Buddha
I must say that I don’t regret challanging myself to making 100 Art Quilts in 100 Days. It was often overwelming , and I floundered some days. Other days were triumphant, productive and amazing. I would like to chronicle the lessons I learned over the period of December 2010 to March 2010.
1. A self-challenge without the pressure of peer approval and a juried format can be productive and serve as private insight to your creativity and viability as an artist. I most definitely felt self-assured after the challenge was over.
2. Self-doubt about my artistic abilities were unconfirmed and faulty assumptions dismissed.
3. As David Bayles comments in his book, Art and Fear, “One of the basic and difficult lessons every artist must learn is that even failed pieces are essential.” I learned from what I judged as mistakes and then moved on quickly to the next day without much time to ponder them. I learned not to get bogged down by negativism. Art routinely calls one’s basic self-worth into question. You must learn how not to quit.
4. The process of making art is the education of the artist. I tried a variety of techniques that I had had in the back of my mind for over a year. This gave me the opportunity to explore those techniques and discover daily which ones did not work for me and which ones excited me. The ones that I enjoyed, I will go forward happy having given the ones I attempted and disliked a try.
5. Sharing the challenge with my fellow artist on my blog everyday kept me focused and accountable to my self-imposed challenge. I had to embrace my art quilts each day knowing that they would be held up to the scrutiny of fellow artist. Quite humbling and risky. The feedback I received from fellow artists was positive and supportive. I think because we all know how difficult it is to put our art credibility on the line day after day.
6. Materials are king. Knowledge and the willingness to take chances and explore the intended an unintended use of materials is paramount to stretching your abilities.
7. Time is a restraint that made me focus, improve, fail and explore. Wasn’t sure that I would create something worthy in one day, but it can and did happen.
8. A sense of accomplishment accompanies me everyday when I work now. I approach projects with a feeling that I can devote as much time as I need to meet my own expectations.
9. Not every art quilt has to be “perfect.”
10. Don’t quilt. Be fearless.
I hope that as one of my readers, you will review the 100 days and comment further on “Lessons Learned”.
l Anatsui’s exhibit at the Blanton Art Museum on the campus of The University of Texas in Austin. Not only was I able to view his magnificent work, but he lectured as well. Although, he works in wood, his largest pieces were executed using bottle caps and copper wire.
home. Add a dash of spunk, weirdness, tats, a great fiber community, and you’ve got Austin under your skin pretty quickly. The best barbeque and tex-mex in the whole world and the best live music.
