For many years, I've recognized the fact that for me crafting is healing. When I'm making something whether it be knitting, crocheting or art journaling the process and the completion can be a transformative healing experience.
Lately, this notion has even more resonance because I've been going through some really difficult times. Deaths of friends and distant family members, chronic illness, betrayals by new so called friends and a no good boyfriend. Have all left me feeling angry, lonely and abandoned. Consequently, all of these issues have left my heart raw with pain. But instead of screaming with rage or to paraphrase the title from a Loretta Lynn song going to "Fist City", I make something.
Yet when I take up my knitting needles,crochet hook or pen and paintbrush, I can create a healing salve for my heart through my art craft.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Negotiating Bliss
The main thing I find annoying about being an artist is trying to survive in the real world. How do you neotiate with the world so you can "Follow your Bliss"
I didn't want to resign myself to taking another survival job that is the means to the end. But it's getting down to the wire for me and I might have to do that.
I hate working for corporations, bureaucracies and other people's businesses. maybe it's because as an African American woman I'm uber aware of the relationship of hierarchy and power. I can clearly see how people who are placed or but themselves in a position of authority usually end up trying to manipulate and yield power over others for their own benefit.
As I artist I can control my own destiny by doing something that I love and skilled at for profit. This is the ideal but in today's modern world the concept of art has been warped by the edit of for profit consumerism and materialism.
I've racked my brain to try and figure out what would be the best think to do. yes, I want to follow my Bliss. But doing so requires that I find a means to the ends that will help me to finance and maintain it without burning myself out or living in poverty. I'll let you know how I do with that!
I didn't want to resign myself to taking another survival job that is the means to the end. But it's getting down to the wire for me and I might have to do that.
I hate working for corporations, bureaucracies and other people's businesses. maybe it's because as an African American woman I'm uber aware of the relationship of hierarchy and power. I can clearly see how people who are placed or but themselves in a position of authority usually end up trying to manipulate and yield power over others for their own benefit.
As I artist I can control my own destiny by doing something that I love and skilled at for profit. This is the ideal but in today's modern world the concept of art has been warped by the edit of for profit consumerism and materialism.
I've racked my brain to try and figure out what would be the best think to do. yes, I want to follow my Bliss. But doing so requires that I find a means to the ends that will help me to finance and maintain it without burning myself out or living in poverty. I'll let you know how I do with that!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Business of Art
Yes, it's cliche maintaining and growing a new business is not easy. But in many ways I think it might be more difficult for creative people.
When you create your product as opposed to mass production or importing, you have sole responsibility for productivity and profit. The key is how do you create quality innovative items, find a market for those items and produce enough for profit? Who your market is and how to create for them is always a constant balancing act.
The other problem a lot of artist have is finding and maintaining a good place to work i.e. studio. A lot of creative people such as myself have to work out of our home. But this is often not the optimal setup because there are constant inside and outside distractions or interferences. Ideally, I'd love to have a carriage house or a bigger place with a separate room to use for my studio. Years ago, I had a carriage house and this was the ideal place for me to work.
However, one of the major I've found is working with other creative people. Getting people to see eye to eye and to live up to their part of the business bargain can really be a problem. It seems to me that, artistic people are prone to romanticize and personalize their business partnerships.
As a result, I'm leaning towards working solo, because that way I'm in sole executor of the balancing act. Most importantly, I can continue to decide what type of products I want to create and chose my market and hopefully maintain quality with innovation and beauty.
I'm a fiber artist because I love creating with yarn, I love working with my hands and I know knitting/crocheting is a skill and an art. But in this present economy and working with limited resources I need to develop and maintain an optimal way for me to get and keep my business going.
I'm faced with having to work a day job. But I'm determined this time to not let eat me alive and drain me of my creative energy. I'm an artist and I want to "be" an artist.
When you create your product as opposed to mass production or importing, you have sole responsibility for productivity and profit. The key is how do you create quality innovative items, find a market for those items and produce enough for profit? Who your market is and how to create for them is always a constant balancing act.
The other problem a lot of artist have is finding and maintaining a good place to work i.e. studio. A lot of creative people such as myself have to work out of our home. But this is often not the optimal setup because there are constant inside and outside distractions or interferences. Ideally, I'd love to have a carriage house or a bigger place with a separate room to use for my studio. Years ago, I had a carriage house and this was the ideal place for me to work.
