More Questions Than Answers

Over the last three weeks, I have had the chance to ponder this month's challenge: "How do you define yourself as an artist?" I have actually given it quite a lot of thought.  My initial response was that I was not an artist.  And after three weeks, although I have occasionally wavered and tried to justify calling myself an artist, I am still unable to do so.

Here's why.  I define an artist as someone who does at least three of the following:

1. Spends a significant part of each day working in a chosen medium;
2. Has developed a portfolio of items in the chosen medium;
3. Has received some formal training in technique in the chosen medium;
4. Has had items in the portfolio displayed in juried shows;
5. Earns a living or part of a living by selling items produced in the chosen medium;
6. Produces original work that advances techniques in the chosen medium;
7. Is recognized by peers as being an artist.

By these standards, I am not an artist.  

I am also not a quitter.  I decided sometime on day four or five that I would complete this challenge even though I could not define myself as an artist by my own standards.  I decided that somehow I'd make my project satisfy me and the challenge.  So, here is what I came up with:

Since I am trying transition this year to a new medium, I decided I'd do a page for the book I started as part of last month's challenge.  I'd knit a sampler of stitch patterns on the page and then felt the knitted fabric to demonstrate the transition from fiber to fabric.  But I thought the stitch pattern definition would get lost in the felting process, so I opted for a felted page in stockinette stitch with surface embellishment to be added after the felting process.

Then, I went in search of question marks.  It is not as easy to find ready-made question marks as it is to come up with questions.  It wasn't long before I knew I'd have to make my own - question marks, that is, since I already have as many questions as I need right now.  Before I left on an out-of-town vacation to visit my mother on Mother's Day, I stopped by our town's bead store.  It was my first visit to the shop and I'm definitely going back because the proprietor was a huge help.  I discussed my project with her and she suggested some wire that could be fashioned into question marks and then sewn to the surface of the page.  But I wanted more than just wire question marks.  I found a lovely lampwork bead (the design is red, green and metallic gold on a beige background) and some glass seed beads in the same color palette.  I broke my budget limit of $10, but I will have wire and seed beads left over from the project, so I think it's okay.

For the knitted page, I selected some wool from a lot I had purchased 30 years ago.  It is a good neutral color that will gently contrast the wire and beads.  I didn't want a screaming, in-your-face palette for this challenge because I think I am neutral about how I define myself as an artist.  I am willing to say that I am not now an artist, but I am not willing to say that I will never be one.  So, I think neutral works well for that attitude.

I will post some photos shortly.  I am still trying to get caught up at work and at home after my vacation.  But I think I will be able to complete the challenge on time, as I've got 6 inches of the 8 inch page knitted.  If I can finish the page and felt it tonight, I can start the embellishment process next week in the evening.