synergy snippets #2
Susan Lomuto | Feb 29, 2008 | Comments 13
Synergy Conference Panel Discussion
Inspiration, Originality and Infringement
On permission to call yourself an artist and finding your artistic voice:
Elise Winters: “Take the time to allow yourself to be the student, the trainee. Call yourself an artist NOW – you can be a great artist without feeling like you have to go to a craft show and sell it.”
“You do yourself a disservice when you think you own the work you learn from a master artist. Recognize that it’s not your own. You will know when you’ve found your own voice because when it happens, your heart will soar.”
[EDITED to ADD: You can hear Elise speak in greater depth about the topic with Alison Lee on this Craftcast podcast.]
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On a personal note, Elise’s words resonated with me because I am still learning from the masters and I don’t sell my work and I am waiting for that moment when my heart sings and guess what? I am an artist. The hardest part was giving myself permission to call myself an artist, but I felt liberated when I gave up that struggle.
Have you given yourself permission to call yourself an artist or do you struggle with the title of ‘Artist’? Do you agree that you can be an artist without selling your work or do you think that selling your work justifies the title? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Oh Susan, you speak to a subject that I think about a lot.
Elise is the only “professional” artist I have ever heard say those words. Generally I hear the title “hobbyist” bandied about by artists who sell their work. (even at Synergy, btw) The title “hobbyist” is said in a disparaging tone, and apparently encompasses a wide variety of skill levels.
I find that discouraging in many ways. On a personal level because I feel that the title and tone disparages my work, and my commitment to my work. On a wider level I find the generalization of the term “hobbyist”, and the way it is applied fails to take into account the passion with which individuals of all skill levels embrace the medium of polymer clay. Still, I can appreciate the frustration of the working artist at a retail show hearing the comments of “Oh, I can make that at home” and “That’s that Sculpty stuff the kids play with”.
I loved hearing Jeff Dever refer to his polymer work as his avocation. He went on to say that although he doesn’t actively sell his work, he is called to make it. Clearly, Jeff is at the pinnacle of this segment, but I wish that working artists would acknowledge and respect the “artist of avocation” for lack of a better term.
As for myself, I am called to make my work. I am physically and emotionally diminished without the process of creating art/craft (art jewelry, but that’s a whole other argument). I strive to improve my work both technically and aesthetically. I do not have an MFA, and I only sell pieces when other people collect the taxes such as at conferences and through my guild. I have learned to call myself an artist. I want to believe that I am more than a “hobbyist”, that I am truly an artist in the eyes of other artists, but I often feel I can’t quite claim that title because I am not actively marketing my jewelry.
Libby,
Thanks for your heartfelt comment – I’ll tell you a story about an artist who helped me jump the hurdle of whether or not I should call myself an artist.
The first time I walked into Si Lewen’s house, he took me downstairs to the basement studio where he painted and where more than a thousand of his paintings were stored. Si was in his 80’s and the studio was bursting with the small, medium and larger than life canvases. I was moved to tears more than once while studying this incredible body of work and when we sat down to talk I was surprised to hear that after receiving worldwide acclaim in the 1950’s and 60’s he decided to stop selling his work. “Art is not a commodity.” This dear, brilliant man continued to paint for several hours every day, well into his 80’s and did not sell a single painting for almost thirty years. He is an artist. A working artist. But an artist who does not sell his work. We had more than one lively conversation about art and one time, after looking at pictures of my vessels he addressed me as an artist – I became shy and self-conscious. Me? An artist? Surely he was just being kind (to know him is to know that he only says what he means).
I make art because I have to. For years I worked full time and also spent at least 25-30 hours a week in the studio learning, making, teaching. When asked, I never had a problem telling people that “I make art”, but I always tripped over calling myself an artist. Wasn’t an artist someone whose work was exhibited in galleries or high end shops? Isn’t that what we were taught in school? Heck, my degree is in horticulture and human welfare – no MFA here. And my career has been in non-profit administration – no art to be found there.
