Monday, June 02, 2008

Take It Further Challenge- May



The last two months have not been conducive to doing much artwork- but I did not want to skip two months of the challenge. And, I had an idea of what I wanted to do this month (unlike April)- it was just finding the time to do it. So, what I have here is incomplete- I want to add machine quilting- but didn't want to leave it any longer, since who knows when I will be able to get to that.

I have read more discussions than I care to remember on the Quiltart list about quilters, and fiber artists, and can you be an artist if you are a traditional quilter, and what makes an artist. I've wearied of it all, and just decided to call myself, and others like me who find joy (and therapy!) in the process- ARTISTS. I show infrequently, I have yet to make my first sale- so, I think that puts me and many others in the same company as Vincent Van Gogh, who never made a dime off his art.

I admire the work of several artists who use words and letters, such as Rayna Gillman and Rosemary Claus Gray. I'm not pretending that this is on their level, but wanted to experiment with words. I created the words in Elements, printed them on my laser printer, and transferred them to my hand-dyed cotton with Citrasolv.

So here's my declaration to all, I'm an ARTIST!! Learning, growing, creating plenty for my crap quota- but an artist nonetheless. I think I'll hang this on the wall of my studio, something to remind myself when the discouragement hits.

1 comment:

Nellie's Needles said...

Yeah! for you, the ARTIST! Hang it in a prominent place in your studio.

The more you actually say the word, the more you'll feel that it really does apply to you.