I found this post on Jewish-Scrapbooking.com very interesting. In it, the poster asks a thought-provoking question:
I have scrapped for most of my life. I have taught many classes, I have worked in a scrapbook store, I subscribe to scrapping magazines, I sometimes go to crops and I am curious. . . what level scrapper does this make me???
I don’t have a sizzix or a cricut or quikkutz (or however you spell it). I don’t buy designer albums. I have supplies out the wazzoo. . .I sometimes create my own albums, I alter plain albums, I am a lumpy scrapper, I love fiber and ribbons. I use Jolee’s tastefully. . .I have never submitted my work for publication, I think I do great work, and I see some LO’s in magazines and cringe that I didn’t submit something. I have never been on a design team, although I tried once, but was told that her team was filled.
I think I am a "skilled" or "advanced" scrapper; however, when you read the question "What level scrapper are you?" if you are not a beginner, what makes that determination? Is it your own perception. I totally consider myself to be a Scrapbook Designer.
Just wondering what you all think about this topic!
The responses are varied and my own answer was pretty straight forward: "I think that only you can define what level of scrapper you are. What do your experience and knowledge combine to create?" But, the more I think about it, the more that answer bothers me.
I’m going to ramble here for a moment, so bear with me.
There exists a raging debate in many craft/art communities: Is it craft or is it art? Is craft art? Is it always art? Can some of it be art? Who decides if it’s art? Who decides if it’s craft? Who decides if it’s good. I have talked to beaders, silversmiths, quilters, scrapbookers…so many people who make strong arguments for and against being labeled as either artists or crafters.
I found a quote a while back that I really love:
"Art strives to express; craft strives for excellence. Good art has good craft, good craft is artistic. Within every craft there exists artists. Within every artist there is craft."
It doesn’t really answer the question, but it eloquently sums up so many of my feelings about the subject. Why do we need to define it so harshly? If I make a quilt that I mean to be hung on the wall like art, and someone else makes a quilt that is meant to go on a bed, but I hang it on my wall because to me, it is art, what’s the difference? Or if someone has only been scrapping a year ends up teaching a class to someone who has been scrapping for thirteen, who is the expert? Who is the advanced scrapper?
I am a beginning quilter. I learned to sew in the summer of 2005. (Heck, I learned to iron at my first quilting class in 2005!) I have won blue ribbons and teach classes, but I still consider myself a beginner. There is just so much technical knowledge out there that I don’t possess.
So, is technical knowledge the standard? In ice skating, the skaters are given two marks: technical and artistic. And, I’ve always wondered about the latter. It’s so subjective. A number given to rate someone’s artistry? Bizarre. But, we somehow have this need to do it.
I don’t know if I’m headed anywhere in particular on this great ramble. It has just been rattling in my head and I’m trying to figure it all out. Do you have an opinion?
PS: Just Let Me Scrapbook is having another GREAT sale (psst: they have clear albums)…
Don’t forget to mention my name (Julie Fei-Fan Balzer) in the comments section!
PS #2: TOMORROW is the last day to sign up for my class, Scrapalicious (see the image on the left). We start class today, but I always let students sign up until we’re two days in. E-mail me (balzerdesigns@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
Thanks for stopping by!
I think there are different levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced; and I think it comes with experience and not with the level of techniques learned and used and I know some may argue that.. just my opinion. 🙂
I think there are different levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced; and I think it comes with experience and not with the level of techniques learned and used and I know some may argue that.. just my opinion. 🙂
I think there are different levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced; and I think it comes with experience and not with the level of techniques learned and used and I know some may argue that.. just my opinion. 🙂
I think there are different levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced; and I think it comes with experience and not with the level of techniques learned and used and I know some may argue that.. just my opinion. 🙂
such an intersting read. Makes one really thinking. I would also call myself still a beginner- I want to absorbe everything- most things are making me curious and new to me. Art…Art is in the eye of the beholder- 🙂
HUgs
such an intersting read. Makes one really thinking. I would also call myself still a beginner- I want to absorbe everything- most things are making me curious and new to me. Art…Art is in the eye of the beholder- 🙂
HUgs
such an intersting read. Makes one really thinking. I would also call myself still a beginner- I want to absorbe everything- most things are making me curious and new to me. Art…Art is in the eye of the beholder- 🙂
HUgs
such an intersting read. Makes one really thinking. I would also call myself still a beginner- I want to absorbe everything- most things are making me curious and new to me. Art…Art is in the eye of the beholder- 🙂
HUgs
lovin’ that quote girl!!! very good food for thought!!
xo
lovin’ that quote girl!!! very good food for thought!!
xo
lovin’ that quote girl!!! very good food for thought!!
xo
lovin’ that quote girl!!! very good food for thought!!
xo
yes, what an interesting question… are we, what we state/claim we are? We claim we do art, but actually apart from our scrapfriends not many people will agree on that. I think art just sounds so much better to many people than crafting. But we shouldn’t really care. Most important is to walk new ways.
yes, what an interesting question… are we, what we state/claim we are? We claim we do art, but actually apart from our scrapfriends not many people will agree on that. I think art just sounds so much better to many people than crafting. But we shouldn’t really care. Most important is to walk new ways.
yes, what an interesting question… are we, what we state/claim we are? We claim we do art, but actually apart from our scrapfriends not many people will agree on that. I think art just sounds so much better to many people than crafting. But we shouldn’t really care. Most important is to walk new ways.
yes, what an interesting question… are we, what we state/claim we are? We claim we do art, but actually apart from our scrapfriends not many people will agree on that. I think art just sounds so much better to many people than crafting. But we shouldn’t really care. Most important is to walk new ways.
