i've been to a conference this weekend at a christian college about creative arts and christianity. don miller was the main speaker, and i really enjoyed the chance to listen to him speak. i was absolutely inspired by the conference, and am excited about the results.
for those of you who don't know, i make collages. the picture above is a collage i made a few years ago. i have made probably a couple hundred and continue to make them. it is something that brings me great joy and satisfaction, but that is about it. i am just about creating art in a vacuum. i have done some pretty serious reflection on this issue, about how i am creating only for myself, and have recognized that it is certainly not the intent of the creative spark within us. however, i don't know how to share what i do with others. i am hoping this might be one such forum.
i am looking for some feedback here: what do you think makes someone an artist? for some reason, i have always thought that it has to do with making some money from your work. i have even thought that an artist isn't an artist unless their art is their livelihood. i know that this isn't always true, but it is just something i feel. for example, i could have started off the last paragraph by saying that i am an artist. but i didn't. i said i make collages. i have real problems saying that i am an artist. i don't know why. does anyone identify with this struggle? and even if you don't, what do you think makes one an artist?
i will post some more this week about some of the things don miller spoke about, and my reflections. in the meantime, let me know what you think about what it means to be an artist...
greg.
so this is a collage called swamp. i made it in february of last year. it is currently framed in a homemade, hand-painted frame. it is paper collage on a book binding panel. it is 7" x 10". and i am giving it away. i've been wanting to have a blog giveaway for some time, and the time has finally arrived. here's how it works. all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. by leaving a comment you are automatically entered into the contest (as long as your comment offers a way for me to get in touch with you, or you know that i know you). the contest will be open until next wednesday at noon, eastern standard time. at that time the contest will officially be closed and i will pick a random number. the person whose comment matches that number wins! for example, if i happen to pick the number 33, the thirty-third comment will win. oh, and one more rule: you can only post ONCE. if you win, i will send you the collage, signed by me, the artist, free of c...
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Check her thoughts out here:
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2006/03/i_am_a_life_art.html
and here:
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2006/05/whats_your_mess.html
yes, she is a "scrapbooker", but even more, she is a life artist. she has some cool things for sale in her cafepress shop, too.
peace.
i was given a gam collage, once!
i have a gam original too. but im greedy and want another :)