We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andi Reese. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andi below.

Andi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Sometimes, I do wish I could go back in time. I think I’m a bit of a product of a confused time in the world, where women were encouraged to do whatever they wanted, and the old school of thought that a woman should pick a path that was better suited for a woman. As a young child, I was always “making” – I got bored with coloring books, probably because I was unable to stay within the lines – so I created with whatever I could get my hands on. Art class in school was always my favorite subject, from kindergarten through high school. I wasn’t always great at it. In fact, in ceramics, I made a lot of door stops. In high school, there was a lot of focus on those goofy surveys that helped you identify your strongest leanings and made suggestions of career paths. Going to college was pushed hard at that time. So, I went to college, got a B.A. degree in Psychology (basically qualifying me to flip burgers). The next 2 decades, I did office work, raised 2 kids, and was an all-around terrible housewife. I did take every opportunity to find creative endeavors, though, and ended up taking some jewelry making courses at a local arts organization.

Once the kids were old enough, I went to grad school and go a M.S. in Gerontology (my spouse was concerned that I wasn’t contributing enough to the household support working retail. That started me on my current trajectory of working with older adults. And, although I love the field, I have become more and more aware that I should have been counseled to follow my heart back in the 70s and 80s.
About 15 years ago, I started creating jewelry in earnest and learned that my work would sell. Although I still have a “day job,” I take every opportunity to be in my studio working on new designs. My ultimate goal is to “retire” at 62 and create full time.
Although I’d like to go back in time and start earlier, I feel like my desire and drive are greater now than they might have been had I started studying art in my 20s. There’s a freedom I feel now that I don’t think I would have had in my early years, with the pressure that comes from the expectations of others. I feel freer to experiment and to fail; freer to ignore the criticism of others; freer to let my wacky side show…

So, how’s that for confused… :-)

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I was led to jewelry making mostly out of a love of jewelry. Not the department store stuff, but the interesting, artsy, mixed-media pieces I would see from time to time. I started with beading (I think many jewelry makers do). But I got tired of the beads one could find in craft/hobby stores. I couldn’t find the things I wanted to work with, so I took some basic classes from a local arts organization in lampworking, precious metal clay, and metal working and began making my own components. I took the basics and applied them to more complex pieces. I love setting gemstones and adding elements that reflect my muses (I find satisfaction in juxtaposing hard, shiny metal with the softness of nature). In the past three years, I’ve become obsessed with ceramics and apply some of the same inspiration to that craft. It’s hard to define what sets me apart from others who practice a similar art, except to say that I get bored easily. I tend to float from silver to mixed metal to enamel to lampworking as I get new inspiration. I think my followers find this interesting and ask me frequently what I have that is new and different. I usually have something they haven’t seen before.

My goal in creating is not to accomplish the most complex, perfect pieces, but to let the pieces guide their creation. I usually have a sketch or direction to start the pieces, but it usually goes a different direction in varying degrees. What drives my process is the imperfection that is inherent in everything in the world, and I strive to pull beauty from it.

I’m most proud that no two pieces I create are identical. Although, I might do a short run of a design that is popular (a girl’s gotta eat), but I think the definition of art jewelry is that it’s not a production endeavor.

My philosophy is similar with ceramics – one-of-a-kind, hand-built, functional, and often whimsical.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I have many friends who consider themselves “non-creatives.” I’ll admit do get a small rush from hearing them say, “You’re so creative! I could never, ever do what you do.” But it also makes me a bit uncomfortable. It does bother me when people compare their perceived shortcoming to something that is, in my opinion, not completely a choice. Even though there are years of learning, experimenting, and failing (which guide the practice of the art), there is an inherent and often intense desire for self-expression in us “creatives.” I’d rather hear, “I think your work is (insert positive adjective here). What inspires you?” As someone who also teaches, I believe everyone has at least one creative bone in their body, Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Embrace the gifts you have and let your light shine.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Currently, the mission (much less of a defined goal) is to create whatever I can, as long as I can. I love it when my pieces find new homes. It thrills me to know that a part of me is going to be enjoyed and appreciated by someone. I do want to use my art to contribute to my own personal support (not of fan of the “starving artist” lifestyle). If my passion and effort can contribute to both my welfare and another’s joy, who am I to argue? But I’ll continue to create no matter what. I’ve spent too much of my life not nurturing to the creative in me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yellowhousenewbern.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/yellowhousenewbern
• Other: note that the website is currently not to date. I will be working on it in the next week or two.