I read a lot of stuff from people who are indignant that scrabookers (in particular) call themselves artists. Scrapbooking celebrity Ali Edwards introduced the term Life Artist and as many people embraced it as were chafed by it. I found this recent comment on a message board very interesting:
The whole, “I am an artist because I slap some oddly matched paper, a few office supplies, embellishments and a photograph of half of my face together on a slab” thing makes me howl.
How many of these women have true artistic ability, to draw, sketch, paint?
Seriously, who has any real numbers on how many pubbed and big name scrappers are truly artistic? As in in other mediums, even graphic artist. The word designer does not mean shit, anybody can call themselves a designer these days and they do. It no longer holds any prestige unless you have created a line of product.
I am sure there are some true artists who scrapbook …. but the “Life Artists????” give me a small break already.
Lets say it again for the cheap seats “You are a scrapbooker!!!!! however good or not good at it you may be!!!! If you are embarrassed to admit it and must elevate yourself to “Artist” you need therapy!!!!!!!!.”
There is not a damn thing wrong with being a scrapbooker. Get off the high horses and don’t call yourself and artist until you can prove it with versatility in the art world.
Certainly the questions of “what is art?” or “who is an artist?” are not new ones. Somehow, it makes me think about the old joke:
Q: What do they call the guy who graduates last in his medical school class?
A: Doctor.
So, aren’t all of us who create artists? But, then I found this comment:
If I was a real artist who had spent time studying, and working hard towards perfecting my medium I would be pissed at all of these people calling themselves artists.
So because I can put a CD in my stereo mean that I am also a musician?
Hmmmm…There just seems to be so much negative energy around the term “artist.” But, I have decided to refuse to allow other people to define how I see that word.
I would like to share a recent layout.
Here’s the journaling:
It has taken me a really long time to be to say that out loud. I am an Artist. It sounds ridiculous to me somehow. But it is the truth. By training, I am a theatrical artist. But as a Director, I feel like calling myself an Artist, is like a Lawyer calling himself Doctor. Sure, he has a Juris Doctorate, but c’mon! Then I became “Artsty-Craftsy” when I wandered into the craft world, but still not an Artist. People bought the jewelry I made, but I was simply “Crafty.” When my scrapbooking was published, I became “Super Creative.” When my quilting won awards, I was “A Talented Hobbyist.” And then it happened. Something clicked inside. The title “Artist” stopped sounding like a pretentious word, and started sounding like who I am.
Interesting thoughts. I haven’t thought about it that way before – especially the last comment you found. Words and their connotions sure evoke strong feelings in people. Thanks for writing such interesting posts – personally I feel both sides are somewhat right and somewhat wrong, that there’s valid and good points for both sides…but ohwell, who am I to judge what I don’t really know. Let’s just have fun creating. I can still call what I do creating, can I? 🙂
Interesting thoughts. I haven’t thought about it that way before – especially the last comment you found. Words and their connotions sure evoke strong feelings in people. Thanks for writing such interesting posts – personally I feel both sides are somewhat right and somewhat wrong, that there’s valid and good points for both sides…but ohwell, who am I to judge what I don’t really know. Let’s just have fun creating. I can still call what I do creating, can I? 🙂
Interesting thoughts. I haven’t thought about it that way before – especially the last comment you found. Words and their connotions sure evoke strong feelings in people. Thanks for writing such interesting posts – personally I feel both sides are somewhat right and somewhat wrong, that there’s valid and good points for both sides…but ohwell, who am I to judge what I don’t really know. Let’s just have fun creating. I can still call what I do creating, can I? 🙂
Interesting thoughts. I haven’t thought about it that way before – especially the last comment you found. Words and their connotions sure evoke strong feelings in people. Thanks for writing such interesting posts – personally I feel both sides are somewhat right and somewhat wrong, that there’s valid and good points for both sides…but ohwell, who am I to judge what I don’t really know. Let’s just have fun creating. I can still call what I do creating, can I? 🙂
i personally feel that someone who expresses themselves through any medium is an artist. whether that is a scrapbooker, painter, mime, sculptor, actor, etc.
