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Posts: 8,574I was wondering what it feels like to be an artist. And then Jane posted today that she "Feels like an artist..."
So
What about the process of creating a kritter makes YOU FEEL like an artist?
Is it your favorite part?
Why or why not?
What does feeling like an artist feel like you guys?
hugs
dilu
Jellybelly BearsHaha, Di yesterday I got that creative, happy, I'm loving this feeling while I was sewing a footpad 
But usually I feel most like an artist when I'm completing my bear, all the 'me' personal touches...and nothing makes me feel more like an artist than having a super messy table while i'm working and throwing things around everywhere 
Oh, and what it feels like to be an aritst...WONDERFUL :dance: :dance:
Bears by EdieI think what feels like an artist is creating an original design that is totally YOURS right from scratch - thinking of the idea, drawing the pattern, choosing the right fabric, sewing it up, and putting on all the finishing touches that are unique to each of us and then sitting back and seeing what YOU have created! I think that what makes me feel like an artist is knowing that I have created something uniquely mine right from the inspiration, and there is just no feeling like it! We may not like some of the intermediate parts - the grunt work, like stuffing, sewing on ears, etc. etc. but even how we do those things are part of what makes our work unique. I don't personally think that selling our creations has much to do with being an artist - it is rewarding and encouraging mind you, and of course does make for a "successful" artist from a monetary point of view! - but the originality and creative part is the artistic part in my books.
Posts: 8,574Very interesting....ladies, Sarah there is a quilter here in the states by the name of Elinor Burns-she has a show on PBS....and one of the things she does is throw the scarps over her shoulder and onto the floor.....you maed me think of that....she has such delightful abandon and unbridled enthusiasm....
Her staff pick them up and package them and sell them as Elinor Burns scraps! Bout $1.00 a bag....too funny, I think the title is "Scraps that Elinor Burns Threw"
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsThis is a great thread Dilu! I didn't answer it yesterday because I wanted to give it a little bit of thought. While like Edie said it is most certainly rewarding to be able to sell our creations, but that's not it. That is not what makes me feel like an artist. But I do think that it helps the general public perceive me as an artist though. When I tell folks I am an artist who makes Teddy Bears usually get a puzzled "oh..." in response. If couriosity makes them ask more and they ask about what the bears sell for, I get an almost reverent "Oh!" in response then, (or else they look at me like I have six heads! :crackup: )
Anyway, what makes me feel like an artist is the creating. It is the starting with a blank piece of paper and filling it with images from my head (or even ones I observe), the taking of a shapeless ball of wool and poking it with a needle until the bear in my minds eye emerges, the sculpting a block of clay into a little face no one has ever seen before, and of course the turning of mohair yardage into the cuddleable visions from my head.
And when I think of the term "successful artist", I differentiate it from financial success. (In fact it bothers me that our society in general views successful people as wealthy people. There are certainly a lot of other ways to be successful in life.) I feel like whenever I succeed in creating something that makes me happy, or moves other people in some way, or communicates a feeling I wanted to express, then I am a successful artist.
I have always felt this way. As a child, I loved to draw all the time, and often other children, teachers, relatives etc. would ask "Are you going to be an artist when you grow up?" To which I would reply, "I am an artist already." Not that I possessed any special skills or talents at the time, but because I was creating, and that's what artists do.
I read a quote recently and I plan to post it in my classroom when I am teaching art.
"Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain one one he(she) grows up!" (Picasso)
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsBy the way Dilu... What is an "HA"?
Past Time BearsHA means Help Advisor.
I've never felt like an artist and can't imagine I ever will. I take a pride in what I am able to achieve, but perceive what I do as teddy bear design/making/craft, rather than art. The closest I've ever come to feeling like an artist, has been when I've written something which is totally unique to me.
Paula Carter, NOT a Bear Artist?
Paula = DumDum
Posts: 1,836What makes me feel like an artist.....
I think for a lot of creative people it's just the way they were born. I'll never ever be good with math, I just won't. I need a calculator, so I could never answer "what does it feel like to be a mathematician, or to be "good" at math" 'cause I haven't a clue what it's like to be able to see numbers like my husband can. But then he can't draw a box and color it in We all have our "gifts" in life. So for me it just feels like getting to be the most natural part of myself. I've done lots of things/jobs where it felt like I was losing bits of me ,but doing what I do now fits who I am in the most basic sense. I feel like an artist when I'm picking out ribbons from an online shop, I feel like an artist when I'm mixing paints for shading, and I feel like an artist when I'm stuffing and shaping the character and soul of a bear. Honestly, there isn't a single part of this process I don't like..ok well I still get most frustrated with the photography piece, but I'm working on that. I love this creative piece in my life. 
