Are you an Artist or just a Quilter?
04-05-2015, 01:31 PM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lemoore, Ca
Posts: 1,467
I consider myself both a quilter and an artist. As I go thru the process of putting a quilt together, my thought process in choosing colors, fabrics, what to add, not to add, embelish, quilt, etc. qualifies me as an artist. I do not always follow patterns or color suggestions. Especially when I do Crazy Quilting.
04-05-2015, 10:49 PM
#56
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,145
LOVE this! There's such a profound truth there. Children play and create, unselfconsciously, while we "grown-ups" are so often inhibited by the messages we've absorbed about what we're good or not good at and what we "ought" to do, and many of us have learned to judge everything we do by external criteria instead of just enjoying ourselves in creativity for its own sake. Thankyou, Iclang - that's such a helpful and challenging comment.
04-05-2015, 10:58 PM
#57
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,145
This is such an interesting thread. Reading the latest posts, aonther thought struck me. How much of this discussion is a "woman thing"? Somehow I don't think many men who create beautiful, original quilts would hesitate to describe themselves as artists. I suspect that textile arts have been neglected by the art establishment because they're regarded as something women do to keep themselves busy, while men do "proper" art. The Tate gallery in London recently mounted an exhibition of "folk art" which included some beautiful quilts and embroideries. Folk art rather than just art.... how patronising. And how typical. When I go to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK each summer, where the work becomes more experimental and unique with every show, I know I'm in an art gallery, looking at works of art.
04-06-2015, 03:36 AM
#59
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 187
I suspect many of us (mostly women) have been taught modesty as a virtue and while happy to say, "I'm a quilter," you'd be hard pressed to find many who will say, "I'm an artist." Notice how people say things like "quilters are artistic."
To claim the title 'artist' feels like hubris to many.
To claim the title 'artist' feels like hubris to many.
04-06-2015, 04:11 AM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,893
I was just thinking about this yesterday as I sewed, "one more log," onto a big log cabin quilt that I'm making for someone.
:::sigh:::
I am a seamstress and an artist who has picked up quilting only a few years ago. I'm always trying out new techniques and honing my quilting skills, but my goal is to be set free to design and create whatever my mind can imagine. So, right now, I am a, "quilter," but later, I plan to be a, "quilting artist."
~ C
:::sigh:::
I am a seamstress and an artist who has picked up quilting only a few years ago. I'm always trying out new techniques and honing my quilting skills, but my goal is to be set free to design and create whatever my mind can imagine. So, right now, I am a, "quilter," but later, I plan to be a, "quilting artist."
~ C
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