i’m sure that christo and jackson pollock weren’t considered true artists [by mainstream viewers] their entire lives either. but is there doubt that they create “art”?
wonderful lo btw, and wonderful post.
i personally feel that someone who expresses themselves through any medium is an artist. whether that is a scrapbooker, painter, mime, sculptor, actor, etc.
i’m sure that christo and jackson pollock weren’t considered true artists [by mainstream viewers] their entire lives either. but is there doubt that they create “art”?
wonderful lo btw, and wonderful post.
i personally feel that someone who expresses themselves through any medium is an artist. whether that is a scrapbooker, painter, mime, sculptor, actor, etc.
i’m sure that christo and jackson pollock weren’t considered true artists [by mainstream viewers] their entire lives either. but is there doubt that they create “art”?
wonderful lo btw, and wonderful post.
i personally feel that someone who expresses themselves through any medium is an artist. whether that is a scrapbooker, painter, mime, sculptor, actor, etc.
i’m sure that christo and jackson pollock weren’t considered true artists [by mainstream viewers] their entire lives either. but is there doubt that they create “art”?
wonderful lo btw, and wonderful post.
Amen!!! Thank you for saying something that need to be said. It is absurd that people want to delineate, by category, creativity. This failed logic by some is actually shocking and is elitist snobbery at its most loathesome.
Just because someone creates with paper or clay or whatever medium they choose, doesn’t mean they are any less of an artist. I think this venom towards other realms of artistry it is due to several factors like education, the ‘traditional’ role of the ‘starving artist,’ angst ridden struggle for legitimacy, and even jealousy because of someone’s success. Success doesn’t define the artist, it finds the quality artist.
Here’s the definition for the term artist. This could help the eliteratti loosen up a little! 😉
artist
1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, esp. a painter or sculptor.
3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.
4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.
5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit: He’s an artist with cards.
7. Obsolete. an artisan.
——————————————————————————–
[Origin: 1575–85; < MF artiste < ML artista master of arts. See art1, -ist] —Synonyms 1. Artist, artisan are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art.
Amen!!! Thank you for saying something that need to be said. It is absurd that people want to delineate, by category, creativity. This failed logic by some is actually shocking and is elitist snobbery at its most loathesome.
Just because someone creates with paper or clay or whatever medium they choose, doesn’t mean they are any less of an artist. I think this venom towards other realms of artistry it is due to several factors like education, the ‘traditional’ role of the ‘starving artist,’ angst ridden struggle for legitimacy, and even jealousy because of someone’s success. Success doesn’t define the artist, it finds the quality artist.
Here’s the definition for the term artist. This could help the eliteratti loosen up a little! 😉
artist
1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, esp. a painter or sculptor.
3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.
4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.
5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit: He’s an artist with cards.
7. Obsolete. an artisan.
——————————————————————————–
[Origin: 1575–85; < MF artiste < ML artista master of arts. See art1, -ist] —Synonyms 1. Artist, artisan are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art.
Amen!!! Thank you for saying something that need to be said. It is absurd that people want to delineate, by category, creativity. This failed logic by some is actually shocking and is elitist snobbery at its most loathesome.
Just because someone creates with paper or clay or whatever medium they choose, doesn’t mean they are any less of an artist. I think this venom towards other realms of artistry it is due to several factors like education, the ‘traditional’ role of the ‘starving artist,’ angst ridden struggle for legitimacy, and even jealousy because of someone’s success. Success doesn’t define the artist, it finds the quality artist.
Here’s the definition for the term artist. This could help the eliteratti loosen up a little! 😉
artist
1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, esp. a painter or sculptor.
3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.
4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.
5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit: He’s an artist with cards.
7. Obsolete. an artisan.
——————————————————————————–
[Origin: 1575–85; < MF artiste < ML artista master of arts. See art1, -ist] —Synonyms 1. Artist, artisan are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art.