Tami, I love your little quote from your childhood!! My folks have an audio tape where they ask..What are you going to do when you grow up? I quickly responded "I'm going to crayon". This is at age 3 I really should have listened to that 3 year old a long time ago!! (ps...HA's are the Help Advisors, I think that's what Dilu was referencing)
:hug:
~Chrissi
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsI've never felt like an artist and can't imagine I ever will. I take a pride in what I am able to achieve, but perceive what I do as teddy bear design/making/craft, rather than art. The closest I've ever come to feeling like an artist, has been when I've written something which is totally unique to me.
But, Paula, your bears are totally unique to you too!
Posts: 1,836AH Paula! 
I can totally respect your opinion of what you do, but YOU are an artist in my book 
:hug:
~Chrissi
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsChrissi wrote
So for me it just feels like getting to be the most natural part of myself.
Ditto for me! Now that's an excellent quote, Chrissi! 
Posts: 8,574Tami said:
And when I think of the term "successful artist", I differentiate it from financial success
I think that is really crucial, I am so glad you brought it up.
She also said:
"I am an artist already."
I love this!
I wonder if this is true of all artists? I am told that my father colored on all the walls in his house when he was five, drawing pictures and shading them in and getting wolloped by his father until they got smart and got him a roll of butcher paper. My grandmother told me that every singles scrap of paper the margine everything had his sketchs on them.
Paula said:
I've never felt like an artist and can't imagine I ever will.
I can understand this Paula. My mother could sew, and she could craft out the most unusual patterns-and she was way ahead of her generation in clothing development....she didn't view what she did as art....And yet the most artistic designs and innovative patterns she developed- I wish I had them today!
But my father did.
and why can't clothing design be considered art?
Perhaps it is all dependent on what we each consider art?
My father considered her gifted with fabirc. He thought of her designs as art. But she thought she was utilitarian.
Here are some definitions of what some think art is:
the products of human creativity;
the creation of beautiful or significant things;
"art does not need to be innovative to be good";
"a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation; "
"Art, in its broadest meaning, is the expression of creativity or imagination, or both."
If the creation of something beautiful makes us happy are we artists?
If the creation of something by someone else brings joy to us, does this make it art?
Any other ideas?
Teddies to TreasureHi- I hope that no one felt that I was being pompous when I said that I felt like an artist.It's just that for 4 years now I've been going to shows and seeing everyone selling bears. I collect bears too and I felt humble to be in the company of "Bear Artists."My bears really never sold and it was very discouraging.Gail would always do her best to encourage me as did other artists at the shows.When I had someone tell me that she liked my bears enough to put them in her store I was thrilled.I meant that I felt like artists must feel when someone appreciates their work.I think that for the first time my work had some validation.Hopefully no one thought that I was being a pain. :redface: Sincerely JaneD.
fribbles, ltd....oddly enough, I feel more like an artist after I take photos and put 'em up on the web. Maybe because I'm a computer geek? I love my little teds, and I think of them fondly, but I'm also aware that since I created 'em I'm going to be very biased about 'em, so I have a tendency to sort of belittle 'em simply because they're mine. Which is wrong of me, but that's the way I view it.
Once I get them online, where I can look at them in their entirety and see large amounts of fribbles, each one different from the next, that's when I think I'm sort of an artist---because I made ALL of those, and isn't that incredible? I spend lots of time looking at my own gallery, in awe that I've created that many bears [w00t! over 50 at last count! which is simply mind boggling to me] and that they all have their own separate and distinct personality and memory in my heart...and they make me happy. When they've made someone else happy too, I feel wonderful about that.
Amelia
Posts: 1,836Not at all Jane!! I don't think a single person here thought anything other than excitement for you! It's an awesome thing to have others acknowledge and appreciate your art. You shared that wonderful news and in turn opened up the idea for a really nice "piggy back" thread opportunity here! :hug:
:hug:
~Chrissi
Bears by EdieI've been thinking a bit more about this topic (and no you didn't sound in the least "pompous" Jane - you sounded "excited!")