However, one of the major I've found is working with other creative people. Getting people to see eye to eye and to live up to their part of the business bargain can really be a problem. It seems to me that, artistic people are prone to romanticize and personalize their business partnerships.
As a result, I'm leaning towards working solo, because that way I'm in sole executor of the balancing act. Most importantly, I can continue to decide what type of products I want to create and chose my market and hopefully maintain quality with innovation and beauty.
I'm a fiber artist because I love creating with yarn, I love working with my hands and I know knitting/crocheting is a skill and an art. But in this present economy and working with limited resources I need to develop and maintain an optimal way for me to get and keep my business going.
I'm faced with having to work a day job. But I'm determined this time to not let eat me alive and drain me of my creative energy. I'm an artist and I want to "be" an artist.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Crafting Culture and Survival
Crafting for survival has been happening since the millennium. Our ancestors used to barter for goods and services. As a result, skilled crafts people were respected and honored in their communities. Their work was admired for it's beauty and purpose. Many people aspired to follow in their footsteps. seeking apprenticeships from master artisans.
The gold work of the Benin, baskets from Ghana, musical instruments from Mali and Morocco. Today the baskets of the Gullah in SC and the Black potters of Georgia evoke these traditions.
I remember my Mom telling me that when she was a little girl Black people were not allowed to try on clothes or shoes in dept stores. As a result, almost all creative fashionable Black women knew how to sew, knit and crochet. Not only to make garments for themselves and their family but to have a marketable skill that they could use as a financial resource. Jackie Kennedy recognized this. That's why she had African American designer Ann Lowe created her wedding dress.
Rarely is crafting discussed or presented in relation to Black American or African people. Like much of our history and lives it's riddled with the prevailing stereotypes and bigotries. In spite of this, me like other Black artisans have decided to forge ahead in the Spirit of the craft and ancestors.
The gold work of the Benin, baskets from Ghana, musical instruments from Mali and Morocco. Today the baskets of the Gullah in SC and the Black potters of Georgia evoke these traditions.
I remember my Mom telling me that when she was a little girl Black people were not allowed to try on clothes or shoes in dept stores. As a result, almost all creative fashionable Black women knew how to sew, knit and crochet. Not only to make garments for themselves and their family but to have a marketable skill that they could use as a financial resource. Jackie Kennedy recognized this. That's why she had African American designer Ann Lowe created her wedding dress.
Rarely is crafting discussed or presented in relation to Black American or African people. Like much of our history and lives it's riddled with the prevailing stereotypes and bigotries. In spite of this, me like other Black artisans have decided to forge ahead in the Spirit of the craft and ancestors.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Magic of Hand Crafting
Crafting for me is sacred work. I think it's mystical and magical to be able to take a ball of yarn and turn it into an object of art. It doesn't matter if you wear it or display it. The fact that a human hand mind, heart conceived of such a thing is ingenious to me. But now days our current modern society is so machine oriented most people have no concept of the human touch.
Today as I was thumbing through some textiles magazines, It's so clear that most textile fashion designers use knitting machines or other assistance. They rarely, if ever knit by hand or create the entire garment themselves.
On the other hand, I knit and crochet by hand. I'm trying to teach myself how to use a drop whorl spindle to make yarn and I do have a few small hand looms. But I have never used a knitting machine. I have pride and find solace in the feel of the yarn and my stitch work. I like the ebb and flow of a project in progress. For me it's wonderfully fulfilling when a piece comes out as beautiful as I imagined-Magic.
Today as I was thumbing through some textiles magazines, It's so clear that most textile fashion designers use knitting machines or other assistance. They rarely, if ever knit by hand or create the entire garment themselves.
On the other hand, I knit and crochet by hand. I'm trying to teach myself how to use a drop whorl spindle to make yarn and I do have a few small hand looms. But I have never used a knitting machine. I have pride and find solace in the feel of the yarn and my stitch work. I like the ebb and flow of a project in progress. For me it's wonderfully fulfilling when a piece comes out as beautiful as I imagined-Magic.
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