known “She can be taught, even if it is learning the hard way.”

What is your first memory of your craft? Did someone teach you, or did you learn on your own?
I have two areas of creative enjoyment. My art pieces, which have received awards in altered art doll and assemblage categories, and my recycled products, which include market shopping bags, pouches, wristlet purses, lunch sacks, and more made from reclaimed t-shirts. The underlying theme is the reuse of items into artful and useful products. I like to think of it as making a difference with art.

Art cards, also called ACEOs which stands for Art Cards Editions Originals and the size for them is always 2.5″ x 3.5″ are the first form of art I shared online. My preference is to work with Copper shielding and one day turning a card into an altered art doll body, I was hooked and just wanted someone else to “get it”, to get my art. I spent time at the library looking for something that would validate there was a name for this type of art. . . and there I found metal arts, assemblage, mixed media and collage.

While I have enjoyed art classes and training, for the most part I am self-taught and always evolving. I have many ideas and inspirations, and try to stay in the moment without stressing that I’m not getting enough done.

What is it that draws you to your craft material?
Using recycled metals like keys or jewelry long forgotten about, I like to meld together meaningful objects that can be worn or displayed. Being able to recreate with already made materials—especially metals—that draws me to my craft in art and in recycling.

How would you describe the style of your work? Does it reflect your personal style?
Eclectic, mixed media, funky, edgy, earthy, artsy, spiritual, meaningful . . . my decorating at home borders on what I tend to call Cave Art style.

What are your inspirations? How are they expressed in your work?
Often I find my inspiration comes from music, emotions, something I’m reading or learning from in an awareness or spiritual type way. Life experiences seem to impact me as well in my art. I believe the law of attraction works well when I am creating with a vision of what I want to draw into my life.

Do you have an all-time favorite creation? What about it makes it your favorite?
My altered art doll assemblages are my favorites. Here’s the thing: as soon as I finish a piece I put it up for sale. Having created over 70 treasured heirlooms, I am certain that if I didn’t let go of them immediately, I would keep them all.  So when I look at the photographs of my work, I am moved by them, and I see where I came from and what I was bringing to my day to day life with them. Many of them have visual meaning from my life and are defining images for others as well.

A favorite — well, there is one that I have only one adequate photograph of and wish I had taken more; it’s called “Imagine Peace.”  When I look at the photograph I see what looks to be a comforting hug encircling the original work.

When did you realize that this was more than a hobby?
Defining moments: Several come to mind and I hope for them to keep coming and I find myself paying attention to the coincidences that happen and lead me to new experiences.

• When an out-of-state store owner contacted me from seeing my art on MySpace and bought all of my remaining pieces at that time, and, as each one was created, for months, purchased them one after another.
• When a reycling facility held a conference and ordered over 90 recycled market bags to hand out instead of plastic for their attendees.
• When a store owner asked recently if I would consider adding labels to my pouches (after her order for over 80) so that others want to know where they came from (and I’ve ordered them!).
• I can not leave out a most exciting moment, when I opened the new book The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life by Joyce Schwarz (HarperCollins) and saw my altered art doll “BE” fully featured on page 99.

Describe your workspace. 
My workspace for my art is open and surrounded by windows. Alas, I’ve taken over the dining room in our California contemporary ranch home. I have California job cases, vintage cigar boxes, frames, and oodles of found objects, treasures, and vintage jewels.

The workspace for our recycled bags, beach glass, and other misc. finds is a converted family room to an office with two vintage sewing machines, shelves, racks, etc. Dan T. (my great guy!) calls it Jane’s sweat shop.

What is your favorite task related to your work? Your least favorite?
When I am creating with my art finds and mixing them up for upcoming potential pieces, I can’t even find the words to explain how peaceful that is for me. I have found something that makes a difference in my life, and am learning that is has for others as well, and for that I am grateful.

Least: The shipping department. But alas, Dan T. has that covered and he’s so detailed.

Do you have artistic talents in other areas?
Yes. I like to think I bring my thinking outside the box to my day job.

Tell us something about you that we might be surprised to hear.
zJayne Products and Co. (zJayne and Dan T.) make available a wonderful line of postconsumer glass that is handcrafted entirely from glass bottles and jars collected from Ohio household curbside bins. Each piece has its own unique characteristics, which makes for an unusual and appealing recycled suncatcher, ornament, and/or award. Custom designs are available using logos and emblems. Large orders and custom designs are welcomed.

Where can we find your work?
www.zJayne.etsy.com
www.zJayne.com
Aunt T’s Front Porch (Arkansas)
It’s a Cooler Planet (Chicago)
Sandra Dee Art (Florida, Michigan, Aspen)

http://www.myspace.com/artzjayne
http://artzjayne.blogspot.com/