Expanding a bit more on what Chrissi said, I think part of feeling like an artist is feeling "driven" to create - and feeling so ALIVE when creating! I know some painter artists who just cannot NOT paint and everything they see inspires them and they constantly see images of new paintings everywhere they look. It is the same for me (and lots of other bear artists I know). I just cannot NOT design bears - no matter how much I threaten to throw in the towel! In fact I do "see" bears everywhere I look - it's weird but I'll see bear faces in shadows on textiles, in clouds, and all kinds of other places that there really are not bears to anyone else! I'll wake up in the middle of the night with a bear design demanding my attention or find my mind wandering in the middle of conversations or movies to another new bear image. It is really like I have no control over it and it is simply something I MUST do. That is what I think being an artist feels like.
Paula is not alone though - I know some other bear artists who do not consider themselves "artists" and I think for some (don't know about Paula) it is a question of modesty. Somewhere along the line some people have equated being an "artist" with being a "good" artist or an "accomplished" artist! Art is really an individual personal thing and what appeals to one person will not appeal to another. Painting artists are not all equally "good" painters or artists and similarily saying that one is a bear artist really has nothing to do with how good an artist they are - at least in my humble opinion! While I do consider myself a bear artist (and "feel" like a bear artist!) it is not for me decide if I am a "good" artist or not. For me the part of being an artist is that I am driven to do it and to keep striving to better my work and to create unique bears.
What about the process of creating a kritter makes YOU FEEL like an artist?
I don't really think it is in the process of creating but in the creating itself and the others percpetion of the work that has been done. Does that make sense.
Art is in the eye of the beholder is an old saying that I have no idea where it came from.
Using the name Artist is something like Paula that I find hard to use.
But, Paula, your bears are totally unique to you too!
When you have a recognizable style that is unique to you is (I think) when you have become an artist.
Jellybelly BearsDilu, funny story about Elinor Burns scraps hehe, I wish I wasn't too embarrassed to take a photo of what my "studio" - being my dining room- looks like at the moment hehe
Edie, Tami, I agree wholeheartedly to your posts, being able to translate what is in your head without even trying it seems, it just flows without thought, just joy... Tami, loved your childhood quote about being an artist already 
and also your thoughts on being a sucessful artist.
Chrissi, love your post too...definitely the way I was born....not only creative but imaginative...and its funny coz I've just realised that my mum who I think is wonderfully creative, must work from patterns, have a plan, see a picture...with me its just go with what forms in my head, free thinking and it just happens for me...to me thats what being an artist is...just being able to run with whatever is flowing through and translating it for others to see.
and Chrissi
We all have our "gifts" in life. So for me it just feels like getting to be the most natural part of myself. I've done lots of things/jobs where it felt like I was losing bits of me ,but doing what I do now fits who I am in the most basic sense. I feel like an artist when I'm picking out ribbons from an online shop, I feel like an artist when I'm mixing paints for shading, and I feel like an artist when I'm stuffing and shaping the character and soul of a bear. Honestly, there isn't a single part of this process I don't like..ok well I still get most frustrated with the photography piece, but I'm working on that. I love this creative piece in my life.
Me too 
And Jane, no need to worry at all! Excitement, thats all I felt from your post :hug:
Edie...again, love this quote
I think part of feeling like an artist is feeling "driven" to create - and feeling so ALIVE when creating!
Too agree with what you said to Paula Edie...Not relating this to Paula, but I found it hard to call myself an artist...I knew in myself that my work was good, but didn't think my peers would see it that way...suppose that a lot of us have insecurity or confidence to build on.
I am with Paula.... never really considered making bears to be art. To me it is just having fun...making bears... or dolls or jewellery or cards.. or,whatever else I make....I just make them because I like to do it. Can't really get my head around calling it art I guess. I do enjoy my bears... love their little faces... love to look at the things I make and am amazed if I do a decent job of it... but not sure why it would be called art.
However, the dictionary does also define art as a "human skill or practical application of skill" as well...so I guess I have to accept that it is "art" in that sense of the word. I didn't really know that til I looked up the meaning of art. Guess I don't even know what I AM doing ..... just blithely going along... doing it............lol......oh, well...what else is new?
