Crafting an Artful Life: Imaginative Musings on Creativity By Victoria Lansford

Time Travel in a Fiery World

Art Jewelry· Behind the Scenes· Calligraphy· Current Projects· Inspiration· Instructional videos· Russian Filigree· Teaching· Videos

18 Sep

Even in the midst of “screen fatigue” I continue to be amazed at our increasing ability to be in so many places at once. I can’t add, “and all from the comfort of home,” with so many people displaced or under threat of evacuation right now. Just when many of us got used to spending more time at home, others…
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The Good Reality

Art Jewelry· Behind the Scenes· Current Projects· drawing· Inspiration· Teaching· Workshops

4 Sep

Ever since lockdown and spending more time in the studio, I’ve been able to begin my days planning, sketching, and journaling with intention. It’s a way to ease into the day, stay on track, and feel pleased when it’s time to stop working. I find I’m able to stay focused, keep anxiety at bay, and feel way more creative. As…
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Oh…and the Fun of Innuendo

Inspiration

21 Aug

The title of my recent post may have been a touch confusing as I hinted at something that wasn’t there. I write in another app then format my posts in WordPress (which takes longer than writing them). Wednesday I failed to import all of it, so… Exhibiting artwork is always a big deal, but an in-person-and-online show is an even…
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Persistence of Time and Innuendo + More Upcoming Online Class Info

Behind the Scenes· Inspiration· Russian Filigree· Teaching· Videos· Workshops

19 Aug

Like many people, I’m looking at time differently these days (and nights). Time moves so quickly that my family jokes the week feels like it’s almost over by Tuesday evening, for Friday and all that that we didn’t finish that week will be here in a few minutes. Back in 2003, I used to eagerly anticipate each volume of the…
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Losing Heroes + Learning While There’s Time

Behind the Scenes· Inspiration· Processes· Teaching· Workshops

7 Aug

Saying goodbye to heroes is tough. We need them more than ever. Just over a mile up the road from me, several former US Presidents and other dignitaries said goodby to our U.S. Congressman and our son’s hero, John Lewis. A few days later I asked my husband why no one had connected Lewis’ legacy and legendary bridge crossing with…
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Praise for Giving Voice: “Remarkable Work”

I love Giving Voice. This remarkable, inspiring and unique book is a magical journey unlike any other and is beautifully done. Rich colors and patterns metamorphise into stunnning images created by reknown artist Victoria Lansford. Her words dance and flow across the pages filled with insightful thoughts and expressions. The music is contemplative, sophistocated and lovely. I would highly recommend this book as a gift to others or for one’s self.

RogueJoan via Apple Books

Praise for Giving Voice: “Amazing”

Giving Voice is what ‘multimedia’ is supposed to be! Visual art, music, and spoken word brought together in a complementary manner. Whether you're checking out a few pages to get a quick pick-me-up of pen, ink, and piano, or parking yourself in one spot to lose yourself in the gestalt, or doing something in between, you’ll find something new inside to keep coming back to.

Anonymous via Apple Books

“Victoria is a true artist and shares her gift teaching with patience, passion, good humor, and enthusiasm…”

I just spent the most wonderful week-end with one of the best teachers that I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Victoria is a true artist and shares her gift teaching with patience, passion, good humor, and enthusiasm...she has an infectious laugh, and you can't help laughing with her while she encourages you to achieve levels of skill that you didn't know you had. 11 other jewelry students and myself came into her workshop on Saturday having never picked up a hammer to do repousse ever before and all learned more from her in this one weekend than we thought possible. She spent time with each of us, pointing out better ways to solve whatever problems that we were having pushing the metal around to make it do our bidding. Victoria, I can't wait until you come back to us!

Patti D'Arbanville
Artist, Actress

“It’s beyond beautiful…”

No painting, song, or sculpture had ever moved me like your art did. It's beyond beautiful, I cannot describe my feelings. Each piece is so organic, they look alive. Each one left me with different feelings, mostly: wonder, amazement, happiness, and curiosity. Some even a soft anger or loss. But each one left me emotionally rolled. You're work is....life changing. I've finally heard the thundering beacon of what I want for my future. And that is to someday be as an amazing of an artist as you.

I thank you so much for what you do.

Alexandria Reyes
Phoenix, AZ

“I wish to compliment you on the wonderful DVD you and your production crew produced to introduce your method, knowledge, and vision for Russian Filigree…”

I wish to compliment you on the wonderful DVD you and your production crew produced to introduce your method, knowledge, and vision for Russian Filigree. The DVD demonstrates, so honestly, your dedication, skill and techniques that you have given to master this artful jewelry. You hold back nothing and give so much. This is the best teaching DVD that I have purchased in a long time. Thank you once more for the opportunity to learn from you.
Cordially,

Dolores Lewis
Dean Emeritus Moore College of Art

“In Japan, Victoria would be considered a national treasure…”

Victoria teaches techniques used for millennia to create many of the great works of art one can see in museums. Though these techniques had fallen into disuse due to their labor intensive nature, Victoria has found many tricks that streamline and improve the processes, and she uses them to make strikingly contemporary pieces rooted in the ancient world.

One will never go into a hardware store with the same mind set again. Students are given a series of challenges and opportunities to grow their own inner voices and are encouraged to create works unique to them, at their levels of ability.

The number of places one can learn these skills in the US can be counted conveniently on one's thumbs. In Japan, Victoria would be considered a national treasure, and she would be funded to pass these skills on to the next generation.

Al Boyers, Metalsmith

Crafting an Artful Life – Victoria’s Blog