Labels : A Rant

This is a repost from 2011. I still feel the same way and was reminded of it recently. 

OK, little bit of a rant here in response to Nancy's excellent comment to this post here:

" ... . I need to remind myself that it is ok to do art journaling and painting just for the fun of it ... The thought of trying to market what I do gives me a headache ... ."  

Right on! (It gives me a headache too). 

First of all, a bunch of years ago, everyone was talking about how hard it was to call themselves "artists." Uh huh, yes. So that they could allow themselves to make art. Ok, are we over that yet? Have we evolved to the point where we can make art as freely as we can dance without the label "dancer." 

How about if you feel like singing in the shower? Do you have to be a "singer" to allow yourself that joy? What is up with this?! This is a very tender spot for me - frankly, it really drives me nuts. Jeez. Labels. 

I am an artist. Yeah, big deal. So I went to art school and did a bunch of paintings and stuck around and did a whole bunch more. This is my craft: artist. Not ME. I'm just ... me. Amongst a lot of other much more important things (mom, wife, auntie, friend), I am a person with training as an artist.

Are you an accountant while paying your bills? A horticulturist when pinching back your jade plant? Do you feel any need to get paid for those things?  

Guess what: You can sing in the shower, dance to the music, garden, make a collage in your journal and a beautiful painting. You don't need the permission of a label. What a burden labels are. They pressure us. I get particularly annoyed when someone says "Oh, she's an ARTIST." As if that gives me permission to wear funny clothes, have outlandish ideas or be disorganized. Yikes! I'd have ideas and a big mouth regardless of my training as an artist. See: that's who I am and the only label I'm wearing says "Diana."

This isn't an easy thing to embrace. No, it takes practice.

 

Whew. I feel much better now. Thoughts? 

 

Comments

[lyle baxter]

right on! Are you the Maid when you clean the bathroom? My neighbor is forever saying( among too many other complaints) "you are an Artist you should blah blah!" as if other people dont do whatever too! I have a friend of many years who is male and an artist (small A)and its ok that he paints! why do women have this problem?

[ainelivia]

... not so much a rant Diana, as a reminder to keep it real... i like your "rant", and you book is good stuff too!!

[Diana Trout]

you are an artist, you SHOULD... . I never thought about this as a problem that women have more than men. Hmmm. Will begin to look for that.

[Diana Trout]

thanks for commenting. We all need reminders and Nancy's comment reminded me - a neat circle.

[Susan]

Keep ranting! It needs to be done. Back when I was a stay at mom that was all I was -supposedly- especially when out to dinner with women who had "careers" that had labels. Well I was more than Mom which is a calling and a career and they were certainly more than their careers and this all left conversation lagging.

Love your book and was more than happy to pay full price at Michael's worth every penny some days I even take it to work just to have a peaceful arty moment!

[Diana Trout]

Thanks Susan, well put. we are more than our faces.

[Hazel]

I know you're right Diana, but this labeling is so powerful that there is something about accepting the "label" for yourself that is infinitely freeing.
My parents believed that to be an "artist" was to be purely self indulgent, as after all, it wasn't really useful was it?! Consequently it took me a long time to realise that to cut that part of myself out, (and stupidly I did try) was to damage myself, and make my life wretched. It was only when I accepted that my main motivation was creative in whatever I did, and am, and allowed myself the label, that I could really begin function as I was made to do.
I hope I haven't been too heavy in my reaction but as a former counsellor/therapist I know the power that words have. We are all multi dimensional, but accepting where our motivational force lies frees us to be more fully who we are.
"Artist" - Yes! bring it on!

[Patty Radish]

Thanks for the "rant" Diana! You put into words something that I've been struggling with for years!

[Diana Trout]

Oh yes, Hazel. You speak so well for so many of us. This is a very complex issue. Thank you for your words here. They have resonated with me. Perhaps I did put the cart before the horse and I should move backwards and will! This topic fully deserves another visit. Thank you and I hope you wont mind if I use your comment in another post?

