Category: “OPINIONATION”

Excuse me? Because i count the hours it takes to make something, do my stitching, i’m “cheapening” and “commodifying” my work???????????????????????????????????????

I’m not one to get into that mind-set that all creative work is “meditative”, but there are moments when it comes close. Often, my hands are occupied, while my brain sorts other tasks, or tunes out completely while watching tubage, whether it’s informative, trash, entertainment or “current”. I also sit without outside stimulus, sometimes i’m outside listening to the birds, sometimes i’m on the train conversing with fellow passengers. Time slows and speeds during these periods. “Mindful”? Well, all of creativity is mindful, whether good or bad. Intuition and spontaneity still spring from the subconscious, whether or not my brain is in Alpha, Beta or Theta mode. I will not/do not buy into that arena that says i can be/am only an artist when i am zoned out. I certainly can’t do it while in Delta, but maybe, just maybe, perhaps more likely, some of it is Gamma. Look all that up, the types of brain waves. When you come out of your coma, maybe.

When you PM me to take me to task for counting hours, instead of just “going with the flow”, you are saying my way of working is inferior to yours. You want to get nasty? I think your work that consists of attaching ragged scraps together in a cacaphony of colour and pattern, “embroidered” solely with running stitch and “completed” in two days is the cop out in this case. But that’s just my opinion.

I count hours for good reason. Deadlines must be met, commissions must be paid for –i can’t start a project that takes hundreds of hours to do if the deadline is in two weeks; i can’t AFFORD to sell work that takes hundreds of hours for a pittance, like maybe you’re fine with, because “you love doing it” as you “release the love into the world”.

In the final analysis, i do what i do because i DO LOVE it. You don’t like the way i work, tough beans, BabyCakes. My methods are my own, and they are no more “wrong” than your way. If it turns your crank, go ahead, but hands off the keyboard when you criticize my way as perverse.

But i AM a citizen of our beautiful fragile world. I keep seeing blacked out profile photos as people protest the Dumpster. Mine is a little more hopeful. I am VERY grateful that i am Canadian, but fear the way the world may will be affected by this narcissistic lunatic.

And i spend way too much time on FB, gonna have to cut that back, as it’s really starting to get me angry from that man, abused animal pictures, photos of dinners had, what Mrs Dump is wearing (i should give any shits???)  and poorly sourced quotes.

At first i was pissed off and scared about all the bad news posts this morning, then i was afronted and pissed off by the alternating flowers and pussycats posts, because it seemed to trivialize the point, but you know what? Let’s do that: art, shoes, cats, babies, flowers, sunrises and all the good stuff–because we need a reminder that the world in our hearts is still good and *these* are the things we affect and are affected by to DO GOOD ourselves. Here’s my DogFaced Girl Nessie, having yogurt for breakfast. THIS makes me heartened.

I had to finally upgrade my poor old abused flip phone to a newer model. The 20 year old technology won’t be supported after Jan of next year. While it’s still a better camera than my old phone had, it’s still a pain in the Bazotksi. No focus capabilities, bad light, no anti vibration setting, no subtle nuances to lighting or the actual colours.

Here’s the best reason for using a REAL camera to photograph work with. Left is cell phone (Samsung), right is NikonD90. I had to enhance the cell phone shots, and they’re still crap, but the camera took perfect shots right off the bat. If you’re proud of your work, photograph it properly as well.

Cell phone case made from one of my FrankenStitch class samples 🙂

I find it sad that so much work is posted in groups that just looks awful, because the camera photo will never be as good as a real camera. The shots are dim, out of focus, no ambiance. If you can afford to stand in line for umpteen hours, just to get the latest overpriced model, that will be obsolete next year, just so you can say you have one, forget that, and go invest in a good brand of DSLR. Your exhibit and publication entries will thank you!