We were lucky to catch up with Kristina Todd recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristina , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Ever since I was a child, I was always interested in art. Visual and performance. I took dace lessons, drawing, painting, flute, piano, acting, etc. If the subject was some kind of art, I was interested in learning more. This was great for me because I was an only child to a military Mother and a veteran Dad. I moved around due to my mother’s deployments. While she was able to choose somewhat about where she was stationed (she was an officer), I still moved (upon average) every 3-4 years. Art was something I could express myself with and no matter where we went next, I could take more classes when we got there. It would help me make friends because, art kids tended to be a lot more accommodating.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At first I chose to go to college and try to double major in both commercial art and photography. I was just out of high school and that attempt was too much for me at that time. When I went back to college (different one), I chose multimedia design. I learned how to design websites, author and design CD ROMS, and DVDs. I didn’t love my career but, I thought that was the only way to truly make money and still be in art. I did that for a number of years and out of frustration went back to my college to ask them to help me find another job. They asked me to teach there. I did. While initally nervous, I learned that I really enjoyed teaching. The college I worked at (after I was there only about a year) decided they wanted their professors to have at least a bachelor’s degree. At my time of hire, The college was a technical school and didn’t require much over an associate degree and years of industry experience. I needed to get a higher degree in order to keep teaching there. So, I left there and went back to college.

While sitting in my class, the instructor going over something I already knew, I realized that multimedia design was okay but, I didn’t love what I did. So, I took a leap of faith and went to the art department office and changed my major. I chose small metals/jewelry. The choice was seemingly random, but, I felt called to it. Despite not meeting the professor or even taking a class. I worried that entire first semester while there that I had ruined my life. I had a great paying job that was waiting for me, years already in the multimedia industry. What the hell was I doing!?!
My professor wanted to have all those who were majors in jewelry to become members of SNAG ( Society of North American Goldsmiths which includes Canada). So, I did that. Then I started learning. I really liked it, I had so much fun and was already being inventive with the processes I was learning. She had us take professional looking photos of our first projects. I didn’t know why until we had to send them off to the SNAG convention for the student slide show. The convention gets photos from students all over the US and Canada. They choose around 300 (+/-) slides to show at the convention. One of mine was chosen! I was so shocked! Later on the semester, a gallery owner and art critic from California came to visit our college. The college set up a art show and he was to view the works offered by everyone in the college and choose what will be displayed in the show. Another one of my items was accepted! There were only about 75(+/-) items in the show and a LOT more than that that was offered. I then felt that those 2 instances was a sign telling me that I was right to choose to change my major and be a metalsmith.
After that I threw myself into the process of learning and growing as a metalsmith. At one point I wanted to do a process that the professor had never done, I researched it completely, created a step by step guide with references and did it correctly. My professor was so intrigued she asked me to teach the class for a day on that process. After that, she said I should think about getting a Master’s degree so I could continue to teach and that I obviously had a knack for it. I went with her advice and got my MFA in jewelry as well.
Due to my previous career in multimedia design, I was comfortable utilizing my computer design skills to assist and enhance my designs in jewelry. I didn’t realize at the time that would be such an asset. Since getting my MFA I have worked at jewelry stores, was a production manager for a silversmith, worked in a laser engraving shop, and have been a jewelry designer for a major company. I have learned so much and now have come back around to teaching college. I delight in teaching others what I have learned over the years and what to expect when they go to work in the industry.
My personal work gets put on the back burner a bit but, I have clients who ask me to create custom items that provide me with challenges that I thrive on. I have designed (in my personal work) bespoke buttons for collectors, brooches, pendants, rings and even one furniture item. When I create for myself it tends to be inspired by either a new process or technology that I haven’t explored or, by intriguing materials that I could see in my head how that would work into a wearable item. I am always exploring, inventing and creating. That is the wonder of Art.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

If there was a resource that I wished I knew about before, I think it would have been to know about all the resources and information about what creative fields there are and what people can do to get funding to get to that. Scholarships, grants, etc. and how to get positions in that field.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Perfection does not exist and to expect it from yourself is folly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://KristinaTodd.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinatoddartisan/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-todd-ba0aa451?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Image Credits

I took all these photos. I have professional photos of other items as well if you want those, I can provide them to you as well. I have the approval from the photographers.