Amen!!! Thank you for saying something that need to be said. It is absurd that people want to delineate, by category, creativity. This failed logic by some is actually shocking and is elitist snobbery at its most loathesome.
Just because someone creates with paper or clay or whatever medium they choose, doesn’t mean they are any less of an artist. I think this venom towards other realms of artistry it is due to several factors like education, the ‘traditional’ role of the ‘starving artist,’ angst ridden struggle for legitimacy, and even jealousy because of someone’s success. Success doesn’t define the artist, it finds the quality artist.
Here’s the definition for the term artist. This could help the eliteratti loosen up a little! 😉
artist
1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, esp. a painter or sculptor.
3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.
4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.
5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit: He’s an artist with cards.
7. Obsolete. an artisan.
——————————————————————————–
[Origin: 1575–85; < MF artiste < ML artista master of arts. See art1, -ist] —Synonyms 1. Artist, artisan are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art.
I too am on both sides of the fence, but I wouldn’t take away anyone’s right to say they’re an artist. I always thought that my scrapbooking isn’t art because I put no thought into it, I think about the story, not what the page looks like. I’m a writer by nature, something I *have* to do, so I could think of that as my art. But I love your page, it’s humble without being pretentious. I understand how it can be hard to think of yourself as an artist, even when everyone around you is telling you that you are. you’re always you’re toughest critic
I too am on both sides of the fence, but I wouldn’t take away anyone’s right to say they’re an artist. I always thought that my scrapbooking isn’t art because I put no thought into it, I think about the story, not what the page looks like. I’m a writer by nature, something I *have* to do, so I could think of that as my art. But I love your page, it’s humble without being pretentious. I understand how it can be hard to think of yourself as an artist, even when everyone around you is telling you that you are. you’re always you’re toughest critic
I too am on both sides of the fence, but I wouldn’t take away anyone’s right to say they’re an artist. I always thought that my scrapbooking isn’t art because I put no thought into it, I think about the story, not what the page looks like. I’m a writer by nature, something I *have* to do, so I could think of that as my art. But I love your page, it’s humble without being pretentious. I understand how it can be hard to think of yourself as an artist, even when everyone around you is telling you that you are. you’re always you’re toughest critic
I too am on both sides of the fence, but I wouldn’t take away anyone’s right to say they’re an artist. I always thought that my scrapbooking isn’t art because I put no thought into it, I think about the story, not what the page looks like. I’m a writer by nature, something I *have* to do, so I could think of that as my art. But I love your page, it’s humble without being pretentious. I understand how it can be hard to think of yourself as an artist, even when everyone around you is telling you that you are. you’re always you’re toughest critic
You are a TRUE artist…in heart, soul and spirt and in your work!
thank you for your blog…I love it.
You are a TRUE artist…in heart, soul and spirt and in your work!
thank you for your blog…I love it.
You are a TRUE artist…in heart, soul and spirt and in your work!
thank you for your blog…I love it.
You are a TRUE artist…in heart, soul and spirt and in your work!
thank you for your blog…I love it.
So would “family history artist” sound better ?!?!?!?
And I LOVE that layout!
So would “family history artist” sound better ?!?!?!?
And I LOVE that layout!
So would “family history artist” sound better ?!?!?!?
And I LOVE that layout!
So would “family history artist” sound better ?!?!?!?
And I LOVE that layout!
Great thread and awesome layout!!!
Great thread and awesome layout!!!
Great thread and awesome layout!!!
Great thread and awesome layout!!!
Now THIS is an interesting post and I read it with a lot of interest and a few laughs.. thanks! kisses from another artist!!!
Now THIS is an interesting post and I read it with a lot of interest and a few laughs.. thanks! kisses from another artist!!!
Now THIS is an interesting post and I read it with a lot of interest and a few laughs.. thanks! kisses from another artist!!!
Now THIS is an interesting post and I read it with a lot of interest and a few laughs.. thanks! kisses from another artist!!!