Crafty or Artsy? Or Just Bringing Out Your Inner child?

Snow fun, originally uploaded by my dog sighs.

This is from "my dog sighs" one of my favorite "creative genius" on Flickr! He created these snow stack people, aren't they awesome!
I thought this picture sets up for my topic for the day..
"Out growing" childlike art.. Hummmm
While I was clicking through Flickr and was looking at some of my "contacts" new uploads I came across some synchronicity in action, which is always  CoOL~
this is how it went...

This what I read...

"I got fired up about a letter to the editor that I read in the recent issue of Somerset Studio. So I wrote a letter to respond to that letter that got me all riled up.

Then I folded it up, put it in an envelope, and Zen-ed myself by decorating the envelope."

then Me..

no way.. Ok, so about an hour ago I was flipping through my "somerset studio" that I bought today, (It's been like a year since I splurged and bought myself a copy) and I was reading the Jenny Doh letters.. then I chill out clicking through Flickr.. And here I find this "beautiful cover" ..Your letter "vibes" were so strong I felt them all the way here in Florida!

Basically what the  "Letter to the Editor" writer is  saying is.. Hey, Loved your magazine, but I've outgrown you, cause now that I've retired from teaching elementary kids "visual arts"  I'm a "Real Artist" and have outgrown you, your childish art and your readers.. and what do they think they are anyway.. "craftspeople" or "fine artists"? ...(little c and little fa) and besides.. someone else gave me this subscription anyway. Ouch..


Then me..

If you are referring to the letter from "S R W" ..OMG! I just hope she didn't infect too many children with her "opinion". The truth is that most of us stop learning art in our county in Elementary school due to our wonderful "educational system" that she was a part of.
I will also point out that some "Artists" with a capital A are "holier than thou" so she's just tapping into that. But the majority of artist's (that I've met anyway) would laugh at her comment. Following the Muse is what's important to most us, and I wouldn't be surprised if she shuts her Muse off!
as far as "do most of your readers consider themselves "craftspeople" or "fine artist".. Most of us play with our "art" not to define ourselves but to set ourselves free from "labels". I for one may not have much "talent" but at no other time am I happier than when I'm "playing" with art. As for the Artist's that are schooled and educated as "Fine Artists", they are like our "Professors" and they deserve our respect but by no means do most of us consider "art" only for the "Elite" that's like saying that the only people that should write are the people who write books.. UGH

Amazing

I was sent this in an email from a good friend of mine. This is absolutely amazing!
"This video shows the winner of "Ukraine’s Got Talent",  Kseniya Simonova, 24,  drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.  Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch.

The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about $130,000.00 

She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated. 

It is replaced by a woman’s face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman’s face appears. 

She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier. 

This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house. 

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye. 

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million. 


Kseniya Simonova says:  
"I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there’s surely no bigger compliment."

In Pursuit of Daily Inspiration in the New Year

write {13/365}, originally uploaded by Kim Klassen {mondo beyondo ...baby}.

I have an affection for Artist's and their journals, and  really enjoyed finding Artist Kim Klassens journal embellished with her art! This is from Kim's  Flickr Photostream.
Kim has a beautiful Blog at Kim Klassen Cafe where you will find some of her beautiful creations as well as many of the things that help to inspire her. Also check out Kim's Etsy store where she has some of photography and other designs. Kim is "ga ga over words" and that's probably one of the reason's I am so drawn to her "Art"!

Kim's "one little word" For 2010

I especially love Kim's "one Little word" for the year; "Soar". Kim credits this idea coming from Ali Edwards 

from her blog "One Little Word" where Ali's words were Peace (2007), Vitality (2008) , Nurture (2009)and for 2010 it's Story.

"Essentially the idea is to choose a word (or let it choose you) that has the potential to make an impact on your life".
 Go to Kim's blog to find out about the word of the week etc. I love themes and the "word" tradition really helps get the inspiration flowing. Now I have to find my word~