process Archives - Solamente

Finishing is something I don’t love.

Like most artists, I like to be finished with a creative project, but it seems there’s usually a dozen fiddly steps between here and the finish line. None of them take very long, but strung all together like beads, they might as well take an eternity to complete.

I have, for example, a gorgeous finely-knit shawl in autumn shades of angora and baby alpaca in a canvas tote bag with all its yet-unsnipped tails hanging off. It can’t be worn, yet I can’t seem to finish.

Long-unfinished projects are heavy.

Maybe you have noticed the baffling physics too—the longer a nearly-finished project sits untouched, the denser its center of gravity grows. Somehow it gets harder (and harder) to pick up again.

However, this the year of clearing the decks. Yes, I’ve declared 2020 The Year of Peace and Order and Calm (P.O.C.). This goal means finding a happy medium between working only on tantalizing new stuff and doing nothing.

In fact, I’ve set my sights on a project that moved with me from Pasadena to the farm eight years ago which I call the “sweater project”. It’s so neglected it feels like a ton of bricks. But I’ve decided that finishing it will proceed a very different way than I have approached my projects in the past.

A clearer goal.

At the beginning of this year, though, I had an insight related to my goal of peace and order and calm: cutting up and sewing sweaters makes a outrageous mess. The feather-light fluff floats in the air for days, gets caught in clumps inside the machine, and coats my entire studio in a fuzzy film.

In January, I realized with perfect clarity: I do not want that.

A new way to finish.

Even though I want the felted coat, I don’t want the extra mess and chaos. In the same breath, I remembered seeing talented Etsy creators selling similarly-styled upcycled items. Would they—I wondered—be willing to take on my coat project on my behalf?

So, this is now my plan to bring my project to completion: find another creative soul who shares my vision and would be delighted to deal with sweater fuzz.

Sometimes you need a new way of thinking to get to the goal. I already feel lighter, excited to move it forward at last, and can hardly wait to wear it!

From bead dreams to art realities

Last year, I was really excited to submit my work to the annual Bead Dreams competition, part of the one-and-only national Bead and Button Show.

This year, for contrast, I’m reminded of the two most challenging parts of being an artist: 1. being judged, and 2. comparing your work to others. It’s on my mind a lot as my submission for the 2017 Bead Dreams competition comes together.

The mind of an artist

Honestly, this is the part of art-making that people don’t see when they look at a finished piece. We wonder: Is it good enough? Is it me enough? Is it what the judges will like? How will it compare to all the other submissions?

What I’ve learned over the years is that you can’t focus on these questions. You almost have to pretend none of that exists so you are free to create what wants to come from your muse.

Art as a practice

This reminds me of a story I learned during my year-long art masterclass:

A pottery teacher split her class into two halves.

To the first half she said, “You will spend the semester studying pottery, planning, designing, and creating your perfect pot. At the end of the semester, there will be a competition to see whose pot is the best”.

To the other half she said, “You will spend your semester making lots of pots. Your grade will be based on the number of completed pots you finish. At the end of the semester, you’ll also have the opportunity to enter your best pot into a competition.”

The first half of the class threw themselves into their research, planning, and design. Then they set about creating their one, perfect pot for the competition.

The second half of the class immediately grabbed fistfulls of clay and started churning out pots. They made big ones, small ones, simple ones, and intricate ones. Their muscles ached for weeks as they gained the strength needed to throw so many pots.

At the end of class, both halves were invited to enter their most perfect pot into the competition. Once the votes were counted, all of the best pots came from the students that were tasked with quantity. The practice they gained made them significantly better potters than the planners on a quest for a single, perfect pot. (story source)

As an artist, I have to remember that I have a choice between worrying about making the perfect piece, or focus on making as many as I can. In the end, I only need one perfect pot. At this point, I’ve created six tiaras and two bejeweled combs.

If I want to make myself happy (and less crazy), I’ll keep making lots and enjoy the process of learning and experimenting with many techniques and materials.

Focus on the dream

Despite my nerves, I force myself to stop thinking, “But it’s Bead Dreams!” I have to stop pressuring my work to be bigger, better, or fancier—and just make it. Just pick up some wire. Just make another tiara.

The best way to make great art is to allow myself to play, to try things and see what happens. Just go for it and see. There’s a click at some point. That’s where my best work comes from, whether it gets into Bead Dreams or not.

Bead Dreams preview

Here’s a sneak peek at what I’m going to submit:

Peace Order Calm: Finishing the Sweater Project

Finishing is something I don’t love.

Long-unfinished projects are heavy.

Getting the project ready.