Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joy Fire. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Joy, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
Over the years I have noticed that I have periods of more or less creativity. There have been times when I have tons of great design ideas for different projects, and occasions where nothing seems to come to mind when I want it. In the past these down times have caused me anxiety. But what I have learned to do is just let myself be. I remind myself that these are cycles, that there are seasons of creativity just like there are seasons of weather. I have observed that when I do not put pressure on myself my mind is free to wander, and eventually it will wander into something interesting. That “something interesting” is key, I let myself follow along that path that was sparked, even if it is odd or unrelated to what I typically consider my artistic work. My mind needs that freedom to explore and play, to follow whatever generates enthusiasm. Eventually it will come back around to my art practice and to work that is relevant to my career. That work will be richer and livelier because I have given myself time away from it and allowed myself to come back into it organically and in the proper season.
This of course is a low stakes creativity block. When I have a current client and need to deliver, I can’t afford to just wait around for a good idea. In this case I practice self-discipline. I sit down at my sketchbook and focus on the project at hand. I do a lot of googling to find images of something similar, or of a style, object, or concept that I want to incorporate. I do not allow myself to get distracted by social media, which is usually very tempting. Often, I will set a timer for myself, committing to full focus for those thirty minutes or one hour. And then I just start sketching. I start with very loose sketches of general shapes; I allow them to be bad and messy. At some point there will be some element I like, something that looks and feels right, that I can use as my foundation. Sometimes that original element doesn’t make it into the final project, but it provided the opening I needed to give my creativity something to build on. I am not precious with any particular element and try to think of multiple ways to do something instead of just going with the first idea I have. This takes time and a lot of discipline. Flexing my creative mind is similar to flexing muscles, and the more you do it the easier it gets. Find what works for you and practice it with discipline, that is the best advice I can give.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I always had a proclivity towards art as a child, and thankfully for me my parents fostered that. My idea of art was somewhat limited though, to the classic painting, drawing, sculpture trifecta. In my family it was always expected that I would go to college, but I almost decided not to study art at all because I thought I wasn’t good enough at those traditional artistic skills. Fortunately I was encouraged to explore, and eventually discovered art practices that really resonated with me, like bronze casting and jewelry. As I was finishing my BA I stumbled upon a blacksmith shop that specialized in architectural ironwork. Like most of you reading I didn’t know that blacksmithing still existed! I knew right away that this was a place I wanted to be, so I asked the shop owners, a pair of brothers, if I could apprentice there. They were willing to let me try it out, and I stuck with it until they saw I was serious and hired me. I loved everything about blacksmithing. I loved how it was dirty and hot and sweaty, and I loved the problem solving of making objects that functioned as needed while still adhering to good design. As I progressed in my skills, I found I personally was most drawn to furniture. I couldn’t quite articulate it at the time, but now I understand that the attraction comes with how intimate pieces of furniture, and other interior household items, are. They support the functions and necessities of everyday life, and directly affect the physical experiences of the people that encounter them. There are endless possibilities with furniture and functional objects that continue to excite and inspire me today.
Fast forward a few years and I moved to Orange County with my partner, and in 2016 rented a space to set up my own blacksmith shop, Joy Fire Studio. I take on commissioned work there and make my own designs. In 2020 I entered a program at Claremont Graduate University, and graduated in 2022 with a Masters in Fine Art. I have taught many blacksmith classes and workshops at various locations and am currently a Welding Instructor at Orange Coast College. Last March the most exciting event of my life occurred when I gave birth to my precious daughter! My partner and I have been loving every minute of getting to know her, and I am learning so much in taking on the challenge of being her primary caregiver while maintaining my work and artistic practice.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
-Self-directed ness I’m not sure if this is a real term, but hopefully it’s somewhat self-explanatory! I am able to set myself a task instead of waiting for one to be set for me.
-The ability to see several steps ahead
This is very connected to self-directed ness. I can see the steps necessary in order to set myself the tasks necessary to achieve a goal.
-Patience
This one is a work in progress! I feel that I am quite good at being patient with others, but not as good at being patient with myself. I have gotten better over the years however, and I have observed the positive impact on my work and overall quality of life.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
The first thing I do when I feel overwhelmed is to stop and recognize what is going on. Then I take a deep breath and start to break down the causes of this feeling. Usually, it comes from having multiple parts of multiple projects happening at once. So first I break down what those projects are, and then break down the various steps that need to happen with each project. I organize which steps need to happen first, and which can wait till later, identifying one or two of the most important tasks that must be accomplished today, and a few other tasks that would be great to get to if I have time. I always try to have one or two simple tasks that won’t take as much time so that I can experience the satisfaction and confidence boost of completing those items first to help motivate me to take on the more complicated tasks. Making lists is really helpful to me. I use the Notes app on my phone extensively and I have a large chalkboard in my home office area that I love as well. Being able to check things off lists helps me to see what I have accomplished, and breaking down larger projects into small tasks makes these projects manageable. Find whatever works for you and use it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joyfireblacksmith.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfire/
Image Credits
Pierce Kelly Valenzuela Neill Bachand