[Diana Trout]

Hi Patty, thanks for your comment. There will be more on Labels - Hazels comment really puts another point on here which takes this issue to another level. Deeper and more thoughtful...

[Jeannie]

Diana, your "welcome" in your book is what sold me on purchasing it. I thought, this lady "knows" me! For years I hated that those around me labeled me a put me in a box. Then I realized that I allowed them to do this. When I was around them, I performed as the label instructed me to do. That changed. Others still try to put me in the box they are most comfortable having me in, but I am not that person and I do not belong in a box. I am me. I paint, draw, sew, garden, etc. What I did for a living or what I do now are only a small part of ME. Keep ranting. We all need to be reminded every once in a while to just be.

[Nancy Knapp]

Diana, thank you for going further into this subject. It is good to know I'm not the only one who struggles with this. Thoughts of "If I can't paint/sell like (fill in the blank) I'm not going to paint at all" have always preceded a lull in my art. And then when I become miserable from the creative void I throw myself back into it. Crazy!

I went back and re-read the "Welcome" page and zeroed in on the suggestion to "leave the labels out and simply be a person who enjoys making art and writing." Which is what I am DOING now. So much easier to live with than the lofty "artist" label!

[Diana Trout]

Thanks for your thoughts, Nancy. Im glad that helped. There is much more to say about this topic though. It is not an easy thing by a long shot! If its ok, I may use some of your words

[Diana Trout]

Right on, Jeannie! Its sad isnt it when your friends and family have you pegged. More to come on this topic. Thanks for commenting.

[Adrienne]

Love this rant, thanks I needed that!

[Hzael]

Read something somewhere about not wanting to have got to the end of a life by just living it's length, but by having lived it's depth/breadth as well. I probably haven't got it as it was written but I guess the struggle for us all is to be all that we can be, and not to let that joy be taken away by our own "labelling"/limiting of ourselves, and certainly not anybody elses's either.
Thanks Diana you've helped us think, and vent, and search for new meaning and purpose.
Love you for that! x

[Diana Trout]

More to come on the topic ... Thanks for commenting!

[Diana Trout]

Love that, Hazel: living lifes depth and breadth, not just its length. This is so much a practice: living large

[Sandra L.]

Labels are for jars, I say!
Love this post. I need to not put pressure on myself. Sometimes I feel like "artist" means I must make something "stupendous." Like I can't write in my art journal unless I have something BIG to say.

I too am getting headaches from thinking about "marketing."

BTW, you have the right to wear those Harry Potter pants anytime, in my book! Love ya!

[Diana Trout]

labels are for jars, I love this.

[Jo Vandermey]

I have started dabbling in art quilting... and I have sold 2 pieces. Some of my friends are pushing me to sell in a bigger way, produce more... sell at venues... etc.
This encouragement has actually stopped my creativity. Now everything I try to create is hard because it has become is this sale worthy.
So for now no labels for me and I am going back to having fun. Being an "artist" is to much pressure.

[Diana Trout]

You gave me a smile with that last line, Jo. The largest challenge for professional artists is to keep in touch with their inner voice. First make the art and THEN market. (Not the other way around).

[Adrianne]

Good post. AND I love how you illustrated your point with the photo. It's a great photo. First, I notice the poppies, then the beautiful line of yellow green in the distance, THEN the map of Italy on the hillside. Incredible! Thank you! Your blog and book are awesome.

Adrianne

[Diana Trout]

Oh my gosh! There is a map of Italy on the hillside! So cool - I'll bet you are good at "Where's Waldo?" :)
thanks for your nice comment

[Aloquin]

Wow, all of these comments hit home. The "Artist" label indeed puts pressure on creative types... I have personally been drawing from my crib (I'll let you figure that one out) and would get in trouble later on for scribbling in my text books and all over my desk. So many people would tell me, as a child, that "you have so much talent! You should be an Artist." So, of course, I expected it to be my "career" and for me to make money at it, which I have done, but not consistently, which makes me feel as a failure. Ridiculous, I know! Not only is the "Artist" label a tough one, but the "Professional Artist" one cuts even deeper. I mean, who honestly is a "Professional Artist?" How many pieces do you have to sell in order to qualify? Or must we all struggle with our inner creative, only to be realized once we are dead, never able to bask in the accolades of the public... it's all hogwash. If you want to take a crayon to a piece of paper, DO IT. You do not need to be society's version of an "Artist" in order to be your own artist :) That's my 2 cents.

