Comments on: Structures #7

By: Lisa Call

Lisa Call — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:08:49 +0000

Thanks all for the supportive comments. This has been an interesting conversation and I appreciate all of your input. I have lots to think about.

By: Lesly

Lesly — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:59:35 +0000

Lisa … you are an expert in your field and if you are not happy with #7 then I will believe what you are saying! I do not have the knowledge of your art form to comment.

However, I have framed and exhibited paintings that I knew it my heart were not the best I could do at a particular time so I understand how you are feeling about the whole thing. Its a lesson that many of us have to live with (like saying something really stupid in public!), and hopefully we learn from it and move on - as you have done.

I will remember your comments …. thank you for sharing them. And I am glad for your sake that the quilt has your married name on it and not Lisa Call!

By: Patty Altier

Patty Altier — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:31:17 +0000

Structure #7 would only be a failure if you didn’t learn anything. When you know better, you do better. The colors are wonderful so when you get it back don’t hide it in a closet. It could be one of those portable projects that you take it apart when you a waiting for your kids, the doctor, etc. then quilt it again.

By: Felicity

Felicity — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:02:29 +0000

I found your post very interesting (I saw your comment on Omega’s blog before reading this). I don’t think you are being hard on yourself at all. It’s clear you are a very disciplined person and your art reflects that. I’m not in your league or any or your other commentators but I do understand how it feels to not do your best and how that feels inside. And as Omega mentioned the lack of discrimination but plenty of enthusiasm does not excuse poor art. There is a lot of back slapping in the quilt world if you toe the line (better not elaborate and get into trouble) but you are listening to your own voice, I admire that.

By: Omega

Omega — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:55:39 +0000

It is interesting how difficult it can be to acknowledge that what one has spent hours on is actually below one’s standard of acceptability. Throwing things out sometimes can lose something with potential, but perhaps whenever there is doubt we should put things in a cupboard to be brought out only when we have just completed something we are proud of, so that we can make a more dispassionate judgment - or if a real possibility for valid rescue occurs.

What I really like about Structures #7 are the colour combination, and the gentlest of motion which can be seen in the slight curves of the darkest pieces. I love what you have made from the seaweed. Thank you for sharing it and its inspiration as well as discussing what is an element of development which is too often swept under the rug.

By: Kathie

Kathie — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 01:14:25 +0000

It’s all just so subjective. I don’t mind the wobbly lines a bit, and I prefer wobbly to straight any day of the week. Still, if you disappointed yourself and didn’t achieve what you had hoped to achieve, the thing to do is to analyze, learn, and use as an Instructive Experience.

By: Karoda

Karoda — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:17:56 +0000

Lisa, I definitely can see where you’re coming from and I take your point to mean for me that even skilled artists do make mistakes in judgements and have to live with the consequences…this is what I appreciate most about what you’re stated…and its a lesson learned the hard way which always leaves a deeper impression, eh?

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:33:31 +0000

Lisa, I agree with you. #4 is quilted much more thoughtfully than #7 and current work is even more effective in terms of quilting. Is good you realize the larger lesson of not showing anything that’s not the best you could do at the time. Being truthful with yourself is the only way to know you can trust your intuition, and not be taken in by generous thoughts. Your experience has provided a good lesson for everyone reading your blog — thank you. What you’re talking about are simply facts and do show how much you’ve learned about being an artist. You can be very pleased with that. And at some point just laugh at the experience!

By: Lisa Call

Lisa Call — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:17:54 +0000

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Alison - I wish what you are saying was true. But it’s not. This is a detail of Structures #4 - the other piece in this traveling exhibit - quilted as I normally quilted my work back then (probably finished within the same month):

This quilting isn’t as close together as what I do today but it was always intended to be another design superimposed over the piecing.

The truth is I was lazy with Structures #7 - I knew it at the time. It’s not about growth - I can accept the growth from #4 to my recent work and not cringe about the changes. But I can’t just pass off the quilting on #7 as anything other than sloppiness on my part and a bad decision.

I agree - I have high standards for my work and I am very hard on myself. But I also don’t necessarily think that is a bad thing. Tolerating sloppy work isn’t in my nature and it keeps me striving to improve.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:17:48 +0000

I think the quilting gives the quilt the motion that you mentioned was missing. The little dips and curves among the seaweed and waves…
JMHO!