After a confusing internal struggle about what makes an artist an artist, Si helped me understand that part of the definition of an artist lies somewhere in here: connecting with the material, working hard to deepen that connection, striving to make my next piece better than the last piece, remaining passionate and staying the course over years and through the struggle.
I am not a professional artist, but I am an artist. There are many who would disagree, but so what? I am an artist. I may never have a body of work as profound and moving as Si Lewen’s, but I will continue to strive to make my art meaningful.
Read more about Si on his website: Si Lewen
perhaps i am showing my age here, but i would scream artist from the rooftops with abandon. as we all should. we are all artists, living, searching, creating until we find the medium that is indigenous to our heart. of this i am certain.
Jessica,
Not showing your age at all my dear – and you might relate to this quote as well:
“The only thing that is not Art is inattention.” – Marcel Duchamp
“The only thing that is not Art is inattention.” – Marcel Duchamp
OOOO I wish I had that Quote when my High School Art Teacher gave me an F because he didn’t approve of my personal definition of art as a 17 yr old. (I am sure I wouldn’t approve of it now either…but DID ask our O P I N I O N)…hum, I think I have a resentment.
Thanks for the great Topic.
When I first dabbled with craft ( about 10 years ago), some of my creations have elicited compliments of my being a fine artist. I felt underserving and to this day, the word artist still feels like a foreign overcoat. I am however, proudly, a craftswoman, critical and meticulous in my chosen medium, loving every minute that I am able to work with my hands, learning from other artists! hobbyists, craftman as well as anything in life that yield spirituality, energy and positive thinking. I also find that when I have a deadline to create a body of work for an exhibit or a show, there is a degree of pressure added to my creative energy. Will the body of work show cohesively, will they sell? Those concerns and sometimes stress are connected to the fact that I was considered an “artist” worthy of an exhibit or selling booth. I was grateful for every opportunity, but “artist” is simply a title. Last time I looked into the Webster’s dictionary, it does not define joy, angst or struggle.
And when I create simply for the pleasure of it, especially when I bolt upright in the middle of the night with this sreaming fit to start wedging my clay, I often end up with a piece that contains my true ability, it reflects my progress, but most of all, the freedom to make as I wish, no price tag, no time line. There are no title in the world commensurable with this blessing.
My hat is off to all the artists of the world who have inspired me in my journey. When I retired from 23 years of retail work, I was ecstatic to find that I have a new passion, one that I know will carry me for the rest of my life. One that requires no title or pay scale, and every morning, I get to say “what to make, what to make today????”
Molly – Good to know that you followed your heart’s definition instead of your high school teacher’s definition. In my book an opinion never gets an “F” – even if I don’t agree with it. The world would be mighty boring without individual opinions!
slenz – Thank you for sharing your story – I can easily relate to the joy of ‘making for the sake of making’ – it is part of what carries me. In fact, I hope to spend the rest of this sunny day figuring out “what to make, what to make today?”
Susan,
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. As I sat and listened to Elise’s words and other’s at Synergy, I felt my heart swell with the realization that we are all artists. No matter whether we sell our work or not, went to art school or not, create full-time or part-time, use metal or stone or glass or polymer clay or beads or paper or whatever material we choose. We are all artists because to us creating is as vital to our bodies and souls as breathing. It is how we express our spirit, our heart, our minds and communicate to the world who we are.
We are artists!
-Karen
Karen – So glad the conversation resonated with you – I think Elise was trying to encourage us to embrace the ‘artist’ title without feeling the pressure to sell our work. If people are rushing to sell their work (before it is ready) so that they can feel justified using the title of ‘artist’ then is anyone really being served? The message I heard was “wait. learn. get good at what you do. don’t rush the experience of being the student. enjoy yourself as an artist. sell when you are ready. sell when there is a market for your work, but only if that is what you want.”
