More that once people have visited my studio and commented “You are so brave.” “What? Why?I am brave to do my art? What do they mean? “First of all, being brave is taking action even though one is scared or afraid. On the other hand,being a brave artist is discovering one’s artistic strengths, developing them, and staying true to them. That I have tried to do. As with many things, it is a work in progress.
Am a brave person?
Ultimately, I don’t feel brave in my day-to-day life. Following rules on the road keep us safe. I don’t want to get caught doing something that I am not supposed to do or that I would not be proud of. I follow the rules. For this reason, I don’t consider myself brave. There are real things in this world to be afraid of. I know that. On the other hand, some things are easy for me that I know others struggle with. Talking with the public is easy for me. As a retired school teacher, I am used to speaking to many unusual types of people.
Doing my Art is not Scary.
Blowing glass at temperatures of 3000 degrees is scary. But sewing and playing with fabric is not. When making art quilts, I have no problem taking chances. I am doing what I want. For me,being a brave artist is easy. My three portfolios that I must make are Mexican inspired, abstracts and nature art quilts. My pieces do not always look similar. After all, what fun would that be?
My small studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center has three walls to display my art, a design wall, a design table and a table with my sewing machine on it. I can work here and yet open my doors to the public for First Fridays and Open Studios. A fortunate possibility,yes. I am not sure how that makes me brave. Maybe trying new fabrics styles and techniques in bright colors makes me brave.
Creating involves Pain.
Have you ever noticed that creating art involves pain or an uneasiness? When I first begin a project but I do not yet have a clear idea of the direction the piece will take, is when I feel pain or an uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. Once I have a clearer idea of the direction my piece will take the anxiety goes away. However, that is different from fear.
A brave artist pushes through and doesn’t let the anxiety stop them. In that case, then I am brave. Gathering my experience in making traditional bed quilts and then switching gears to art quilts just felt right. I do take chances with fabric and design. I forge ahead without much thought. When I am starting a piece, I don’t worry too much about my choices. If I make a mistake, I can always make another piece. Then I will own the fact that I am a brave art quilter.
A Good Sense of Color
Visitors to my studio have told me that I have a good sense of color. This comment always takes me by surprise. Where does this skill come from? I have never studied art or the color wheel. On the other hand, I did start sewing my own clothes in high school a long time ago. I remember designing and planning out my outfits. I paid attention to the variety of colors and textures in my wardrobe. Doesn’t every teenage girl do that? I assumed so.
So fast forward. . .decades ahead I fall into art quilting after making bed quilts for many years. I realize that without knowing it I had been trying out colors my whole life.
For part of my 36 years as an elementary school teacher, I taught at an arts infused school. I did receive a wide variety of training in the arts including drama and dance. When guest artists taught my class in sketching or drawing, I took part so that I could repeat their lesson in the following years. But no work foccussed specifically on color.
Trying is the first step to being a brave artist.
Recently an acquaintance mentioned that she wanted to start sketching, yet she was afraid to. Afraid of what? It is a passtime activity. Sketching is not something to be afraid of. It is supposed to be fun and engaging. Give it a try. Become a brave artist.
Why am I not afraid?
I asked myself why am I not afraid.One reason is the familiarity with my materials. Having used fabric for so long, it is second nature to me. Quilting is the thing that I have to do. I will do it even when it has become boring or I have done it all day. It is part of who I am and what makes me me.I am not afraid of being myself.
Fusing Two Passions
As I moved into art quilting I looked to fuse two of my lifetime passions, dancing and sewing. Sewing clothes since high school, I had made over 300 bed quilts. In addition, I had performed with a local Mexican folk dance group. My passion led me to direct my school’s annual Cinco de Mayo Dance Presentation. My students learned dances . I sewed costumes. My goal was to make something that combined my sewing skills with the movement and bright colors of a Jalisco dance skirt.
First of all a lot of thought went into it before I even started because I wasn’t sure how to accomplish this. The Jalisco skirt was the easy part. I had made the braid to wear when I performed. The plastic bag was from a trip to Mexico. On the other hand, what would the background be? The 3D dancing outfit was sewn onto a contrasting background of traditional 2″ green squares. I was extremely passionate about presenting this piece. It meant a lot to me. Furthermore,I liked it so much I made another 3D quilt with a blue background.
Is this Art?
Back in 2009,I entered these two pieces into major art quilt show. I was being a brave artist putting myself out there for the first time. When they were not accepted, I thought that maybe they weren’t art. As I have gained more insight into the jurying process, thanks to SAQA(Studio Art Quilt Associates), I realized that; the curator works to create a unified vision of a show. My wonderful art pieces do not fit easily with others.Disappointed but not deterred. I kept creating art. I liked trying out different materials and styles to see how they played together.
Furthermore,sometimes what people say says the most about themselves. They are not brave to try something new. It is hard for them to try and create something new.
Over all,to me being brave is taking action even though one is scared or afraid. Creating frees me. It is something that I have to do. I keep going although not everyone around me understood my passion. Maybe being a brave artist is to continue to work without encouragement trying new styles, fabrics and techniques. Being a brave artist is staying true to yourself and your artist vision of the world. In that way it takes bravery to be an artist.
http://www.saqa.com/ (Studio Art Quilt Associates)
https://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2023/02/see-unfinished-projects-in-a-new-way/