Jen Crossley shares what it means to her to be a ‘maker’
Jen has tried many arts and crafts over the years, but it is metalwork and found object jewellery that really sparked her inspiration to create. In this Q&A, learn about Jen’s creative journey and what it means to be a ‘maker’.
Hello, who are you? Can you share a bit about yourself?
Hi, I’m Jen Crossley. I’m a mixed media artist, wife and mother. I live in central Victoria in the small town Miners Rest near Ballarat, Victoria.
I have been married to my long-suffering husband, Mark, for 34 years. We have two adult children, Nicole and Matthew. We also have just welcomed to the family our beautiful Scottie dog, Maggie, who is nearly one and is spoiled rotten. I was brought up on a farm near Baringhup, Victoria.
There we learned to make our own fun as we had no real close neighbours. I think that’s where my journey began, as a maker and a creative thinker.
My mother Jeannie used to do a lot of baking and sewed clothes for my sister and I. We rocked our hot pants, and our matching tartan orange ponchos she made us.
Mum always went to the CWA (Country Woman’s Association) where they would make all sorts of crafts. As a child a big influence was Play School where they would make wonderful creations such as a set of drawers out of match boxes, or turn pipe cleaners into people. It was always fascinating to me. Mum also used to buy an English magazine that had knitting, crocheting, and huge soft toys to make. I made a huge green velvet dog, Hugo, out of a green velvet dress mum had given me to use. My fate was definitely sealed.
I have been a jack of all trades in my mixed media career. I have tried it all – sewing, needlework, folk art, ceramics, paper tole, making cards, rubber stamping, collage, metal work and found object jewellery. I have been making for more years than I care to remember.
My biggest accomplishments in my career have been being published in international magazines and books and having the opportunity to film four DVDs in the USA. I also taught internationally for many years which I just loved.
Can you explain a little to us about what you make?
My passion is found object art. I love finding that treasure that someone has discarded that you can repurpose and bring back to life, by giving it a new life. I use these found objects as a base for my work. Some pieces have their own beauty just as they are, some of them are plain, some very ornate. It depends on the object as to what I decide to repurpose it for.
I make a lot of found object jewellery. Everything to me is a frame to put a picture of a person behind. I use a lot of resin as well. I mould some found objects and pour resin in to the form then I make it come to life as a book or as jewellery. I always maintain the vintage look – I’m a vintage girl at heart.
When did you first get started with these creations?
I first started the found object process when I tried to add metal to paper; then I wanted to make it more metal. I then began to hone my skills and turned to cold connections to make jewellery that would hold up to being worn. It was maybe about 14 years ago that I got heavily into the metal side of things. I’m mainly self-taught. For the first few years then I did a couple of classes in Geelong at the Fibre Forum with Keith Lo Bue. He taught me how to rivet properly and to think more about the process of how I put things together and a light just went off in my head. Taking classes even if you learn a few things helps you as you never stop learning.
Is there a story or influence behind your works?
There is definitely a true story in my work when I’m using objects that I have been given to make a personal piece; which I enjoy a lot. However, I mainly create with images of people that I call ‘bought relatives’. I often use antique photos of strangers that were developed using the tintype process.
I mainly use the smaller ones that are about 2cm which are called ‘gem types’. I feel sorry for them being given away or sold – imagining someone’s entire family photos or album just being discarded. Using them in my jewellery gives them a second chance at life.
The influences who have made a huge impression on my work are those who work with cold connections. ‘Cold connection’ is a term that refers to the process of joining together two pieces of metal without the use of heat and no glue. Glue isn’t a secure substance for long wear. As soon as I learned this technique my work really went in a secure direction.
Where do you source all of your making supplies? Is it all found?
To me half the fun of what I make is the challenge of the hunt! It’s the thrill of that that starts the creative process whirling in my brain. I tend to find the found objects at swap meets, online or in antique shops. I very rarely pay a lot for the objects. Sometimes the cheapest ones make the best pieces. Years ago when I went to my favourite antique shop, there was a piece I bought for $7. I thought straight away that I’d put a picture in the open space it had. It was a long rectangle shape with numbers on the sides and a slide you could move up and down. I found out later is was a rifle sight from an old rifle and apparently worth a lot more than $7! I also like to buy supplies from the United States, as there are many things that we can’t get here ‘Down Under’. I once visited NYC and the old jewellery district had chains, beads, brass, stamping – it was all my Christmases rolled into one! Let’s just say that I bought so much that they gave me a suitcase!
What does it mean to you to be a ‘maker’?
The ability to make something from scratch and to create something beautiful is amazing. Being in the creative zone brings a natural high and complete joy to me. Those hours or a day to escape the world for a small time is wonderful. I have a son with a disability (Cystic Fibrosis). My art has given me a release to de-stress from the medical side of his illness, and has helped me a lot to realise I’m not only a mum – I’m a maker as well.
What I love most of all is sharing my art by teaching. I have made so many friends in this makers world. The wonderful thing I love is when I see a student get that sparkle in their eyes; then I know they have got it, their spark has ignited as well.
I remember an elderly student came to my class she said “I have signed up to all of your classes! I don’t know how to do metal work, and I’m going to be very awkward”. I said to her “That’s what I’m here for – to help”. She had signed up for my hardest classes, but by day four, she was creating up a storm. That was amazing! That is what it’s all about. Giving people advice, helping, encouraging, and giving them the tools and the confidence to do it is amazing. I not only inspire them but they inspire me. Making or creating is for everyone young and old. All we need to do is share and bring out the inner maker!
Victoria, Australia
