Do you want to create unique, brilliantly designed works of craft? Have more fun in the studio? Develop your artistic “voice,” skills, and career?
Then this book is for you.
Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work outlines a powerful process for designing and creating beautiful work. It enables you to:
- Discover inspiration even in the most mundane things
- Brainstorm unique designs
- Refine your designs into visually powerful, useful work that is practical to make and sell
- Transform your creative process to work more enjoyably and effectively
- Take your design and construction skills to the next level
- Identify your distinctive personal style
- Create a career for yourself, either as an artist or an artisan.
Master Your Craft fuses artistic principles with best practices drawn from interviews from established artisans and industrial product development processes. It provides sharp insight into the creative process, from the first spark of inspiration to careful contemplation of the finished piece. Perspectives from 22 master artisans fuse with industrial product design techniques and the author’s own craft experience to offer a powerful framework for designing, making, and selling your work.
In addition to offering a creative framework, Master Your Craft contains suggestions for growing as a designer – whether on the artist’s path, the businessperson’s path, or as a passionate amateur. It includes tips from established artists and successful craft businesspeople for developing your creative voice, networking to find opportunities for show and sale of your work, and ideas for pricing and promoting your work. Packed with advice from master woodworkers, glassworkers, ceramicists, textile artists, metalworkers, and more, Master Your Craft will enable you to create stunning pieces and – if you choose – develop your craft into a career.
What reviewers are saying about Master Your Craft:
“Read this book if you are serious about starting or continuing to master your craft. With examples from a wide range of disciplines, Tien Chiu leads you through the process of creation from inspiration to completion and possible sale. The greatest strength of this book may be her explanation and demonstration of the Creative Cycle – great design does not burst full blown but emerges through cycles of trial and change. Tien Chiu illustrates this beautifully through documentation of the creation of her “Autumn Splendor” coat, while the other featured artists provide a wealth of additional advice and inspiration.” — Martha Sielman, Executive Director of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
“Balances encouragement with life lessons from renowned artists . . .Chiu’s expertise guides her readers to consider many beneficial steps to move their careers forward.” –Christopher H. Amundsen, Executive Director, American Craft Council
“Master Your Craft shows fine craft artists how to connect their vision to the reality of spearheading their creative direction, creating their own designs, and launching their work into the market. This innovative book…is enriched with quotes by a variety of celebrated crafts people across the mediums, and practical exercises that are sure to catapult their creative and professional lives to the next level.” — Marcia Young, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Fiber Art Now
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: What You Need to Start Designing
Chapter 2: The Creative Cycle
Chapter 3: Finding Inspiration
Chapter 4: Functional Design
Chapter 5: Visual Design
Chapter 6: Getting Started
Chapter 7: Practical Considerations
Chapter 8: Constructing Your Piece
Chapter 9: Evaluating Your Work-in-Progress
Chapter 10: Evolving Your Design
Chapter 11: Celebrations and Contemplations
Chapter 12: Sharpening Your Skills
Chapter 13: Finding Your Voice
Chapter 14: Selling Your Work
Conclusion
You can buy Master Your Craft on Amazon – or direct from Schiffer Publishing.
