Do you, dear blog readers, make art when you create? Or do you consider your creative pursuits “crafts,” not “art”?
Do you engage in both art and craft, but as separate endeavors or projects? Or are both art and craft present in each and every project you do?
Do you consider yourself a “quilter” or “crafter,” as opposed to an “artist,” because the things you make are functional and are meant to be used, not hung on a wall?
What is the “best” piece of your artwork, and what about that piece makes it your “best”?
A hero of mine, Seth Godin,writes best-selling books about marketing and the spread of ideas. His blog is one of my very favorites, and is also currently ranked by Technorati asthe #1 blog in the world written by a single individual. In a recent blog post, he had the following to say on the subject of art:
My definition of art contains three elements:
- Art is made by a human being.
- Art is created to have an impact, to change someone else.
- Art is a gift. You can sell the souvenir, the canvas, the recording… but the idea itself is free, and the generosity is a critical part of making art.
By my definition, most art has nothing to do with oil paint or marble. Art is what we we’re doing when we do our best work.
I really get a kick out of applying Seth’s definition of art to my own creations, because it really changes which pieces I’d consider my “best” work. Before reading his definition, I would have considered a certain top I made to be my best piece of artwork. Even though I wore the top out to nightclubs, I consider it art because of the time and work I put into it to make it look exactly how I wanted it to be. 
Continue Reading…
I put together a tutorial for a “love notes” door hanger on 
