A Man of Many Talents

My husband .....I want to blog about him...........

recently he has been on a journey with his own art. Though he has been a painter (and photographer) for many many years, he is just now learning to 'just paint'. He and I work very differently. It is one of the things that attracts us so greatly to each other.

We admire each others work, but i believe we also admire how each of us works. I use 'seat of the pants' technology and he actually, really knows what he is doing. I jump with both feet and grab everything that is near me on the way in. He plans, decides, utilizes and then commences action. I turn the container over and sprinkle the spice, he will use a measuring spoon. Understand?

We have both learned so much from each other. I've learned to temper my running amuck, somewhat. He has learned to take leaps of faith. This is what comes from his 'just painting' for painting sake.

"Birds Before the Storm" (Acrylic on Canvas)

Please take a peek at some of his work, AND LEAVE SOME COMMENTS. I am sure it would feel very good to him to know that people have thoughts about the things he does.

• Some of his paintings can be seen here: WBEckertStudio.SmugMug.com

• Some of his photography, painting and blog writings (which in themselves are a key to this man) can be seen here: WBEckertStudio.blogspot.com
  
  

Where Do You Draw The Line?

Where is do you draw the line between what is embellishment and art in the Handmade world? A musing on this subject, using Etsy as my jumping off point.

In selling on Etsy I've seen some really incredible, artistic items from inspired artists and artisans, as well as some poorly conceived, and even more poorly executed items.

Under Etsy's Selling FAQs, it reads: "What items can I sell on Etsy? You can sell anything that is handmade or, a bit more loosely put, hand-assembled or hand-altered. For example, screen-printed shirts are OK. A custom-built computer is OK, as long as you're making the case and not buying prefab. Furniture is OK as long as it's nothing mass-produced (yes, you can use power tools to build it). If your human hands put some love into the object, odds are you can sell it on Etsy."

I do especially love the line " If your human hands put some love into the object, odds are you can sell it on Etsy."

Talk about nebulous at its finest :) I'm not very concerned about the selling/buying aspect of this on Etsy, but my concern is more regarding the 'idea of handmade' and what actually constitutes 'handmade', which may or may not be what Etsy is about.

If i were to sew a line of sequins or doodads on to an existing t-shirt, or put rivets or grommets or studs or some squigglies made out of yarn on a pre-made t-shirt, this would be considered 'handmade' on Etsy. Under the Etsy FAQs, if I write a letter... it is considered handmade. If I sew a button on something, it is considered handmade.... if i shear a sheep, card the wool, spin it and needlefelt it into a hat, it is considered handmade, if I use oil paints and do a painting, it is considered handmade, if I take a t-shirt and cut the sleeves off or hotglue a bow to a pair of flip flops, under Etsy's FAQs, it is considered handmade.....but.... there is a bit of difference between these things....don't you think?

Everything that is done with your 'hands' can be considered 'handmade' on Etsy. Are there no other distinctions made by Etsy? Where is the line drawn between 'art' and 'embellishment"? Is all embellishment considered handmade 'art'?

If you are creating a drawing which you are then printing on a base (t-shirt), the 'art' or imo, 'handmade' is the drawing. The t-shirt simply becomes the canvas. To me this is very different than sewing a line of sequins on a t-shirt. no??

There are zillions of things you can do with sequins..... and some of those things I would consider 'embellishment' and some of them would definitely fall under the category of 'art'. I would be very hesitant to place the sewing of a line of sequins on a t-shirt in the same category as someone who has designed something and uses sequins in that design on a t-shirt. ... and to then to throw them both into the same category of 'handmade' ...... kind of makes me feel quesy.

There is/has to be a determining point between 'art' and 'decoration'.... which will of course reflect on what is considered 'handmade'. I'm glad I dont have to make that decision on Etsy, tho if i were making that decision, it would be easy for me....personally.

Enjoyable Work By:

A must see artist... YUKO SHIMIZU Currently featured in Communication Arts magazine (May/June 2008 issue).... use the link below and make sure you look at some of her illustrations...quite a few of them have fiber related (yarn especially) themes running through them. A great combination when paired with a good sense of humour and a talent for drawing.

[ Originally created for alphabet book project later published as a large size poster insert for Yen Magazine of Australia (accepted into American Illustration 24) Yuko Shimizu ©2005 all rights reserved]

http://www.yukoart.com/news/index.html

Off to new homes....

These 3 beauties are off to a beautiful woman in the State of Washington. I know they will be well loved and happy there.

