Ever feel fragmented.. what direction to go in? In a month I turn 50. The age does not bother me but defining what I want to do for the next season of my life does.
Most of my married life I have had kids to rule and guide. They are still there but more independent than ever.
I thought I would have so much free time when they were grown. My life has been defined in how much work I get done. Meet a deadline. Make pies, bake pies! (lots of fundraisers for those kids)
I even crammed more sewing in the day when the kids were small than I do now.
Now that I am "into" art quilting I find as I delve deeper into it I can be more intimidated by presenting what I am making. Critique is good but oh so hard.
It is like I want a course outline to follow so I can check the accomplishments off of the list.
I wonder what others think of this.
Do you ever feel you need a list to check off so you can put the label of fiber artist on yourself?
If you stumble by leave an opinion.
Share my question if you have more blog readers than me. (None of my family even read what I write - although to give them credit none of them probably are aware that I even have a blog)
Off for the day .... again.
http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/art_deco_design.html
(First random image I latched onto when searching for free art design)
Most of my married life I have had kids to rule and guide. They are still there but more independent than ever.
I thought I would have so much free time when they were grown. My life has been defined in how much work I get done. Meet a deadline. Make pies, bake pies! (lots of fundraisers for those kids)
I even crammed more sewing in the day when the kids were small than I do now.
Now that I am "into" art quilting I find as I delve deeper into it I can be more intimidated by presenting what I am making. Critique is good but oh so hard.
It is like I want a course outline to follow so I can check the accomplishments off of the list.
I wonder what others think of this.
Do you ever feel you need a list to check off so you can put the label of fiber artist on yourself?
If you stumble by leave an opinion.
Share my question if you have more blog readers than me. (None of my family even read what I write - although to give them credit none of them probably are aware that I even have a blog)
Off for the day .... again.
http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/art_deco_design.html
(First random image I latched onto when searching for free art design)
7 comments:
I just turned 50 two weeks ago, and I feel kind of the opposite of you - I'm really excited for the future, for this next phase - I already know what I want to do and having a joint goal (BSP is totally on board) is giving new life and breath to our marriage as well as excitement and stimulus to our everyday conversation! And isn't having a goal always an impetus for growth and forward movement?
As for the art - I've only been making it for two years, but I have very little concern about critque. lol
I think in part, because my blog was ever a process blog (it's never been a "ta dah! look at my pefect piece of perfection") but a thrice-weekly sharing of how I get there, warts and all. So when I moved from making bed quilts to making art, I continued in the same way. Perhaps that's why I'm not so invested in how it's received?
This year I've been showing - 4 galleries have requested my work and the one fine art show I applied to has accepted my work (and I know how unusual and lucky that is!); but those requests and acceptances have further validated my belief that I'm just going to make what I want/must/need to make and if it's not to a particular person/show/gallery's liking, that's fine - the work is an expression of me, and doesn't necessarily need a bigger audience than my blog readers.
Their thoughts/enjoyment/disavowal and/or "critique" of that work is welcome, but doesn't impinge on what I do all that much.
I included the name "art" in my blog title more as an aspirational thing than a concrete belief in what I was doing when I first named it, but somewhere along the way that became true. I think that I'm not nearly as good an artist as I will be someday, but as middlin' as my efforts are at the present time, I'm confident in calling myself an artist.
I make art. Good, bad, or indifferent. That's what makes me an artist. You know? :)
Whoo! Sorry for the novella! :)
Well 50 was a good decade ago and I am just getting used to the idea of artist. I went from sewing to quilting to art quilts to mixed media stuff. The gallop was fast and my ideas far outpaced my abilities! I need to settle in and find my best techniques and my own style. So I struggle a bit but I am becoming more comfortable with being an artist with a 'studio'! lol As far as critique goes I think we know when we have done our best and we can search out answers!
I saw you left a comment on Lyric's blog, and I mostly came over because I was trying to figure out the title of your blog. I was reading "these wing geek." It wasn't till I read your bio and saw the word sewinggeek that I got it!
When you choose a "name" you just assume it is going to be read in the same way that you read it! Thanks for stopping by.
Jo
I don't know what your background is or what kind of education you have in art, but I think it is always good to get some grounding in basic design, composition, color theory and a smidge of art history to give you confidence and a place to start as an artist. Not talking about a college degree (though if you like that idea it is never too late!) but a class or two online or at a local college, or even through books--there are plenty out there. I'm not talking about quilt classes, I am talking about ART classes!
My degree/diploma was in nursing. I think the suggestion of some good basic art classes would be a good idea.
I do have some trouble with what art is. I do not always understand modern art. I am trying to open my mind but somethings that are out there are "art" because someone sayes it is. It must be my practical farm girl nature that is plugging in.
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