Featured Artist: Valerie Tyler

Valerie Tyler of Valerie Tyler Designs lives in Sagamore Hills.

What is your first memory of your craft? Did someone teach you, or did you learn on your own?
I dabbled in everything artistic growing up, as my mother was pretty artsy. I then took a jewelry class in college and loved it. Graduate school pretty much kept me from too much art for awhile, and then I picked design back up a few years back and have been pretty much self-taught from then on. I do a ton of research and study other artists’ work quite a bit. I’m pretty much addicted to art I guess.

What is it that draws you to your materials?
Perhaps if I had ever learned to sew I’d be into making clothes right now. Alas, as it is though I first picked up a saw. I suppose it was somehow empowering. I was always a big old chicken of anything I saw as even remotely “dangerous” and here I came to use all sorts of power tools, sharp objects, and occasional torches. Though, one comes to learn it’s not exactly dangerous unless your not careful with your tools. (Then again, I’ve stabbed my finger numerous of times with various drill bits or sharp wires.) I love sawing above most of the other tasks, as I actually find it relaxing. Hammering away at something is always pretty fun too. The best part is watching a simple raw material like sheet metal or wire become something more through my own creation.

How would you describe the style of your work? Does it reflect your personal style?
My style is as eclectic as my personality. It seems the more I grow and identify who I am, the more I have focused my collections. Currently I am focusing on three major looks.  The first is a modern, geometric look, which I suppose goes with my love of organization and minimal style. I have some vintage-inspired pieces, which makes sense as I have a profound respect for earlier times. I have a bit of a love affair with the decades from the 30s to the 50s, so anything vintage just has an elegant feel to me. And lastly, I have a natural contemporary collection, which I am in the process of expanding now. I plan on adding pieces with motifs such as bonsai, bamboo, and ferns. I imagine this comes from my love of nature and the outdoors and organic living, which has only grown further since we moved next to the Metroparks.

What are your inspirations? How do are they expressed in your work?
Well, I suppose I answered that quite a bit in the last question. I’m largely inspired by design patterns and love to study anything from the lines of furniture to patterns in wallpaper. I’m also very inspired by earthy and organic things. Therefore I try to experiment with mixing geometric shapes and patterns in my work, or I tend to use nature as a basis for a lot of my handsawn work.

Do you have an all-time favorite creation? What about it makes it your favorite?
I feel like I should say I do, but my whims change day to day. One day I think I love my modern geometry earring the best, though they are simple because they are sleek and modern. The next day I tend may think climbing clematis necklace is my favorite, as it involved more work. I suppose my favorite though is going to be my series of bonsai necklaces I am currently drafting and creating as they were suggested as an idea by my husband, and inspired by my mother-in-law’s gorgeous collection of bonsai. Naturally, the first necklace is going to her.

When did you realize that this was more than a hobby?
Probably when I dropped a fortune into a tent, displays, and advertising, and then applied for my business license. Though perhaps it may have been after I spent hours  (or weeks) maybe organizing finances, acquiring a business license, or designing my own website.

Describe your workspace.
My workspace is currently in a bit of a transition. For the first time since we moved I actually have a workspace, which is really nice.  Of course I’m in the process of continually tweaking the space to make it just right. The highlight for me is the big sturdy desk that was gifted to me, and then simply my sawing block. My space transitions from being all clean and organized one day to being covered with sterling scrap, beads and headpins the next.

What is your favorite task related to your work? Your least favorite?
I’m a bit unusual I think in that I love sawing.  I absolutely love getting a piece of silver and designing a plan for it, then taking that saw and making my design unfold. I’m not a fan of cleaning up  messes. I tend to start random projects and then hate to have to put away a bunch of little jewelry findings.

Do you have artistic talents in other areas?
Recently, I’ve discovered I’m not too bad at photography.  I’m pretty good at sketching too — though you wouldn’t know it from my jewelry sketchbook. One of my other major loves is interior design. I love playing with decor.

Tell us something about you that we might be surprised to hear.
It’s totally no fair Nikki got to use Space Camp first (I managed to not-so-successfully pilot a mock spaceship there). I used to run about 40 miles a week (surprise me even now to hear that — wouldn’t mind being able to have the time to do that again!) and I’ve raced cars with my husband’s autocross club. I never thought I’d do that!

Where can we find your work?
I exhibit at a lot of local art shows. You can purchase my work through http://www.valerietylerdesigns.com or http://www.valerietyler.etsy.com. You can also read more about my work, my ideas on art, and find out about other artists and Cleveland-area art events through my blog at http://www.artaddict.wordpress.com.