Jewelry Artist or Jewelry Crafter?
March 3, 2007 by Tammy Powley
Filed under General Jewelry Musings
I notice I have been really bad about putting up new polls, so finally I got my rear in gear and put up one that I hope you’ll find interesting. It is a long-time debate in the arts and crafts world, and recently, it came up for me again among some fellow bloggers. So, it got my wheels turning.
In the world of jewelry making, are we artists? Are we crafters? Are we both? What defines either one?
Personally, while I’ve had people refer to me as an artist (usually people who are not into making things – like when I wanted to use burgundy colored text on my resume and one of my school advisors made a comment about how this didn’t suprise here since I was an “aritist”), I’ve never felt comfortable with that title. I see myself more as a designer and crafter because I create a design and then construct it. To me, the “constructing” end of the processes is where the crafting comes into play.
So, now it’s up to you. Comment here, of course, but also take the poll – Just scroll over to the right of the screen and down a little and you’ll find it. I’ve set it up too so that you can add your own answer.
Sorry Tammy…I can’t stand the term crafter. Much as I might have a problem actually refering to myself as an artist, I will never use the word crafter. Artisan maybe
I’ll be interested to see the final results of the poll.
I just don’t get the whole issue with the word “craft.” Is it less than art? And, if so, why?
Thanks for your thoughts. This might turn into an interesting discussion!
In my personal opinion, Crafts are Art, though Art is seldom defined as craft.
I remember taking a class in Jewelry making but it was even titled “Jewelry Arts” which is probably why I am bent this direction.
I am glad you use the term “designer” though…
“I see myself more as a designer and crafter because I create a design and then construct it.”
I actually only started calling myself a “designer” after an editor from a magazine did. It was sort of like a light went off – Oh, that’s what I am!
Sometimes I feel that people who shy away from the term “craft” do so because they feel it is beneath “art.” And, obviously, I don’t agree with that opinion. Crafting and craftsmanship has a long history of people who are talented and technically skillful. I’m thinking of people like the glass artists from Italy for example, or weavers who created midevel tapistries. These were highly skilled “craftsman” (and women).
I think it is also very telling that so many academics are now looking at crafts. I’ve found a number of dissertations/thesis/articles lately on knitting, scrapbooks, and quilting for example. It makes me wonder if the tide is turning to a new appreciation for crafts, especially those related to the home.
Yes, craft is less than art. I don’t make the distinction the same way that you seem to be, dividing up the different media into what is art and what is craft. Instead, I think about it in terms of the one *doing* it. For example, oil painting is thought of as art. But if someone never moves beyond doing the Bob Ross method, they are a crafter to me. On the other hand, crocheting and knitting, which you might traditionally call crafts, are an artform in the hands of a truly creative person. But if you only ever knit according to a pattern? Then you’re a crafter.
Is there anything wrong with being a crafter? Heck no. But since I make my living this way, I don’t want to be thought of as a crafter, because to me that implies that I make stuff according to other peoples’ plans and patterns. I understand that you don’t use the term the same way I do, but this is why I have strong objections to the term for myself or for you. There has never been one standardized definition of the terms, so each of us defines them and reacts to them as we see fit.
You are a designer and an artist. Not all artists are designers, but I would hope that all designers are artists! The people who make your projects are crafters. When you and I make something just for the fun of it according to someone else’s pattern, we are crafters.
That’s my definition, and I’m stickin’ to it LOL!! Some will disagree with my definitions, including you Tammy, and that’s fine.
I think it is turning. There is a wider appeal for crafts than there has been in the past. The debate rages on when you get into the historic examples too. Here’s an example from my other life as a pastor. I think it’s kind of cool.
Jesus Christ was widely known as a carpenter through scripture, but the historic context of the greek language has a much broader scope of the word. Literally, one who works with his hands. A woodworker or a potter would have had the same distinction within the language as would one who worked with metal or even as a tanner or a writer, poet or songwriter. A classic example of “craft” applys here. The original word is “Tekton”
I will agree with the historic contexts of the word “crafts” which you refer to, but still am persuaded that the title “arts and crafts” is misconstrued as a select group of things, rather than a larger rather inclusive definition. I also believe that it is an unfortunate assumption that has transpired over the years.
Funny you should bring in the original Greek term. That was sort of one of my arguments in my dissertation, that home crafting is a form of domestic technology. I agree that too often the crafter is someone see as a “chick with a glue gun.”
Oh I love that! A chick with a glue gun. No, even in my personal definitions of art and craft, a crafter is often a highly highly skilled practitioner
watch where you are pointing that thing!
To me a crafter is someone who only follows someone elses directions and patterns. An artist is someone who creates their own design. That would make you an artist.
There is a difference between Art and Craft, but one is not better than the other. Art is originality, and one-offs. Craft is multiples and technique. But a good artist needs to have good technique and be original, and a good craftsperson needs to be original and consistent technique. I want to make money from my work – what does that make me?
