I don’t want to invest hours in my studio and end up making uninteresting work.
I’ve seen exhibits in which the artist identification labels could have been taken off and moved all around and nobody would know, because each artist’s work looked so much like every other artist’s work.
It’s not a matter of subject matter.
I’ve seen depictions of a tree and a house in artwork that’s boring as toast.
And I’ve seen depictions of a tree and a house in artwork that causes my heart to soar, that causes me to remember the work long after I have turned away from it.
I am thinking about these things as I am looking ahead to what projects are important to me to tackle next. I received a few good reminders, just this week.
RISK In a Textile Talks zoom event sponsored by SAQA, three gallery directors talked about how they choose artists to show in their gallery. One gallery director shared her list of criteria: Skill. Of course. Mastery of art principles. Of course. Professionalism and ease of working with the artist. Of course. Good photos of the work. Of course. And then, the one I loved most:
Evidence of risk-taking.
THAT is the one that’s caused me to think.
Am I sticking with what’s easy? Am I in a studio pattern of just cranking out work I know I can do? What would I be doing if I were more brave?
Power and Honor I was very moved this week by a blog post from a fellow Central Florida artist, Carolyn Land. She shared an image of a new work, one that involves some experimenting in her practice:
Her thoughts are drawn from years of devoted artmaking. I asked permission to reproduce some of them here. I think there’s great wisdom in these words:
Take a deep breath and ask yourself this important question. Am I standing in my power doing something that reflects who I am or am I trying to stand in someone else’s power?
People pleasing is one of the great problems in society. Many talented, creative people make sacrifices in their expression to gain approval, make a sale, or because what they do is easy, successful, and they are afraid they might fail if they “knocked it up a notch” . . .
To access our power, we must honor who we are, our individual talents and interests. We must trust ourselves enough to follow our heart and be confident enough to let who we are show through in our work.
(You can see more of Carolyn’s work and find her blog, HERE)
My hope for all my fellow artmakers is a spirit of risk-taking and accessing your power as you devote yourself to your studio practice.
(My work depicted in this post is Stepping On the Cracks. I am thrilled that it was juried for inclusion for Interpretations 2025, showing at the Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego through January 31, 2026. You can learn more about this work HERE.)
For all of us: focus each day
on the good that needs to be done in the world.
Be part of doing it.
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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