Discussions around copyright infringement of jewelry designs usually center on intellectual property rights. It’s a pressing question for anyone who lives by creation. But besides the fact that copyright infringement can be a very expensive pastime if a maker copies the work of an artist who is aggressive about protecting his or her designs, what’s also important—and never discussed–is that the design world loses the imitator’s unique artistic voice. Continue reading
Category Archives: Artistic style
Finding a Design “Style”
Entry way, Katsura Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Japan
Sometimes artists work too hard to find a “style.” We look at the work of others and say, gee, I like that. I want to paint like that. I want to make jewelry like hers. But chances are the artist who created the work we admire found her or his style within, not without.
A case in point: A friend gave me a book about country style in Japan, featuring old, traditional thatched roof homes that have been converted by architects for modern living. I love the wood beams, the clarity and simplicity of the rooms, Continue reading