I agree with Cyndi’s take on ‘crafter’. It is a not a word I want to be associated with. Is that a snobby attitude? Maybe, but to me a craftsman is someone who has spent some considerable time learning their skills and mastering their materials.
For most of my work, I prefer designer-craftsman. Sometimes artist might apply to my work, but not too frequently.
It is a shame that this is so often seen as a ‘versus’ debate. Is there really a black and white definition of art and craft? Can they not overlap? I like to think of it as a Venn Diagram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venn_diagram) one bubble for art, one for craft, and a good bit of overlap in between where many of our endeavours fit.
I believe that even an oil painter is to some extent a craftsperson in that they have mastered skills of mixing their paint and applying it to a canvas. When they know where to apply it, they become more of an artist. But it doesn’t stop there, because a painter can apply different levels of interpretation to their work. Many paintings I see are great works of draughtsmanship, some even good original designs, but they lack the application of soul that would take them to the pinnacle of art. This is not to say that they aren’t art, but that there are different levels of art. Given this, should we waste our time trying to draw a line between art and craft?
What is more important perhaps is some openess about our work when we present it to the public. Is it our own ‘design’ and what exactly inspired us? Are we influenced by so-and-so’s work, even if it is another medium? Did we work from raw materials, such as wood, stone, metal or glass, or did we buy those beads, inlays etc?
That makes you smart, bTrott!
I guess it all depends on your EGO as to what you call yourself.
LOL, Joan. Unfortunately, that gets into the stereotypes. Simple categorization of a group of creators is really the aim of the discussion. But you are right within a certain degree. Determining if something is good enough to be called “art” or “craft” is probably another discussion for a later date.
For myself, many times I don’t even want the pressure of either title to put on what I do. I’d rather create for the sake of creating. 
I like the idea of designer-craftsman, or in my case, craftsperson.
I prefer to think of myself as an artist, even better a designer. When I repaint a piece of furniture then I am doing a craft but with jewerly I am designing a one of a kind piece of art.
I suppose how you define yourself all depends on how you see yourself.
I am an artist who is good at my craft.
Just my opinion;
Designer: Takes materials and assembles them into a finished piece with a pleasing (hopefully) aesthetic.
Craftsperson: Uses basic or raw materials (clay, wood, metal, fiber) to create something that is beautiful and functional
Crafter: Makes stuff. Lots of different stuff. In different materials. Sometimes involves glue guns and glitter.
Artist: Makes beautiful things that convey a message and may not be functional.
dont think, this is a problem of language – here in germany we have the same problem with Handwerk (craft) and Kunst(art) but Handwerker(crafter) normally dont feel as beeing an Künstler(artist).
No, hopefully not, but ist more a point of view – I think, the “fine Arts” is more looking on jewelry makers as crafters – Crafters more think on jewelry makers as artist – so what???
Beginning my business, I startet with calling me goldschmied (goldsmith) but in the last few years my name changed to Atelier Berger – wich sounds more like beeing an artist… so – uuups do I have a problem?
But do somebody know languages were this is no problem? – maybe there we could find some interesting aspects…
Very interesting discussion! Lots to think about!
For me the difference is really only there as an artificial means of targeting different consumer groups.
If an item is spun as a ‘craft product’, it will sell better to a certain group of consumers, same deal with ‘art products’.
Even though they might be the same thing!
I did craft shows at a young age (macrame- I was 12 – I did them for a few years) I think people felt I was a young artist- that’s what I heard anyway. I went on to college to be a (graphic) designer also in the business called a graphic artist – this term (in my experience) best described those sans a BFA degree. . .BUT – my real aspiration at school (Rochester Inst of Tech) would have been to attend the School for the American Craftsman – on the same campus- I admired the woodworkers, the potters, the glassblowers and the jewelers who were getting an education in how to make a living at their “craft”(who also seemed to be older than the average student. . .). I did choose a graphic design major because it seemed like a way to utilize my skills in an accepted way to make a living (not the starving artist cliche) but here I am loving what I did at 12 and missing it – I wish I’d gone to the jewelery classes at S.A.C. – I alway felt funny with the term “artist” too – the term designer feels better somehow – artist In my mind was reserved for Michelangelo and those of his ilk (IMHO).
I consider myself a designer and not an artist….I also consider myself a crafter b/c I attend craft shows to sell my pieces but very rarely do I call myself a crafter- jewelry deisnger is my pick!
As a BFA major in a Craft program I think this whole “Craft vs Art” is so stupid. As for titles say “Jewelry Designer” can be REALLY deceiving. There are metals programs that just focus on Jewelry Design on CAD. Personally that’s what what I think of when I hear “Jewelry Designer” someone who is mainly just a production designer, but even they are artist. Just the same as graphic artist/designers. Here is another idea for a poll would you call printmakers and old school typographers graphic designers?