What does SRA stand for?
Self Representing Artist
What is a Self
Representing Artist?
A self representing artist is someone who creates and sells their or their
immediate families work. A self representing artist does not sell mass
produced beads under the SRA logo.
Why buy from Self
Representing Artist?
A self representing artist has spent a great deal of time perfecting their
work. They love their work and want their clients to love it to. The love
of the art is what keeps the self representing artist creating. Most self
representing artists have quality guarantees. If you have a problem with
an item purchased, most artists will work with you to make it right. A
self representing artist's reputation for creating and selling quality
items is very important to them.
What should I
know about mass produced glass items?
In many circumstances the glass items may not have been cleaned properly.
In the case of lampwork beads, the holes are not cleaned of the bead release.
The jewelry designer must clean the bead release which can cause an inhalation
hazard from the bead release dust. Many times the items are not annealed
or you have no guarantee that they have been annealed properly. Many times
the bead holes are rough and can cut the stringing material.
What is annealing?
Annealing is a process of holding and cooling the glass at the proper
temperatures. Different types of glass have different temperature requirements.
If the glass is cooled too quickly, the glass has stress. This stress
can cause the glass item to break immediately, months or years later.
What does the
SRA logo mean?
When you see this logo, you will be assured that the seller is selling
only their or their immediate families work. They have been approved by
a committee to display the logo. Some sellers will eventually link this
logo to a master list of SRA artists. Anyone using the logo without permission
will be guilty of copyright infringement and will be reported. SRA artists
come from all around the world. When you buy from an SRA artist you are
supporting the artist directly, not the middle man.
What if I like
someone's items and they do not display the logo?
There are many SRA artists who may sell without the logo. This is where
you as a buyer are going to have to do a bit of sleuthing. Check this
sellers other auctions. In general, if they have hundreds of items selling
at a time, you can guess that they probably did not make all those items.
In the case of lampwork beads, look at the bead holes, they should be
cleaned of release.
Look for This Logo on Websites,
on Auctions etc...
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