Feel good about calling yourself an artist
I create wall art with fabric. They may be abstract, landscapes or seascapes. I have been doing this for over 10 years. Yet why is it so difficult to call myself an artist. It becomes easier when I am writing it on a show application.Why don’t I feel eel good about calling myself an artist?
What is the image of being an artist? The label artist comes with many postive and negative expectations. On the positive side, artists are flamboyant. They do the unexpected. Following society’s rules are not for them. One might say that they were the first rock stars. This lifestyle can be attractive to some.
For example, Big Eyes, the 2014 movie was about a man who was in love with the image of being an artist. He preferred the idea of being an artist rather than actually creating art. He also found that it was an easy way to con people too.
However, these are not the reasons that I make art. I make art because I have to. My one artistic skill is working with fabric and yarn. I know how to sew and quilt. Drawing and painting are not my strengths.
25″ x 20″ 63cm x 51cm
A Negative Stereotype
On the negative side, the general impression of artists is that they are moody and difficult to get along with.Their spontaneity makes them completely unpredictable. Their lives are disorganized to the point of total confusion. I ran into former colleague who used to paint. I asked her if she was still painting. She said, “No. I am happy now. Only unhappy tormented people paint.” Sadly, this person had something to give the world as a painter. Hopefully, this stereotype is changing. While society needs artists, artists also need to people that are approachable and reasonable to work with.
The Pressure
After college graduation when I was beginning to make my way in the world, I would tell people. I am a writer. When they asked what do you write? We would answer, I write checks. Somehow this deflected the weight of trying to live up to an image and responsibility of being a producing writer.
Furthermore the same pressure weighs on artist’s too. If I call myself an artist then I must be making art. I must be putting on shows. Art should be flying out the window. It should be my full time job.
People with art degrees feel even more pressure. They studied and worked hard to learn about art. However, a common complaint is that the schools teach them to make art. But they don’t teach them how to take their art to the next level and to sell their art. This pressure weighs heavy on some people.
In spite of these stereotypes, all humans can and need to create beauty. We do it in different ways. Cooking food, gardening dressing and decorating our houses. and in many ways.
42″ x 40″ 106cm x 102cm
Growing into a new Profession
It takes a while to grow in to any new profession. We work hard to get qualified. Then we try and find a position in our field. Yet it often takes time before we feel the title fits who we are.. Who truly felt comfortable their first year or years in a new position? Looking back probably not many of us. With my first born I felt like a mother for the first time not when she was born. It was weeks later when I was able to calm her down when she was fussing in her crib. We need to give ourselves time to grow into our new positions. Adding layers of expectations and stress is not helpful. Now after 10 years saying that I am an artist is becoming easier.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/forging-your-own-art-path/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2018/11/sources-of-ones-creativity/
All art quilts shown in this post sold. You may find more at my etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/
