We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ellen Jo Ljung. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ellen Jo below.
Ellen Jo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
My husband and I backed into creating art glass by accident. I had purchased dichroic glass pendants when they were newly on the scene and strung necklaces with them that I sold. We decided to try making our own, and that first class with a 9″ kiln22 years ago evolved into our selling work through galleries. We both grew impatient with the limitations of glass jewelry and small kilns, so we purchased a medium kiln and then a coffin-sized one. We added to our operations gradually, and we now have a cold working studio to finish and polish glass and a sandblasting station to create different textures. A physicist, Don is our kiln magician, while I, our resident flake and color person, keep pushing the limits of what we can do. Together we’ve created serving pieces, sculptures, and art stands that have won prizes. Our largest sculpture, based on the color wheel, won the People’s Choice award in a national show last year. Glass is a tough sell, but we love the opportunities it offers. Our glass website is www.donellendesigns.com.
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.
For our glass, our greatest strength is our partnership. Don is a precise, linear thinker and problem-solver, while I’m always wanting to try something new. Together we make a whole artist. I’m really proud of the designs we’ve generated and the chances we’ve taken.
I am also a published writer with two textbooks about teaching writing, my teaching memoir, and dozens of professional articles. I’m currently working on a novel about a teacher who struggles with the culture wars when she moves to Texas.
I also design wearable art and have sold it in runway shows. One of my pieces won the People’s Choice award three years ago.
I admire people who have a singular focus and excel at that, but I have a restless mind and love to move among my creative pursuits. I am happiest when I’m in the business of creating, regardless of the medium or the field.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I am blessed because I do not depend on my artistic pursuits to make a living. We are both retired with pensions, and that gives us tremendous freedom about how we choose to do things. I know a number of full-time glass artists who must continue to push production and do that really well. We prefer the luxury of making one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces — not the most effective business plan, but very satisfying. Our situation allows me to explore the possibilities of glass [and of writing and of wearable art] without constant attention to the bottom line. For me the most rewarding aspect is that very freedom to explore. I love trying new ideas, and even our failures have led to good work eventually. I seek challenges.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Communities like this connect artists to each other — I love that!
I would really like to see more advocacy for the arts in society as a whole. Too many people fail to recognize the difference between a Pier 1 giclee and an original painting. If they do recognize the difference, they may not value it enough. We artists need to educate people on the joy of living with beautiful pieces, of wearing well-made and unique clothes, of reading well-written writing.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donellendesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenjoljung/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-ljung-5662704/
- Other: www.imwriter.com https://blog.imwriter.com/ 2paddletogether.com https://www.facebook.com/DaretoTeachandLearn/ https://www.facebook.com/ejlwrites/
Image Credits
Don and Ellen Ljung