more on critiques

At first I was quite afraid to put my work up to be critiqued. Would they know I was a fraud, and not an artist at all? Would they ask "Whose work is this? What nerve you have calling this art!
I take my dolls in and to myself sing the sesame street song "One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong"
The first item I took to be critiqued was one of my red-hat ladies. She is on canvas so I felt she would fit in with all the two dimensional work. I fidgeted in my seat,filled with apprehension as I waited for her to comment on my piece. She commented on the face and then said "The main thing wrong with this piece is----"
My stomach tightened, 'Oh why did I do this?'I fretted. then she finished, "is that you cannot see the back of her." Whew! She made some suggestions and then went on to an other's work. I wanted so to ask her more , what else could I do, how can I make the canvas not so bland.....' But there was no time. I was absolutely flabbergasted when a few days later I answered a phone call and she was on the line to talk to me about my work! She gave me some wonderful suggestions which I plan to implement.

At the next meeting there was the Elderly Fairy standing next to oil paintings, watercolors, pen and ink, colored pencil, anime'-style marker art. Oh dear, there is no flow, no triangle! The artist giving the presentations glances at her over and over and again and again chooses a two-dimensional piece to critique. Finally she picks up the Elderly Fairy. The butterflies in my stomach are flying at a feverish pace. "Oh no she knows I know nothing about art" I think. She looks, smiles, Now I am Sally Fields. "She likes it, she actually likes it!" She even suggests an art gallery I should approach! She points out it's strong points, and makes suggestions on how to improve the weak points.

I know not all critiques will be as positive as these two, but I will continue taking in my work. I have learned so very much. I want to learn more!!!!

critique's

Monday night I went to a new photo club's second meeting. We had a professional photographer that is very well known and highly esteemed in our area give critique's of members photographs. One member objected to having critiques. He said the critiques were quite subjective and no one has the right to criticize anyonoe else's work.
I also belong to our local art association. One of our favorite type of meetings are the ones where critiques are done. I must admit the first one I went to I was quite nervous. After all my work is quite different. I felt that the person giving the critiques was going to say "What the heck is this doing here?" Thankfully so far no one has said that to me. I have been given honest opinions, suggestions, and strong and weak points have been pointed outI have learned so much from the critiques.

Critiques are very subjective, -- but then isn't all view of art? Colors, moods, media, technique----all play into ones likes and dislikes. If I were to see two dolls, each one made with great skill and talent but one was pink, my opinion of the pink doll would be less than that of the other doll, Why? because I do not like pink. I would look for the strengths in the pink doll but would have to study it longer to find it because of the color. But I still would take time to find aspects of the doll that I did like. I beleive that is what the guests at meetings giving critiques do And oh! how I can learn from them! I can probably learn more if they do not like my work than if they did. However that warm "OH you like it!" feeling is a nice on to have now and then. :)

And as was pointed out to me yesterday, many times these guests who do the critiques also judge area art shows. What better way is there to learn what a judge is looking for?

Howe do you feel about critiques? Do you have any memorable ones?

listing my dolls for the first time

There is a new auction site just for dolls and doll related products, The Shoppes on Magnolia. I have registered there and have listed 7 of my dolls so far. I will be listing more. I do hope that this endeavor is successful. It is scary putting my work out there for all to see and bid on, waiting for someone to make a bid, hoping someone will like it enough to bid. Then I remember----"Hey! I like my work . It makes me smile. So that is what counts. And it is fun to have it where many can see it. Therefore I have succeeded already!"

Since I last wrote I have finished three dolls and worked on two others. I also have come up with my design idea for both the Hoffman Challenge and my Treasures of the Gypsy doll. I really need to get busy on them!

I thought I would post a pictures of a little "doll" I made in February. I needed a gift and was short on cash, so here Is the little desk pen set I made using Pronto DAS clay and Apoxie Sculpt clay.

Wonderful site to visit!

As I am trying to acheive goals I have set for myself by entering challenges and calls for entry, here is a wonderful blog to visit. http://fiberartcalls.blogspot.com/ It is too good not to pass along.

Where have I been?

My goodness! I can't beleive it has been this long since I last posted!!

I have a felted head I am posting a picture of. It was such fun to create! When I get started felting, it is hard to stop. I must get some more fibers and needles.

I have come up with an idea for my Treasure of the Gypsy doll. I can't wait to get started on her, but alas I have some other commitments to finish first. If only I could figure out how to squeeze a few extra hours into the day.

In response to one of the posts here. I have corrected the link on my web-site. The interview with me can be read at www.wildartdolls.com Sorry for the typo. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

I want to thank everyone who read the article in Art Doll Quarterly and took the time to make a comment orwrite an e-mail.

I am Published!

It has been a very busy week since I last posted!
I still haven't finished the felted head, but I have found a photo of the first one I made. I will post it here.

The big exciting news of the week for me is that the article that ART DOLL QUARTERLY asked me to write is finally in print. It is on page 19 of the spring 2008 issue. What a thrill to see it there with by Alice Dennis under the title!

I have also (finally!) have a home page for my very own web-site, www.whatanexpression.com
I worked hard to get pages etc. up. When I went to publish it, I was told the photos were too large, so I had to find a resizing program. Because my computer time this week was limited, I only resized the home page photos. Hopefully, sometime in the next few days I will be able to work on it a little more. But until then, at least the home page is there.

I want to thank all of you who have visited and commented on my blog. It is so nice to make new friends here and connect with older ones.