Thoughts From Marsha

Yesterday I had a "play date" with a friend of mine, Jayne Bachman. We did collage, not painting. But when I do something creative that is based on a landscape, it feels like a painting to me. Collage is outside my comfort zone, but it makes me think in larger chunks of value and color. Jayne is extremely good at this.

I carried a container of panels and different kinds of supplies, including a new set of ink pens with brush tips. I was not sure if I would do collage or sketching, or a combination of both. I have been playing around at times with drawing on top of some of my paintings, so why wouldn't I do that on a collage? Fun to think of the possibilities, right?

I put four 5"x7" panels on a board. I chose four photos as possibilities. I started choosing colors of paper, tearing or cutting shapes, putting medium on the board and placing those papers. I realized quickly I was sadly inept at doing this! I trudged on and at stopping time for me, after about four hours of work, I had only done one. We did have some wonderful conversations while we were working on our pieces.

Jayne is a previous art student of mine, having taken years of pastel lessons from me, and participated in many plein air workshops. Sometimes my students become really close friends and I love this aspect of being a teacher. And, sometimes we lose touch with them due to life interfering, or we become so involved in the journey we are on... and it is a combination of those two things most of the time. I have made a commitment to reconnect with some of the friends that I miss. The conversations with Jayne are always interesting, fun and thought provoking!

We broke for lunch, and sat discussing what is going on in our lives and catching up. Lots of laughter also! It led to a discussion about what is an artist. I said a few words about it, and she did also. But something she said made me ask her, "Are you an artist?" And her answer surprised me. She does not think of herself as an artist. Oh boy! I immediately said, "Yes you are an artist because you are so creative!" When I asked her why she felt that way, she mentioned that she tries to create paintings sometimes and most of the time does not feel they are successful. Success is so evasive for all of us especially if means a finished "product," called a painting, and suitable for framing.

I talked a little more about what I thought an artist is. My definition: someone that is creative and creates for the sheer joy of doing it. An artist can be a hobby artist or a professional artist, and everything in between, right?

When I hear someone answer the question about why they are an artist, most times they will say "because I have to do it." My answer to many of them is, you must go a little deeper than that. Answer the question about why you have to do it. Jayne and I had the conversation about why we need to say an artist is someone that produces a product. Is the product the be all, end all, of being an artist? Not in my mind! An artist is someone that creates for the sheer joy of doing it as I said above, which really means the joy of the process.

There will be many that do not agree with me. I have artist peers that say you don't own the title artist unless you have achieved a certain level of success. Success is elusive! What is success? Well, that is a question for another blog post, right?

I hope I gave Jayne a few thoughts to ponder and she may begin to call herself an artist. I think she is because she has fun doing what she does, and she creates some beautiful work in all kinds of creative endeavors. I have several of her pieces hanging in my home, both two and three dimensional!

I sent Jayne a draft of the blog, and asked if she would mind my using her name instead of just saying "my friend."  Her reply was very interesting and I am copying some of it here for your enjoyment:

"...  I’m ok with your using it with my name, if you think it will be helpful with others who struggle with this issue. I have had an epiphany after something that happened last night. A friend came over last night to help me with a technology problem. As he finished, he told me he had just lost his little 18 year old dog. This friend has had many serious health and other issues for several years, and the loss of his little best friend is profound. He has noticed and liked my collages. ... I told him that if he has a good photo of his little dog, I would do a collage for him. We both had tears as we talked, and I realized that I can offer something of real value to him. For that moment, I felt like an artist. So, I think ones feeling like a successful “artist” is based upon that moment of  emotional connection between the creator and the “receiver”... I already know I can create a good collage of it, because I “feel” it. Will keep you posted."

Are you an artist? If so, tell me why you think so. Or tell me why you don't think you are.