Diana Trout's blog

Craftsmanship in Art

Amazing set of comments on Wednesday's post. I hope you'll read through. Now here's the sticky question: how do you manage to improve your craft without freezing yourself with thoughts of "I'm not good enough and I'll never be good enough."? 

Boo writes that she is "accused" of being a perfectionist. Yeah, me too. I ignore those folks and see it as craftsmanship. (And btw, I've responded to all of your comments but they aren't showing up in the list - did you get my replies?)

If you can view other's artwork and craftsmanship as an inspiration to you, this is a good thing. It pushes you forward to make your work speak stronger. Alonquin notes that she's worked hard on her drawing skills over the years and used to confuse this skill with talent. I believe that talent is part of the human condition: it is a desire to communicate (in any artform). The craftsmanship (drawing, for instance) can be learned. Artists are often described as craftsmen in terms of their draftsmanship or drawing. 

I knew a little girl - all grown up now. She would sing at the top of her voice off-key. It may have been torturous for some but to me it was delightful. A big joyful sound. Someone finally told her that she sang off key and that was the end of that glorious song. She could have learned if someone had taken the time. It still breaks my heart.

I loved Jill's story as well. Beautiful Oops by Jamie Lee Curtis is her recommendation and she read it to her children. Beautiful. Karen makes the distinction between a critical eye and a judgemental eye. Read her comment! 

Jeannie has a fabulous story as well about her carpenter-father. Oh my. There is much more to be said. Sing it, sisters! 

Note: I'm devoting my art time on my embroidery craftsmanship. It hasn't stopped me from working on my new art pieces. I'm just slowing down, experimenting and learning 

Perfectionism and Craftsmanship

Perfectionism and Craftsmanship is a topic I've been wanting to bring up for awhile now. I've given this a lot of thought over the years. Shall we discuss? This will be posted in the Taming the Critic category.

From Anthem, by Leonard Cohen

A perfectionist, as I define it, constantly criticizes her work. The notion that the work is not perfect inhibits the individual's ability to show her work or take any pride in it. This harsh attitude brings the creative process to an abrupt halt, you can't progress in your craft. I'm not sure about this, but I think it's a confidence issue. 

A devotion to craftsmanship is the artist's ability to look critically at her work and and see what could be improved and how. I take great pride in my craftsmanship and deeply respect it in others. The craft in everything from writing, to dance, to music to painting inspires me to better my craftsmanship. Craftsmanship = practice.

Here is the link to the original post on Taming the Critic. If you click on Taming the Critic under Categories in the sidebar, you'll have all of the posts in this topic. 

This post just touches the surface of my thoughts on this. I have more posts planned delving a bit further. And I'm sure many of you will have lots to say :)

In the meantime, the chorus of Anthem by Leonard Cohen is quite thought-provoking

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in anything
That's how the light gets in

 

Self Care: Just Do It

 

Something small. The question is what? What little bit of time can you carve out of your day and what would you do with that time? That is the question that needs a practical answer. So make a list. In your journal. Make a list of everything that you can think of from a trip around the world to 30 consecutive minutes with a good book or your journal.

Then whittle down the list to what works for you. Don't steal a minute here and there and think it's self-care. That's what my dad used to call "nickel and dime-in' it." Give yourself the whole danged dollar. And please! share your ideas in the comments. No idea too big or too small. Make a bunch of photocopies of your hand and glue them in your journal What message will you put there? 

And I apologize for my slow response in replying to comments. Today is the day!

In other news and under the label "self-care," I made four cloth napkins using Moda's toweling by the yard which I tripped over here about four months ago whilst drooling over the Cosmo embroidery thread. The toweling fabric is soft and heavy. Hemmed on two sides, all you need do is cut it and hem the other two sides.  The whole project took about 40 minutes. These would make dandy shower gifts, house-warming gifts or hostess gifts wrapped around your potluck entry.

More here and here (lots more!). I'll let you know about service when I place an order. And I will do that. My kitchen towels are a big disgrace and I'm disgruntled at the prices for the cr*p at stores. Getting crotchety, aren't I?

Ahem. Go make your list and I will too.  

PS - this is posted in Taming the Critic. It is the critic we are addressing when we ignore ourselves and nurture all those around us. IMHO, natch.

Related articles

Making it Work: Working From Home With Kids

Self Care; Finish This Journal Page

A journal page for you to print out and finish. 

After reading your responses to the Self-Care post, I wonder... how do you think we can slowly change our ways and give better messages to our daughters?

So for your journaling enjoyment, here is a journal page for you to download and print.  There is space to write and finish in anyway that you'd like. Perhaps on the topic of self-care? Write, color with markers, tear into pieces and glue back together. 

