Monday 20 February 2023

 

Hello. 

It's been a long break, but after a fabulous weekend attending two workshops with the lovely Antonis at Country View Crafts, I am feeling motivated to get back into creating and making. 

Something that I have been pondering lately is what is the difference between an artist and a crafter? Where do I stand? Am I an artist? Am I a crafter?  If you research this on line you can find comparison charts to explain he differences. The Cambridge Dictionary describes a crafter as someone who makes decorative objects with their hands, especially as a hobby and an artist is someone who paints, draws or makes sculptures.

When asked to name an artist most of us would think of those who create fine works of art like Picasso, Degas, Cezanne, Turner, O’Keefe, Warhol etc. I am not like these people and therefore I don’t know if I could be called an artist! I studied oil painting as my main subject at teacher training college, I dabbled with screen printing, book making, jewellery making with enamelling, calligraphy and more recently mixed media using acrylics and ephemera and developed a shabby vintage, industrial style. So I set about researching who is or how can you become to be called an artist? I came across many definitions  but one particular one that states that “an artistic personality type uses their hands and mind to create new things. They appreciate beauty, unstructured activities and variety. They enjoy interesting and unusual people, sights, textures and sounds. These individuals prefer to work in unstructured situations and use their creativity and imagination.” Research also shows that even if you believe you have no talent, anyone can learn to be an artist with the right training, tools and passion. So I believe I have been well on the way to being an artist. But I find it difficult to just paint and draw. I can ‘sketch’ from real life (in my own way!), I love designing and making mixed media projects, I can teach the techniques I have learned and I love creating layered collages and am told I have a natural disposition for composition. The Tate says collage describes both the technique and the resulting work of art in which pieces of paper, photographs, fabric and ephemera are arranged and stuck down onto a supporting surface. This is something I love to do and in many different ways. 

Do you consider yourself to be an artist? How do you define art? 

I'll be back soon with some photos of the projects I created with Antonis.

Bx



5 comments:

Handgathered said...

I think the adage ‘dress for the job you want’ may be similar to how i feel about doing art. I, like you probably do some form of art or craft daily. It’s a need as well as a desire. I had been aware of your art for a while now and am so very glad to hear you are coming back. I look forward to following you, I in my art apron, and you in yours. Anni

Brenda Brown said...

Thanks for your comment and stopping by Anni xx

Annie said...

Hi Brenda x It’s so lovely to hear that you enjoyed the recent workshops and feel motivated to get back in to art/crafting x
Astrid and I had a wee crafty day recently and were both saying how we missed you x I no longer blog but I am on Instagram x Sending best wishes to you
Annie xx

Gina said...

So glad your coming back too. I think you are the craftiest artist I know :D and am looking forward to drooling over your latest creations. I think "crafters" should stop worrying about whether they are seen as "artists" in the purest dictionary sense...we are all arty crafters who craft arty pieces just for the joy of creating XXX

Dawn said...

Hello you! Finally sat down to get back to your bloggy goodness- yay! I really like the quote you found, it does cover the whole thorny subject.
Artists can be a bit sniffy when talking about crafting, considering it as a lesser activity. One way to put it would be to say an artist and crafter I suppose. Or just call yourself a creative person.
Glad you enjoyed the workshops, it was great to see the person I had been stalking, I mean, following for years.
Now you're back you are not allowed to leave us again xx