I completely agree with you, there are some things that I do that I find artistic even if they don´t look so nice or perfect. The point is that they fill me.
I tried to check your classes but no luck yet, only takes me to a class that is already closed 🙁
I completely agree with you, there are some things that I do that I find artistic even if they don´t look so nice or perfect. The point is that they fill me.
I tried to check your classes but no luck yet, only takes me to a class that is already closed 🙁
I completely agree with you, there are some things that I do that I find artistic even if they don´t look so nice or perfect. The point is that they fill me.
I tried to check your classes but no luck yet, only takes me to a class that is already closed 🙁
I completely agree with you, there are some things that I do that I find artistic even if they don´t look so nice or perfect. The point is that they fill me.
I tried to check your classes but no luck yet, only takes me to a class that is already closed 🙁
Great ramble! I have scrapbooked for almost 2 years now but I am soooo still a beginner as I feel I am lacking in techinique which I believe is how I rate beginner vs advanced. I like to think of art/craft as interchangeable(sp.) terms.
Great ramble! I have scrapbooked for almost 2 years now but I am soooo still a beginner as I feel I am lacking in techinique which I believe is how I rate beginner vs advanced. I like to think of art/craft as interchangeable(sp.) terms.
Great ramble! I have scrapbooked for almost 2 years now but I am soooo still a beginner as I feel I am lacking in techinique which I believe is how I rate beginner vs advanced. I like to think of art/craft as interchangeable(sp.) terms.
Great ramble! I have scrapbooked for almost 2 years now but I am soooo still a beginner as I feel I am lacking in techinique which I believe is how I rate beginner vs advanced. I like to think of art/craft as interchangeable(sp.) terms.
Good points you make…I personally can’t define levels in paper crafting/scrapbooking…because it’s so abstract – so many different styles and tastes involved. For instance the multi-pic page people v. the single small photo…the artsy wordless pages v. the thoughtful journaler and on and on.
Something like sewing though…I think it’s more about knowing terms, being able to use your machine in different ways, having confidence etc. There is definitely more cut and dry SKILL involved. I’ve been sewing for more than 25 years but I’m totally a beginner b/c I’ve never really gone out of my comfort zone, I’m easily frustrated with it.
I think a lot of the judgement has to do with traditional v. modern in most areas of arts/crafts. Okay…now who is rambling?
Good points you make…I personally can’t define levels in paper crafting/scrapbooking…because it’s so abstract – so many different styles and tastes involved. For instance the multi-pic page people v. the single small photo…the artsy wordless pages v. the thoughtful journaler and on and on.
Something like sewing though…I think it’s more about knowing terms, being able to use your machine in different ways, having confidence etc. There is definitely more cut and dry SKILL involved. I’ve been sewing for more than 25 years but I’m totally a beginner b/c I’ve never really gone out of my comfort zone, I’m easily frustrated with it.
I think a lot of the judgement has to do with traditional v. modern in most areas of arts/crafts. Okay…now who is rambling?
Good points you make…I personally can’t define levels in paper crafting/scrapbooking…because it’s so abstract – so many different styles and tastes involved. For instance the multi-pic page people v. the single small photo…the artsy wordless pages v. the thoughtful journaler and on and on.
Something like sewing though…I think it’s more about knowing terms, being able to use your machine in different ways, having confidence etc. There is definitely more cut and dry SKILL involved. I’ve been sewing for more than 25 years but I’m totally a beginner b/c I’ve never really gone out of my comfort zone, I’m easily frustrated with it.
I think a lot of the judgement has to do with traditional v. modern in most areas of arts/crafts. Okay…now who is rambling?
Good points you make…I personally can’t define levels in paper crafting/scrapbooking…because it’s so abstract – so many different styles and tastes involved. For instance the multi-pic page people v. the single small photo…the artsy wordless pages v. the thoughtful journaler and on and on.
Something like sewing though…I think it’s more about knowing terms, being able to use your machine in different ways, having confidence etc. There is definitely more cut and dry SKILL involved. I’ve been sewing for more than 25 years but I’m totally a beginner b/c I’ve never really gone out of my comfort zone, I’m easily frustrated with it.
I think a lot of the judgement has to do with traditional v. modern in most areas of arts/crafts. Okay…now who is rambling?
You have definitely posed a very valid question and line of thought. Like you, I could produce quite the ramble on this matter. Your quote does sum it up nicely though and I have clipped it for future reference! Thanks much.
I think that that in this cookie cutter world when everything is supposed to be defined and put into a mold that there are something that are undefinable. Art and Craft being two of those things. There is no black and white but many colours and shades. Just do what feels good for you and feel good with your results!
You have definitely posed a very valid question and line of thought. Like you, I could produce quite the ramble on this matter. Your quote does sum it up nicely though and I have clipped it for future reference! Thanks much.
I think that that in this cookie cutter world when everything is supposed to be defined and put into a mold that there are something that are undefinable. Art and Craft being two of those things. There is no black and white but many colours and shades. Just do what feels good for you and feel good with your results!
You have definitely posed a very valid question and line of thought. Like you, I could produce quite the ramble on this matter. Your quote does sum it up nicely though and I have clipped it for future reference! Thanks much.
I think that that in this cookie cutter world when everything is supposed to be defined and put into a mold that there are something that are undefinable. Art and Craft being two of those things. There is no black and white but many colours and shades. Just do what feels good for you and feel good with your results!
You have definitely posed a very valid question and line of thought. Like you, I could produce quite the ramble on this matter. Your quote does sum it up nicely though and I have clipped it for future reference! Thanks much.
I think that that in this cookie cutter world when everything is supposed to be defined and put into a mold that there are something that are undefinable. Art and Craft being two of those things. There is no black and white but many colours and shades. Just do what feels good for you and feel good with your results!