Tuesday, June 15, 2010

what am i, anyway?

Handmade Division Team's "talk about blog" time again :)
This means that the team is given a topic, and we each write what we think about it...
so after you read mine, please check out the other team's posts! (links below)

Junes's Topic: "Do you consider yourself only a XXX artist, or do you work in multi media application, and/or draw techniques from other fields to use in the on you're working in? "

I certainly work in "multi-media" but I don't call myself a "mixed media artist".
I usually just tell people I am a painter.
Then I have to explain to people that I am not a house painter, but a picture painter.

My husband argues with me and says I should just say "I'm an artist".

I have a lot of knowledge about different mediums from working in art supply stores all through college (and beyond) so I figure I should put that to use.
Besides, working that way comes very naturally to me (and I have an uncontrollable impulse to pick things up that I find interesting and stick em in my art).

I did, however, work for many years only with oil paint...and who knows...I might do that again someday...
I think I'd like to keep my label open so I can work however I want without expectations ;)
sanctuary

here are the links to the other team member's posts!
(team members live in all different time zones, so please be sure to check back if their post isn't up yet)

Andes Cruz
Thomasin Durgin
Jewelry by Natsuko
Lisa Hopkins Design
Maureen BZ (Cosmo's Moon)
Abhaya Fibers
ArtJewel Designs
Tamra Gentry
Bill Martin

9 comments:

yoborobo said...

Sus - I think 'artist' is all emcompassing. :) You can do whatever you want! I always have a problem because I write and make things and do art. So I have NO IDEA how to answer that question. I usually answer it differently depending on where I am. :)) xo Pam

susarto said...

let's just say "artist", so :D
thanks pam!
xo

Anonymous said...

Loved your post Susan! :) I agree, labels limit us :)

susarto said...

thanks andes! :D

Jan said...

Being in the process of "becoming" ourselves daily, we are always changing!

Your last line is perfect, Susan! "I think I'd like to keep my label open so I can work however I want without expectations."

Jan
:)

susarto said...

yay! thanks, jan :D

lilgreenshop said...

It's a tough call I think cos on one hand there is our self perception and on the other is how people perceive (hear) a title/description.

So yes don't be limited by labels - but at the same time artist has an air of authority, and dare I say consumer credibility, that aids online business.

Plus you do have an art degree ... I think artiste extraordinaire has a cetain ring to it :)

susarto said...

ah, maura! you make it sound so fancy :D hehe.
thanks!!! x

I Dig This Life said...

I remember reading about a dog called 'Bitzer' named cos he was a bit of a jack russell and a collie and a bit of something else...anyways kinda reminded me of my art I do a bit of everything so I think im a 'Bitzer Artist' lol :)