Craft or art and how to get from the one to the other?
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DC area
Posts: 417
As you study the work of any artist you will note that they return to an idea-rendition- to perfect it. Years ago at the National Gallery of Art there was an exhibit that demonstrated this method. It would be called growing, focus, thinking about the piece, thinking again what might be better. They really build in their own method of developing a "show piece". Some artists keep a painting around for years adjusting it. I for one an working on color theory. I just have to pound it in to my head by informed practice. One day I may be set free with this knowledge. I saw a quilt brought into my local shop that blew my mind it was so creative...however, I do believe that this was not the first time the quilter used the pattern, but this time she had her own brilliant inventive color concept added to a traditional block along with excellent quilting skill. My reaction to her was not to let it out of her sight-it was enviable.
A lot of the quilts on display are intimidating. I resolve to be happy developing my skills and enjoying the feel of my quilt when I wake up in the morning.....hate to get up out of the coziness. But I do. I feel my growth in quilting and am so pleased to feel the growth. That is my happiness.
A lot of the quilts on display are intimidating. I resolve to be happy developing my skills and enjoying the feel of my quilt when I wake up in the morning.....hate to get up out of the coziness. But I do. I feel my growth in quilting and am so pleased to feel the growth. That is my happiness.
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,548
The next time you see a challange or a contest (usually sponsored by fabric line) sign yourself up. They usually have either a fabric line or idea to work from and you have to create to show it off. This will stretch your creativity and you might surprise yourself.
#23
Originally Posted by Tartan
The next time you see a challange or a contest (usually sponsored by fabric line) sign yourself up. They usually have either a fabric line or idea to work from and you have to create to show it off. This will stretch your creativity and you might surprise yourself.
#24
My daughter was a fine arts major in school and was told by one instructor that if a project was in any way useful, it was not art. So pretentious! Sometimes I think definitions are just meant to limit instead of clarify.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 662
Originally Posted by k3n
Originally Posted by Tartan
The next time you see a challange or a contest (usually sponsored by fabric line) sign yourself up. They usually have either a fabric line or idea to work from and you have to create to show it off. This will stretch your creativity and you might surprise yourself.
#26
This is fascinating. I guess the move to art comes from finding something that inspires that need to create, to express something uniquely - or from curiosity or playfulness. I felt for years that my creativity was stifled by a job that didn't suit me - I had to spend so much time doing something I just wasn't comfortable with that I never felt completely "me". I retired 6 months ago, and as I've recovered, my urge to write is coming back. I'm also noticing a lack of enthusiasm for just finding the next quilt pattern to follow - there's a vague desire to do something different without quite knowing what or how! So thankyou for the suggestions that have been made as to how I might get started. If anyone knows of any other resources (online or UK-based) that might help me start to explore whether there's any creative spark waiting to be coaxed to life, I'd love to hear.
#27
Interesting thread.
Gostrider, a most interstiting comparison.
I don't have much to add, but just wanted to say that in a way I believe that tye art of quilting may come with experience. I have only been sewing for three years, never even owned a sewing machine before that, and I find that many of my ideas remain just that just because I don't have the skill to transform them into fabric and stitches. So right now, I am trying to improve my skills by learning many techniques and hoping that one day, I can have an aha movement when my hands can follow my mind in translating those ideas into work.
Gostrider, a most interstiting comparison.
I don't have much to add, but just wanted to say that in a way I believe that tye art of quilting may come with experience. I have only been sewing for three years, never even owned a sewing machine before that, and I find that many of my ideas remain just that just because I don't have the skill to transform them into fabric and stitches. So right now, I am trying to improve my skills by learning many techniques and hoping that one day, I can have an aha movement when my hands can follow my mind in translating those ideas into work.
#28
Originally Posted by candi
I don't have much to add, but just wanted to say that in a way I believe that tye art of quilting may come with experience. I have only been sewing for three years, never even owned a sewing machine before that, and I find that many of my ideas remain just that just because I don't have the skill to transform them into fabric and stitches. So right now, I am trying to improve my skills by learning many techniques and hoping that one day, I can have an aha movement when my hands can follow my mind in translating those ideas into work.
#29
I think even if we are following a pattern, what we do is art as much as craft. When you follow a pattern, don't you make little tweaks and changes here and there? I recently did a quilt for my daughter's teacher, and even though I followed a pattern for a paper-pieced apple block, I chose the colors of the apples (I used a different fabric for each one), I decided what to use as the blocks between the apples, and I chose the fabrics to use as the borders. I just finished the top of a "Gay Pride" quilt for my nephew, and even though I had a rainbow pattern, I changed the colors and the order of colors in the arch. I keep trying something new with every quilt I make, and I'm watching with much interest the "Quilting Arts" shows that come on every weekend. I don't know that I'll ever go THAT far with my quilts, but I'm just sayin'.....it's all art as long as we can make the choice as to what we're doing and how we want it to look! :c)
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,669
Originally Posted by annesthreads
I've just spent two days at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham (UK), and as ever was totally amazed and awed at the standard of work displayed there. Some beautifully made traditional quilts, and many, many highly original, expressive and creative pieces. That's started me musing on creativity and originality. I suspect that my work is craft rather than art - I follow patterns and my original input comes from choices of colour, quilting stitches and threads - and is limited by my skill level. Many of the works on display in Birmingham were original pieces of art.
Now, I'm not in any way putting down the craft approach - I get endless enjoyment and fulfillment from what I do, and was in awe of the standard of some of the traditional work on display. But how to move into the more original work? I wonder if I just lack some artistic, creative spark that gives the artists who produce these stunning pieces their imagination and vision.
Would love to hear people's thoughts on this.
Now, I'm not in any way putting down the craft approach - I get endless enjoyment and fulfillment from what I do, and was in awe of the standard of some of the traditional work on display. But how to move into the more original work? I wonder if I just lack some artistic, creative spark that gives the artists who produce these stunning pieces their imagination and vision.
Would love to hear people's thoughts on this.
Mess up on an Ohio Star and rename it wonky-doodle?
Dip one end of ecru muslin into blue dye and the other end into green and and in the middle applique some flowers you fussy cut from something in your stash, make some creative sashays around it all with your sewing machine--or by hand--call it "Lawn and Sky" or ""My Backyard" or "Smog on a Sunny Day" and you will have a work of art.
froggyintexas
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