I'm someone who thinks of herself as a production artist, almost a manufacturer. I make pretty little things for my co-op gallery (Lamplight Art Gallery on Main Street in Bountiful, Utah) and I do an occasional arts festival. I don't usually allow myself the chance to dream big about a project. I'd really love to write and illustrate a book for children, but I've always kept my scale small...very small. In fact, when Cynthia Tinapple featured my art on Polymer Clay Daily (a dream of mine for years!) she selected a couple of tiny tins. It's not that I totally lack confidence as an artist. I can at least say the word now. I just wonder if my small approach to art has a deeper psychological meaning. If I keep it small, the chance for failure is small. Now that I'm fifty-ish, I want that to change! The Chuck Close, Seurat, and Eakes inspired pointalistic mosaic I did of my son has over 5,000 tiny dots of clay. And it's big! Then, when preparing for an arts festival, I got an idea for a display of my tiny tins...a mosaic! But when I put it all together, I didn't want to part with it. All the tiny pieces-- none of which are perfect, by the way, design-wise or even craftmanship-wise--fit together in such a way that moved me to try my art on a grander scale. So. I'm putting it in writing. Right here on this blog, for all fifty-four of you to see. I don't know what I'm going to do next, but it's gonna be big!
You go, girl!!
ReplyDeleteIt's about time. You are an artist. You create beautiful things like I've never seen anyone create or believe that anyone else could.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's my motto - no fear!! Just do it!! Love the mosaic too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being featured on PCD! Your work is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI once read somewhere that women make small art because that's what they have time for in the small spaces in their days . . . when the children are sleeping, when the housework and laundry are done, when everyone and everything is settled for the night. And that they also have a harder time taking themselves seriously as a artist. It seemed to ring true to me. So maybe there is some deeper meaning behind your small work. I know I certainly have a tendency to work small too; it's quite difficult to create large, isn't it? Your tin mosaic is lovely, I look forward to seeing what big things you do!
Do it do it do it!!! I wanna see it. Could you do a show in California please?
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