Inspiration, Aspiration, and Jon Stuart Anderson

Guest Blog Post by Teresa Pandora Salgado

Van Gogh admitted to the world, “I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.”  Me too, Vincent.

One of the most infuriatingly fabulous things I cannot do is make cane like Jon Stuart Anderson.  Jon creates canes in a cunning palette that leans in close and whispers, “Go ahead…take your time…look at me.” And I surely do. And the world does too.

I love the way Jon cruises nimbly past the pedestrian cane crossing. He jaywalks that trodden path without ever touching the ground. Obvious contrast? He doesn’t need it, no matter how much the cane is reduced.  Nor does he require new colors. Jon keeps it fresh with precision, composition, and balance. Neat trick.

Jon Anderson is known for his millefiori animals: elephants, turtles, bulls, and birds. You’ll notice the creatures have a flesh and blood sense about them, a beating heart beneath their rich robes.  So you look and you look and then, just when you think you know him, Jon takes you to another fork in the road. To the left, skulls, vessels, lights. And to the right, guitars. Ohhh, the guitars.

So, go ahead. Look. Be inspired. Aspire.

See Jon’s work at his website here. 

Teresa Pandora Salgado is a polymer clay artist, designer & instructor from Los Angeles, California. She has made 87 YouTube tutorials which have garnered over 2 million hits from viewers in 151 countries. In addition to teaching live workshops on millefiori complex caning across the U.S., Teresa helms the online store, Tiny Pandora Crafting Boutique, which featuresMilll her specialized tools and kits.