[Diana Trout]

Yes, that was quite a conversation. So many deep feelings associated with this topic. It is nice to air them out!

[Nancy]

My labels: Lefty, Leo, Librarian, Loner...whatever...
They are all part of me, but I am MEEEEEEE!

[zinnia patch]

Good Morning, Diana
Just love your post and saying "yes, Yes, as I read all the comments! And this gives me the perfect opportunity to tell you something I always put off telling you, but I have always loved your book! It goes with me all around the house. when I get discouraged with my art I grab your book. I have notes on the pages, made a pocket for the front to keep ideas in and on the welcome page I have written" I already love this book" and that was just from reading the welcome page. I have circled in bright blue colored pencil your comment-- "Now go to it! Make some messy journal pages. Go Skedaddle!" Thank you Diana for being you!!!!!!!

[Diana Trout]

That is so nice to hear! I should read it more often myself ;-)

[Wendy Watson]

Great post Diana! I paint, stitch, make, print, construct, carve, write and don't much care whether it's art or whether I'm an artist or just someone who loves to muck around. It's what I do, how I love to spend my time and I don't have much of a choice about it. Whether anyone thinks what I do is art and that I'm an artist, well I don't give a damn because it doesn't change anything for me. I do it primarily for me even if I intend give it away or sell it.

Labels are definitely for jars and I loathe labels as much as questionnaires.

[Diana Trout]

Wendy, as usual you say it beautifully. Labels are for jars. The only explanation I can figure out is that when you make art you leave a mark. And people are so afraid that the mark won’t be beautiful. Dancing, singing are there and gone. I wish it wasn’t like that. Is it the same in NZ and other places you’ve lived? I’ve wondered if this is an American problem.

[Wendy Watson]

No, I think not just an American problem Diana but one I am content to leave to others to solve. We can all just go on doing what we love creating OUR art. And I think for many like me who are untrained, and don't figure on earning a living from it, it is less of an issue.

The more I think of this the more it interests me . . . much of what I do could be considered craft, the making of something useful and/or decorative but when would it become art? It's not training. In my mind it's in the execution, the developing of a concept and originality . . . that, for me, makes art and would make me an artisan.

I was with a friend when she told someone she was an artist. Later we discussed it and said she was comfortable with that label because art it what drives her . . . and I think that's a pretty good reason. The quality of her art is quite another thing.

I don't think there will ever be agreement aout what art is or who can call themselves an artist so we should perhaps just decide individually and leave it at that.

[Diana Trout]

I wish we could all go back to kindergarten. If you ask a 5 year old who has painted a picture if she is an artist, the response is “yes!

[Terrie Waterstraut]

Thank you for this post and the philosophy in your book. I am visiting my son and family in MN and my daughter in law asked what I'd been doing lately, and I tried to explain art journaling to her. Doesn't have to be pretty, or 'good', and doesn't have to have any significance to anyone but me. I never took art classes because "I can't draw". So now you have me trying techniques and media that I'd never have tried if not for your book. I gave Nadia your name and said you and your website would give her a definitive answer to what art journaling is all about. Your book is inspirational to me because the drawings aren't perfect and I'm sure are not meant to be; that helps me not to be too self-critical. I'm not as free as I want to be, but at least I'm on the way.

[Diana Trout]

How nice to hear from you, Terrie. Your story is an inspiration to me and resonates deeply. I appreciate that you took the time to write. It’s so hard for us, especially women (why is that?) to not be self critical. We are all on the same path. Enjoy your family in MN and safe travels.