Some more bits of pottery I've found on my walks. Look at that ship one, isn't it amazing? I love seeing the different styles and marks and textures next to each other. It still astounds me, too, that I don't find matching bits.
Thinking about fragments, and discussing a fragmented online persona (not my words) this morning, and wondering what the need for it is. Some advice is that it's better to have different 'departments' for different work, and go under a different name for each. To have clearly differentiated brands. To not mix up art and commercial work. To not have people see instantly that you work for ad agencies as well as doing fine art.
My feeling is that it's better (and easier to manage) to have everything in one pot. It's all online anyway, so people will make connections. But I'm not very in touch with things, so I really don't know what's best. Is it confusing to know that one person does comics and illustrations and textile designs and fine art prints? And that some illustrations are for cool publications and some illustrations are for school books? Does it make that person seem a worse comic artist if you find out that they spend a good part of their time designing knitted dolls?
Is your work diluted by appearing varied, or does it all somehow come together and seem stronger?
17 comments:
I suppose it depends on how separate they are for you yourself. If you feel like its all coming from the same place - then its probably best to share it that way. Otherwise you wont feel comfortable in your different roles, and it will not seem genuine.
I love picking up broken china bits on my walks! I found some great stuff along a railroad line once. My favorite finding place was a vacant lot that had been used as a dumping ground for decades in Illinois.
I often wonder the same thing myself as my creativity tends to be all over the place and I never quite know how to or whether to categorize what I'm doing or whether to group it all together. The dvision between "art" and "craft" and the associated labels and boxes also confuses me no end!
Love the ceramic fragments. On my hunts for shells, driftwood and sea glass on the beach, it's always a rare treat if I find a smoothed bit of pottery.
Nice fragments (I love finding these!), and interesting thoughts. I'll have to think about it a bit before giving you an answer - if there is one to give. It's probably along the lines of: there's no right way or wrong way, and also: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I feel that the creativity in me that becomes illustrations, digital graphics and product design all comes from the same place and makes my art the rounded and complete experience it is. So for me it works to present all of my things as parts of one.
I hope that by doing this my presentations will be varied and interesting.
I've been confused by this myself. I'm a librarian and academic but also a seamstress, knitter, creative writer and drawer. Sometimes I feel like the people from one area of my life won't understand, or maybe will look down upon (here I am talking about academics) the other parts ... maybe this is just my own anxiety though?
I just thought of a different angle - maybe it's just that having different names for different things is another part of creativity! For instance, I always want to make new blogs (I don't really, but only due to lack of time) for different things I do because it means I get to come up with a special name / header / way of styling that little compartment.
I don't think it is confusing at all. It is great for me to get to know the artist and it makes the person more real to me knowing all the forms of art they practise. I admire artists that are good in several mediums or areas. Many of us are just very good at one thing.
Looking at your finds, it makes me wonder about the story behind each one. Wouldn't you love to know where each piece originates from? How did it get there? Was it a shipwreck along the famous stormy Cape seas?
those are very good questions. I agree that those are all facets of your creativity and personality, and it shouldn't confuse people that you can do all those things, it should amaze them :)
I think that knowing all these things..About you I am guessing..Makes my virtual friend a more interesting, deeply textured person. And less of a split-personality mystery. I have always wondered about the keeping the different layers separate thing. After all, it is all you, and everybody should have layers.
I was wondering where the pottery pieces come from, Just find them! You live in an interesting place.
I feel that a variety of creative work only shows a greater talent and a greater mind! Definitely all together seems stronger to me!
Hmmm. Good question, one that has been on my mind as well. For the time being, I´m going to go with Heather above until I find out an answer that (at least) works for me. So far, I think that all together in one space might be good for me.
Maybe it isn´t a problem at all: you´re good and find your way with so many things, it´s great to have so many creative outlets. I bet you don´t get bored with work!
Very interesting question. I compartmentalize my life quite a bit - people I work with and many of my friends do not know that I blog, for example. I like to keep work issues separated from the rest (and for me, the most important parts) of my life. And my art and craft explorations I keep to myself, only show some of it on my blog, but my friends and colleagues are not really aware of it. I think though if art/craft is your job - your living - then it may be a different issue. Personally, as a consumer/viewer/buyer of such art/craft I think it adds texture/depth when I know that the artist also does X, Y and Z. It gives me a more rounded view of the person behind the work. So what if he/she also has to do commercial work to make a living? It is a bit like finding out that a favourite writer also writes, let's say romance novels, but under a pseudonym. I feel cheated, not because I think his literary works are now suddenly inferior, but because I wonder why he feels it necessary to hide that fact from his readers. I feel insulted as well - like, does he think his readers are not going to find it out anyway? But I do understand that some people would look at a work (art/book/whatever) differently if they know the artist also does more 'mundane' stuff. I think people like that are silly and pretentious.
PS Aaargh, after that long comment of mine I forgot to say I love your fragments! I collect those bits too. We used to have moles in our garden in R'bosch - and the moles dug up quite a few nice old pieces for us (tip - always scrabble around mole hills especially in older areas where there may have been old dump sites). I also have a fragment on my Anatomy board - did you see?! ... and quite a few on the new board I am making - I am quite excited about that one!
I'm hoping the latter - because it's way too exhausting to keep things compartamentalised. I already feel fragmented and my interests are so diverse that I wonder how sticking it all in the same pot could be useful for me...
That said, I think your 'stuff' all hangs together nicely. It's a cool mix ;)
All I can contribute is that I sometimes have found a favourite artist/crafter/designer's "other" work long after being a fan of their's and been disappointed that I didn't know about this other side of them. I think if you split them up, make sure you have your websites linked, or something. So if someone is interested enough, they can put the pieces together.
Love the fragments. Any plans for them?
I think it's just the commercial world that wants to see things in neat compartments - and also put you in one!
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