Finding One's Artistic Niche

I had an epiphany.  It came on like the sun coming from behind the clouds, and I think I know now one reason why I lose track of my days, and it's a good thing after all.

Since I left art school two or three years ago, (I've lost track of that too) I've thought a lot about finding my own artistic voice.  The need to find this came really clear last year when creating the works for my two gallery shows.  The exhibit ideas I had proposed to the galleries, and on whose merit I was awarded the shows, were boring me to death.  I liked the ideas to start with, but soon found that I couldn't stand to paint one more bird in that same style.  I decided then that I really must spend some time experimenting until I found the thing that was me.

For most of the journey I was enjoying the process of experimenting, but still fretted because, as much as I was driven to create, I just couldn't find that thing that I could lose myself in.  I would read about other artists going into their studios and completely losing track of time.  I didn't do that; I couldn't keep my attention focused long enough to lose track of time.  And I certainly was not the kind of artist who would get up in the middle of the night to go finish a project.

With my recent exploration into needlecraft, I believe I have found my niche, I've found that thing that I can get lost in.  It's not merely a matter of the media, although the tactile quality of working with fibers sends me over the sensory edge; what has me entranced are the ideas that are flowing through my head.  I feel like I've finally found something I want to say.

The process of working with needle crafts has me enthralled.  I love the fiddly, fussy nature of it.  When drawing or painting I can get very frustrated when trying to get to the detail; I get lost and somewhat confused by trying to render tiny details realistically.  With the needle or crochet hook, the fussiness is soothing to me.  It's funny, I've been listening to pod casts again this week, and I've heard several people mention how relaxing the needlework is to them and what an amazing feeling it is to be relaxed.  It is indeed.

I've had so much fun working on this antler.  The first part went pretty quick, but once I got to where it branches off it got increasingly more awkward; the object I was creating was itself getting in my way.  But I twisted and turned the guy until it was covered.  I just love love my antler.  It makes me so happy; I may sleep with it:)

Doing this has made me see that I need to spend some time learning about the theory and mathematics behind crochet.  I need to learn what I must do in order to make things lie flat and what to do to make them round and curvy, or follow a specific line.  I have several projects I'm wanting to work on, but I think I will spend some time just making doilies and things so I can absorb the technique.  Become one with the crochet.