It has been interesting to think through the comments left on the last post, I am impressed with the ideas presented. Some of the comments have been taken off-line and I have had some interesting exchanges that way too. In the meantime, I have been journaling up a storm.
This page is in process. I drew the large chair on the left while sitting for coffee at Starchucks in SoHo. I drew it too small for the page, so I scanned the drawing, enlarged and transfered it back onto the same page with Saral paper. Now I want to dirty the page up but don't have the pen I would like in order to do it.
And this is my boy Arrow. I love the drawing of him. He was sitting across from my work table, staring at me, wanting my lap and yelling whenever I looked at him. He is getting old and his body is looking angular. I think I nailed his shape.
So, here are my further thoughts on journaling, visual and art.
If we are truly having the discussion on art versus craft, I would like to clarify my stance. Craft is the embrace and perfection of a technique, idea or process. Furniture making, traditional quilting, shoe making, fashion design can all be called craft and often border on the concept of art. The word craft has been maligned in the last decade and this saddens me, read this article on the name change at the American Craft Museum.
Then I think we need to think about the word craft in light of Craft Stores, you know the ones. That is where I get my beloved Craft Foam. And I must say, I love these stores, I don't know that I would have delved so deeply into art had I not had one of these stores available to me and had the chance to amble through the big ill lit space and marvel at the possibilities. Now though, I detest these stores for their cheap, low quality items.
The real discussion isn't so much is art journaling art (it most certainly is) as does it push the boundaries of self and medium.
For me, unless there is a drawn element, it is not challenging (enough). Does it push me as an artist to confront my own fears? And I do fear drawing, making mistakes, making bad drawings. Does it push me to see and evaluate the world around me? Does art journaling embrace artistic concepts of composition, color and line? Does it push me to find my voice? And that last question IS THE question for me.
I often come across all the excuses, as though learning to draw is unlike learning to drive, you either have the talent or do not. Malarche. Each and every person who decides to learn to draw needs to pick up a pencil and make the commitment to begin. All children know how to do this, we just forget as we grow older. It takes lots of bad drawings to get a good drawing, like photographers who take 100 photos to get the one great photo.
So today we will go to the Met to see the Picasso exhibit. I've gone once before, David has not. I am going to bring my journal and copy Picasso. Now he knew his stuff and he never let himself relax. He challenged all his boundaries. I aspire. And that is all I can do. Aspire to be as good as those I admire. I like that word.
I'll try to keep this short -LOL! I am watching our elder cat become more angular also. Why is it as I age I get rounder and he angular? While gardening I had an epiphany about drawing and me. When I learned to knit, sew, etc, I learned quickly and had a product that although not "perfect" it was useable. Drawing is like learning to write cursive. It takes a lot of determination to do the exercises and practice so as to become fluent. I need to make the time to practice and not worry about if it is any good. That's not always easy to do! The semantics of craft has gotten so weird, like quilter. I think of people who create beautiful pieces of art, furniture, potter, needlework and the craftmanship involved. The other side of the coin is the make it in 2 hours and to heck with how it looks as long as you made something. The later seems to be paying the bills for craft stores. I have 3 within 10 miles and the closest quality art supply store is 215 miles. Hope you had a fantastic day at the museum. Hugs.
I meant to tell you that we share an affinity for chairs, too. Whenever I see an interesting chair on the street, I bring it home for my garden. It drives my husband nuts. I don't know why I feel like chairs retain the magic of souls, but they seem to, don't they?
And I call my garden art too! HAHAHA!!!!!! I'm so glad that I don't worry about the art/craft thing anymore, although if I were forced to make a stance, I'd agree pretty much with what you've said here.
Just LOVE your work!
Your journal pages, and your words, really inspire me. I think you described craft perfectly.
I am completely inspired by your drawing, and it reminds me that I haven't been doing it as much lately. Like all things, the only way I get better is to "just do it". Thanks for writing about this, Melly.
Wow. I was wondering what you were going to do with that. I love how you took the chair out of the box! Can't wait to see how that progresses!
I like what you said about craft. It is a complicated word. There is craft like at a summer camp or after school program with precut pieces of foam or wood and macaroni art. And, there is craft like exquisitely designed and pieced marquetry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquetry) or Saga Nishiki weaving (http://www.saga-cci.or.jp/tokusan/nishiki/eng/proces/index.html ). Craft used to be about skill and dedication to quality, now it is more just making anything.
I have an appreciation for the big box stores. I can afford to get expensive tools, pens and paints at a reasonable price using a 40% off coupon. I can satisfy my inner critic by purchasing cheap paint and paper and just painting freely by myself and with my boys without thinking that I am wasting ... until I don't like a lot of them and want to toss them ... but that is another problem. ;) There is also a place for the true art store with people who are working with the materials and high quality materials. Absolutely.
Glad to hear you say that you struggle like the rest of us. Sometimes with reading blogs, there is a finished piece and a description and it seems like magic. I see my many sketches and sometimes full pieces that are less than what I was trying to achieve. And, in comparison, sometime "art" seems out of reach. I too keep trying and hope to find my voice. I think that you already have a strong and wonderful voice. A couple of them actually. So keep on singing. I like the tunes.
Thanks for sharing your process, your progress and your challenges.
AMEN! Whenever some says "I wish I could do blah, blah, blah as well as blah, blah, blah" I tell them to just keep doing it! You have to make a LOT of mistakes before you become good at something. I need to listen to my own advice. ;)
Thanks for sharing your beautiful art.