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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.


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Comments

Crafty P said…
I definitely identify myself as an artist... and ali edwards helped me to know and accept that.

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!
8:42 AM
Anonymous said…
an artist creates. it doesn't even have to be good. my special nun friend taught me that when you create something YOU have to love it...not the world...not the critics. so often we are conditioned to be our own worst critics...artists never happy with their product. she said...if we aren't happy with it, how do we expect others to be happy with it? all im saying is...create for yourself first. it feeds the soul. then when you do that, you are full enough to share it with the world. greg...its time to share. you could go farther than ever imagined...

i have a gam original too. but im greedy and want another :)
10:42 PM
Anonymous said…
i have nothing of consequence or importance to say here except that i want a gam original for christmas. why have i been left out of this art fest? and also im extremely jealous that you got to see don miller. in case you didnt already know.
4:47 PM
greg milinovich said…
welcome, taryn. good to have you here. sorry about he whole don miller thing. i would tell you that he was pompous and arrogant and really just a jerk, but that wouldn't be true, since he was funny and down-to-earth and well-spoken and inspiring. sorry...
8:09 AM
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