PS: the word "bloom" at the side is from one of Keri Smith's books. 

Download Bloom, Printable, DianaTrout

Self Care and The Critic

Over the summer, I wrote this post about not being well and honoring it. 

Ally commented that she is not very good at self-care. I've wondered why so many women are missing out on the tender nurture we give to so many others. And I have to guess that it's the critic at work again. The critic suggesting that if we (for instance) eat the last two pieces of bread, we aren't taking care of our families. We should leave that bread for them. 

Suggest to yourself a walk, a bit of journal play, a day off without any reason at all. What is the first thing that pops to mind. A year ago, I would have said .. "oh I should be *blah, blah, blah-ing*."

Where does that little voice come from? I'm clearly thinking about this as I write because this is new territory for me. I'm really not sure. At all.

But how about it, wise readers? What do you think?

Art Journaling is a Verb

A Toni Morrison quote today for you. She's so wonderfully rich, isn't she? And the quote from this post is from Richard Iannelli. Feel free to use these quotes with abandon.

Because I Dream

I have fallen into the habit of making backgrounds in my journal while working on art projects and then - days or weeks later - pulling out all of the journaling supplies for a few days and just working through. This process is working for me right now. I need more time to moodle with things. 

little secrets/hidden under/dreaming then coaxed

And parallels ... I've been working on some papercloth pieces and finding, in the painted papers, bird shapes. The birds are already in the paper, I just need to find them - look carefully. 

Notes on materials: The top page background came while I was doing Gelli Prints recently. The stencil was goopy so I stuck it in the journal and made a print then some ink spray. Rub on letters, portfolios smeared, pen and collage. Because I Dream: the illustration was done awhile ago. Then some caran d'ache was smeared around. Marker, inktense pencils and the little black book with some gel pens.

Related articles

Immortal Bird Released in Trade Paperback

Taming the Critic: Art Journal

Sometimes my art journaling is neglected. Loads of "backgrounds" started but no follow-through. It takes a little push to take it further. A bit of moodling with no stopping. In other words, when I run out of ideas for a journal page, I need to DO something else. It may be flipping through a magazine or just picking up a new material.

This all began with a gesso'd page, portfolios, caran d'ache, collage, a pen and finally a quote. I did some more on these pages. 

Quotes are a great way to break the cycle. I like this one: honor your whim.

As an aside and on the topic of whims, if you had peeked into my window on Friday night you would have seen  me attempting to crochet a lace edging onto a hankie. A misguided whim. I finally quit and pulled out some embroidery floss. So don't think the whole hankie thing was a whim. Oh no! More about this another time.

Stencil, Gesso: Art Journal Play

Blogging on Create Mixed Media today, with a tutorial using Stencils, Gesso and Watercolor media. Check out the post right here!

Small Seeds

Inside my journal ... 
are some flowers (watersoluble pen such as a Flair and gesso)

 and  some Sharpie flowers

and sometimes someone else's flowery vision.

It doesn't have to be grand or important, you see? It can be a about a line that meanders across your page with whatever tool is handy. It doesn't have to be a "session" with your journal or a complete sketch. You don't need to put this pressure on yourself. 

I'm thinking of a friend right now (you know who you are). She has a beautiful blank journal and very little time for artmaking. I get that. Her drawings and paintings are "for real." And I get that too. But really? A simple line won't go to waste. 

There is never a wasted moment in life. Every single moment - at the end - is worthy.

Critical Doodling

Another Taming the Critic post ... 

I don't know about you but December is a busy time of year round these parts. There are last minute deadlines and much distraction in the Red & Green form. Journaling gets a bit neglected.

So here's an idea. Pull out your colored pens and your notebook or journal and leave them out (high up, if necessary) and doodle when you have a spare 10 minutes.

{By the way ... there are loads of books on doodling and Zentangling as it is all the rage. There is no right or wrong with doodling: just take your pen for a walk. Just watch any 9 year old.

We're way past the notion that your journal pages need to be beautiful and accomplished and Art, right? Ha. Anyway, here's a beautiful gift to give yourself: doodle and don't care. I had an interesting conversation with myself last night:

M(e): I want to stitch on felt.

C(ritic): You have too many other things to do.

M: I wanna make some felt ornaments

C: How about those 3 artworks you need to finish before the end of the year and the afghan you are making? How about THAT?!

M: You know what Mr. C? Just don't ask. I'm not interested.

J(the husband): What are you doing now?

M: making felt ornaments

J: Cool. 

Have you had similar conversations with your critic? I'd love to hear them.

So yeah! ... make some felt ornaments or doodle or get out a bunch of stickers and stick 'em in your journal or paper scraps and make a bunch of tags in your journal. Keep it small, keep it do-able. Give yourself a gift. XO Diana