Structures #31
©2004 Lisa Call
34 x 53 inches
Textile Painting (Fabric hand dyed by the artist, cotton batting, cotton thread)
The Question
In response to my post about the evolution of my artist statement, Kathleen asked:
Now that you have this backward looking perspective, is there any advice you would offer artists in regards to their inspiration and artist statements? I don’t think there are any real shortcuts that substitute for experience, but there might be a tidbit that you think worth sharing. I guess what I’m trying to ask is what would you have told Lisa Call back in 2002 if you could?
After a lot of thinking over the issue, I’ve decided my advice is this: You are not a Fraud.
Clueless
In the beginning I felt uncomfortable writing about what inspired my artwork. The language felt stiff and unnatural. I didn’t know how to put what I was thinking into words.
Even worse? I had no idea what really did inspire my artwork. I knew I liked fences but that sounded shallow and uninteresting. I felt shallow and uninteresting.
Essentially I was clueless
Feeling Like a Fraud
Every where I turned it seemed other artists had interesting artist statements. They had deep thoughts. They sounded like artists.
Their writing was good. It was structured. The words flowed. Nothing felt out of place or extraneous.
I felt like a fraud with my little lame artist statement. Who was I kidding? Someone was going to find me out and kick me out of the club.
It was embarrassing.
What’s the Alternative?
I had to write the artist statement because the alternative would have been to pull my art from the exhibit. Structures #11 had been accepted into Quilt National, they wanted an artist statement.
I mustered up all the courage I could and I sent off my first real attempt at writing about my art.
They published it.
And guess what, no one laughed. No one told me I was lame. I still felt like a fraud but at least I hadn’t been caught out.
Accepting Where I Am
Over time I got better at writing. I got better at understanding what inspired my work. I think it can take time, learning where it comes from.
I still struggle a bit with writing about my art, and I still cringe at times with what I write. But I no longer feel like a fraud.
I’ve come to terms with where I am in my art career. Further along than I was ten years ago, yet there are many miles on the road in front of me and it is the journey that I am enjoying.
My advice is to accept where you are. Being an emerging artist is something you only get to do once. It can be uncomfortable and you might feel like you are the only one that doesn’t get it, but I can assure you, you have much company.
You aren’t a fraud, you are just at the start of your journey. With practice and time you will get more comfortable writing about your art.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I have felt the same way exactly! Thank you for putting it in words:-)
Carol,
You are most welcome. Sometimes we think we are the only ones that don’t get it. It helps to know we have a lot of company.
—lisa
I remember cringing the first time someone called me an artist a few years ago; I still cringe at the term, with the knowledge that there is so much more refined talent than I currently have. Being a successful entrepreneur, it is very scary, to find myself at the starting gate of something new- thinking like an artist, and owning the term. I love reading your posts; they inspire me to move forward in my journey..
Excellent message Lisa. I’m in the middle of the same journey. We carry on step by step!
Thanks, Lisa. That’s really good to hear today.
BTW, I just saw your QN piece in San Jose. It’s the first one I’ve seen in person. Truly, truly inspiring work.
Thank you, thank you! Your words of encouragement are balm for the soul.
“Being an emerging artist is something you only get to do once.” This sentence really resonates with me. I truly love my designs and ideas, however they’re so different from the work of experienced art quilters and mixed media textile artists. I’m mustering up the guts to enter juried shows and I keep wondering “Is my work technical enough? Are my ideas what the jurors are looking for?” And then I come across a wonderful, generous blog post like yours and I realize that at this stage, it doesn’t matter. I just need to keep working through my ideas and develop them further.
Many thanks for a great blog, Lisa :)
Thank you for answering my inquiry. It is interesting to hear what made you insecure. Thank you for being so honest about it.
I’m enjoying the process of trying to understand my muse. I think moving from emotion that inspires my art to the concrete act of writing is like marrying the right brain to the left. It is not a well worn path and seems time is the only way to break it in. I’ll take your advice and just accept where I am today.
This is a great reminder for ALL artists, Lisa. Even those of us who have been doing it for a while need to be reminded on occasion. Thank you.
I like fences too…Chicken wire fascinates me…Aluminum mesh that you use to replace your screen door…We take these materials for granted, but even a simple log fence for horses is alot of work to make or repair…Fences are far from shallow & uninteresting…As you know…You needed a friend who likes fences too…Which is why the internet is so great for young aspiring artists today- they can find friends who also like bugs or peanut butter or how to make tapioca pudding from scratch, & then not feel insecure about their fascinations…I encourage people to find friends on the planet using social networking or whatever to strengthen your kooky affections so that when you go to write your artists statement, you know that you are not alone in that eccentricity…
Thanks for sharing! It’s easy to look at those farther along the road and get frustrated or want to simply quit because you’re not there. Easy to forget they were once in my shoes :).
Lisa,
Thanks for sharing your feelings, it’s something to chew on, I think because so many of us feel a fraud when asked to make statements about our art, maybe it’ to close to us, as we put heart and soul into the proccess, along with our skill. I’m so glad Kathleen asked her question, your answer is of great value.
Thank you so much for your encouraging words! Just what I needed to hear : )
So much wisdom.
I think we all suffer from imposter syndrome a little bit, sometimes a lot. But we are, none of us, imposters. We’re just where we are on our journey.
As a longtime admirer of your work and as a new emerging ‘artist,’ I am inspired not only by your work, but by your open straight forwardness. As I toyed with giving in to my fears, fortunately, I came across your site. Thank you for renewed hope.
Leslie,
Hurray for not giving into your fears. We have to just keep making art and believing in ourselves and in the end it all just works out. Knowing that many other artists feel the same things can really help.
—lisa
“You aren’t a fraud, you are just at the start of your journey.” I very often beat myself up about this subject.
Recently I published a book containing my art and poetry (tough audience) and in order to market it had to get over that feeling that I am flouting myself shamelessly!
I then decided that my best ‘market’ ploy was being myself. So easy to remember – the best advice I have ever received and given is Be True to YOURSELF – It works.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Lesley,
Good advice – “be yourself”. It is always exactly enough.
—lisa