The Art of Procrastination

The Art of Procrastination

SO...............

the holiday rush is over
i've got dozens of ideas, for dozens of things running helter skelter through my brain.

i have yarns hanging, i've got yarns in bins, i've got yarns on the table, the floor, in baskets and boxes. i've got certain yarns pulled to go with certain rovings ... i've got certain fabrics pulled to go with certain yarns, i've got swatches and pieces, and hanks and balls and scraps.....

i pulled out the sewing machine, i pulled out the leather scraps, i grabbed some felted pieces, i took my mannequin heads and turned them to face me, i've walked into my studio, i've walked out of my studio

i just came back from a fast paced walk around the neighborhood, up the hills, down the hills, i've sat on the couch and knitted on my very own sweater/jacket, but only in increments of 2 rows here, 2 rows there.... i've picked it up, put it down
i've checked my blog a dozen or so times
i've played solitaire a few times
i fixed my speakers, i did my sales tax report, i paid the bills, i cut up meat for a stew and started it in the crock pot.......

SO...............

the Art of Procrastination is doing fine and well since 6:00a.m. this morning...

I have accomplished nothing, I am antsy and I need to create.

I seem handle the Art of Procrastination the same way I handle my Art of Creating. Moving from one thing to another, pacing, sorting, mulling, pushing, savoring.... the only difference is that I have nothing to show for my Art of Procrastination.

yes... i know..... it's another hat.... please meet:

Art For Your Head "Calla in Rain"

The main portion of the hat is a mixture of Jacob and Alpaca fulled
(felted fleece)... Shaped into a form similiar to that of a Calla
Lily... it was, of course, inspired by a beautiful Calla Lily in the
rain. It is embellished with a creamy white alpaca that has been
needle felted into graceful curves. The "rain" is made from small
irregular shaped white freshwater pearls that have been individually
sewn on.
This is one that will also go into the Art Exhibit in October. I have listed it on Etsy and if it gets bought for the amount I listed it for, I will be very happy :)..... otherwise it goes into the show. More pictures can be seen at: http://DreamWoven.com/AFYHCalla.htm

http://DreamWoven.etsy.com

Art For Your Head "Bromeliad in Fog" Hat

This piece will be going into the exhibit at the art center in October. I've listed it on Etsy with a high price tag.... I really like being able to use Etsy as a gallery as well as a shop.

For more pictures click here: http://DreamWoven.com/AFYHBromeliad.htm

Art for Arts' Sake

Let’s just say I am excited/elated/fullo’joy/floored/dumbfounded/excited/elated…… you get where this is going?

Let me start this out by letting you in on something. I don’t go out a lot. I don’t show my work a lot. Most of my items are bought on line. I figure that is pretty good because the stuff is selling even though people aren’t able to touch/feel or really see my work close up. I’ve lived here almost 9 years and I don’t have any new friends that live in my town. I am a solitary person. I spend most of my time with B. We spend most of our time together. We work together, play together and create together. This seems to be enough for both of us.

I’ve done a few shows (artsy/crafty type o’ shows). I fret before I do them, but I do them and have been reasonably successful. My work has been sold in a high end yarn shop in a touristy expensive town. I did very well… for both myself and the owner of the shop.

Well… I ventured out into the ‘art world’ and decided, when I received the last “Art Center News” brochure, that I would submit some pieces into an exhibit they were holding with the theme, “Wild about Color”. We’ve been members of the Art Center for several years. B. has had work shown (and sold) through the gallery there. I figured I would give it a shot.

I chose 2 pieces that I particularly liked and that I thought fit the ‘theme’. Entry was today, January 30th between the hours of 9am-12pm. We packed it up this morning and hit the road. 35 miles later we arrived with me fretting about whether or not an art gallery would consider my work ‘art’ (this is a whole nother topic of conversation!)… luckily B. was with me, because I probably would have turned around and gone home if I had been there alone.

We walked in, I was told where the paperwork was and went there to complete it. When I came out to pay my entry fees, I was greeted with “OMG, these are beautiful…. Are you a member???”…. “are you available for a showcase?”…… “how’s October?”. This went on for quite awhile….. I was giggling like a school kid… I was embarrassed… I was floored…………..

I couldn’t believe the reception my work got… I am still in limbo somewhere flying on a real high of accomplishment. They offered me a 6ft x 4ft (approx.) showcase, with lighting, shelves etc., for the month of October 2007 during a very high-end (money-wise) exhibit they will be presenting. All items placed in the gallery are also for sale.

I was told I could ‘go home’ and not have to wait around until between 2-5pm today to find out whether my pieces were accepted into this current exhibit…. They were…. Enthusiastically…………….

The reception and awards are to take place on February 2 and the entire show will run through the end of February. I feel so lucky… so incredibly lucky…. And oh what a joy it will be to create things without a thought of whether they will sell or not…. just to create for creatings sake…. Art for arts’ sake.