Monday, October 18, 2010

Dreams and Reality

I dream my paintings, then I paint my dreams.
--Vincent Van Gogh

I am an amazing artist in my dreams. I allow myself to lay claim to all that I see when I dream, for it is coming my brain. The problem I face is bringing my dreams to reality; how do I produce what I see in my dreams with my waking brain? I've never felt that I have very strong drawing or painting skills, yet this is the art I mostly create in my dreams. That and fabulous clothing from time to time. But I see beautiful things. Last night, I dreamt that I was in a Chinese art vault. The Chinese government was trying to destroy pieces of art that were controversial. There was a great debate over what was art and what was trash and what was a confession of sins perpetrated (use of blood as paint). I got hired to work in the vault and catalog the art. I saw the most amazing things: Easy pencil drawings; simple and bold graphical paintings of people and creatures; majestic winged birds embroidered using a color palette of eggplant and clover; and the list goes on and on. In my dream, I was struck over and over by how, if I let go of my critic, the art I loved was not necessarily the most classical. I was not drawn to the perfectly created pieces; I was drawn, rather, to the more chidlike, free, easy and spirited art. And I realized that perhaps I'm too hung up on perfection, "skill", and classical training that I don't allow myself to create for fear that it won't be very good, nor perceived or received as worthwhile "art". In reality, I never say I'm an artist. I say I am crafty. That is a much more comfortable space for me to inhabit. However, going forward I would like to think of myself as both. I hereby give myself the freedom and permission to explore and learn and stretch my eggplant and clover covered wings and someday perhaps, believe fully that I am an artist and craft gal all in one.

If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery,
it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all. --Michelangelo

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Hello World

Feels funny to be posting to the world, when really, at this point, I am merely talking to myself. Anyhow, here we go. Welcome to Adventures in Craftlandia. (Thanks, Self. No Problem, Self.) My hopes for this little corner of the blogoverse are pretty simple at this point; I'd like to join the scores of crafty gals and guys who are putting forward their creations, inspirations, thoughts, struggles, and successes. These bloggers have propelled me to be a better crafter, taught me tricks of the trade, and have inspired me on countless occasions. I hope to not only inspire others, but more importantly I'd like to connect with my peers and (secret, thus far) mentors. I also to plan to use this blog to keep me on track (whatever wacky track that may be), to keep myself stretching and learning, and to revel in all that is possible. How's that sound? I think that sounds pretty okay, Self. Thanks, Self.