I always intended to make good art, and I’m very serious about my art, but I never intended to sell it. I’ve experienced the curious phenomenon of having people make assumptions about my work from the beginning: fellow students didn’t believe that I was a beginner when I was really just taking baby steps; friends, family, colleagues and others who enjoyed my vessels did not understand why I wasn’t selling my work and really pushed me to do so; some people just did not believe that I didn’t sell my work and insisted on having my business card. This began six years ago, at a time when I was new to the medium (and new to making art) and I understand that it can be a heady experience to have people think that your work is good enough to sell – but that doesn’t mean you OR your work is really ready. I’m glad that I didn’t succumb to the pressure and I know that there is probably a market there should I change my mind, but for now I’m content to continue to work at my art without the added pressure of making it my business. And Karen – art makes me as much as I make art.
Susan,
You’re words are beautifully chosen. I too found this discussion to be deeply resonating. I don’t have any formal art school training (except for high school classes), have had negative reinforcement, and less than supportive encouragement. I even stopped making art for a period of time.
After two careers (speech pathology and technical writing), I returned to my love of art and slowly found the most supportive community of people I’ve ever encountered. Ironically, it took a couple of years before I would call myself an artist even though those who bought my work and my husband called me an artist.
I’m not sure why we find ourselves caught in this struggle. I asked my husband if he considers himself a musician (he plays keyboards as an avocation.) He assuredly said yes and went on to explain than in the world of music anyone who plays an instrument is called a “musician.” Those who don’t get paid may be called “musicians” or “amatuer musicians” whereas those who get paid are “professional musicians.” But regardless of the money, they are all musicians.
Perhaps we need to take the musician’s approach. We are artists. Some of us make money selling our art and some do not. Some artists are part time or hobbyist (pursuing an interest outside one’s regular work primarily for pleasure). Some consider themselves craftspersons (having a skill or ability in something, especially in handwork or the arts.)
I make my art to tell a story, evoke an emotion, to make a connection and because it makes me happy. Some may not consider me an artist because what I make may not be “art” to them. That is ok because I know I am an artist…and so are you.
-Amy
I have so loved reading all the different ways that the dialog has continued since Synergy. This is that conversation around the dinner table and I’m so thankful for all the blogs that have made that table worldwide!
It’s interesting to me (because working with words is my day job) that “hobbyist” is seen as a bad word, but “avocation” is a good one. The difference seems to be in the prestige of the Latin, not the standard meaning (adapted from http://www.merriam-webster.com):
Avocation: a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one’s vocation especially for enjoyment : hobby
Hobby: a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation [also, a small falcon]
Yes, I know — not all “meaning” is captured in a dictionary!
I don’t have a problem calling what I do a hobby. Other people can call something I make “craft” or something I do “art”, and it doesn’t change how good a time I’m having. I don’t have a problem with ‘amateur’, either.
I think problems arise when we try to define ourselves by what we AREN’T doing, or when we feel that if we AREN’T earning money, we aren’t doing something worthwhile.
Seems to me that Elise’s suggestion to “call yourselves artists NOW” is a way to say “If that word has been oppressing you, claim it, and then get on to doing what you can do: declare yourself free to find the thing that’s really yours.”
Amy and Rhet thanks for joining the conversation – and Judy, I think you and the entire team that organized Synergy can rest assured that the conference has effectively helped the pc community rally around the ‘larger conversation’ about art.
I emailed Elise to let her know that her words seemed to strike a chord among PCNotes readers and I would like to share part of her response, which clarifies the intent of her thoughts that I quoted in the Synergy Snippet #2 post:
“I’m a bit concerned that one or more of your readers misinterpreted my statement to mean that “hobbyist” and “artist” do the same thing. I do see a distinction between a “not-for-profit” artist and a hobbyist. For me, being a true artist means engaging in the process with the full force of one’s intellect and emotion. Its about ideas – one’s own personal ideas. – it is not about making projects that someone else designed. My point was that you don’t have to be selling your work to be seriously engaged and call yourself an artist.
I don’t disparage hobby engagement. It is gratifying to work with one’s hands – for me, as basic a daily necessity as eating. Also many great working polymer artist were first introduced to the medium on a “hobby” level. (Tory and Pier to name just 2.) It is a starting point from which real art can grow.”
Please note that I have edited the post to include a link to Alison Lee’s podcast interview with Elise, where you can hear her address the issue in more depth.