Top 5 Mistakes I've Made as an Artist: And What I Learned

[@Elizabeth-uz1mn]

In addition to a creation does not have to be useful, a creation doesn’t need to be exhibited. I often hear friends say I should enter something for an exhibit, which is not a desire of mine. I create to create, and it is for me.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@Elizabeth-uz1mn yes, exactly. So glad to hear! ❤️

[@lindaprovo8214]

Omg, thank you for telling us that what we create doesn't have to be useful! I have tears in my eyes hearing that. It's as though I've been given permission to simply create. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@lindaprovo8214 aw, Linda… Yes! Sending hugs 🤗❤️

[@TheresaREAberilla]

What I like about your work, is, the FEEL for the "organic fabrique", by which you're dealing with, and being yourself in them....continue doing that! That's what makes you "special" - as an artist!!! A professor once told me: " Good seeds are thinly sown ! " - yours, Cleo

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thanks so much Cleo. Love that. ❤

[@tacingran]

It is like you were just here in my home. Just before watching your video, I was talking to my son about how I feel like I am not creating anything of value. I look at what others create, and I love it and value it, yet I can't find that same love and value in my own art. My son responded by saying "mom, you don't have to create something that has a use you can just create". Thank you for all your videos, they let me know I am not alone.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@tacingran I hear you. I get it. Sending love to you and that amazing son you raised. ❤️💕❤️

[@megfowler4177]

Boy, this resonates!!! Guilty of all five! I needed this today. Thank you!❤

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@megfowler4177 thx so much for reaching out Meg. I hear you. ❤️💕❤️

[@francescaphillips6706]

Hi, l have been making art for myself for 60 years plus, l have had all those negative thoughts but l have learned similar lessons, and now create just for the joy it gives.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@francescaphillips6706 thx so much for reaching out Francesca. We’re in this together!

[@sandycostello1302]

Thanks Ariane! I had a Social Worker tell me to stop comparing myself to others- I’ve done that my entire life. It has never worked for me and has contributed to my feelings of self worth. We never compare ourselves to people with skills less than ours (whatever that means) but to people with skills different or better than ours. If used to grow and study and refine, that is good. If used to say, I’m horrible or will never be as good, that is self defeating- and what I often do… and especially when I’m feeling down. Thanks as always for your wonderful inspiration!Take care of yourself and Happy Holidays Ariane!! 🤗🤗

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@sandycostello1302 happy holidays to you and yours Sandy. I hear you. Sending love.

[@JuanettesCraftingCorner]

The great video and some good advice. Thank you so much

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@JuanettesCraftingCorner hi Juanette! So happy to see you here. ❤️💕❤️

[@christinepenna9008]

I’m guilty of all 5!!!! Happy to know I’m not alone!🙄

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@christinepenna9008 definitely not alone!! Sending hugs your way.

[@MoonandSixpence]

You're the best. Thanks for sharing

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@MoonandSixpence aw… ❤️💕❤️

[@Hayleythecraftybiker-wj2vt]

Fabulous advice I'm so over creating "useful" things it's so limiting to me. ❤

[@ArianeZurcher212]

haha, me too. Love your handle, by the way! ❤️

[@cosmiccoyotedog-doreenb9605]

Perfectly said. Thank You

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thanks so much! 💕

[@jennywren2395]

Very timely reminders, Ariane.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@jennywren2395 thx so much for reaching out Jenny ❤️

[@coloradoblueskiesboutique7720]

Love your vessels. Thanks for the info. I will try to put them into practice. Might want to watch Shannon Greene. Fabulous paper designer and or Nik the booksmith.❤❤

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@coloradoblueskiesboutique7720 noted! Always appreciate your recommendations ❤️

[@alicemoline698]

Just had time to watch the video. Gotta get some sleep.....it's after 10 and past that time. I'll write back tomorrow. For now............great video

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@alicemoline698 sleep Alice, sleep!! Sending you virtual hugs. ❤️

[@alicemoline698]

I managed to send 3 pics through the message system on IG. Enjoy

[@anitajansen5610]

What a great video. All so true👍🧡💐🎅🎄

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thx Anita. Happy, happy holidays! ❤️

[@InekeWessels]

Thank you so much.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thx for reaching out! ❤

[@firststrokesswimacademy4156]

I have been told on the Gelli plate, you need a very liquid paint sold at Artistic Artifacts

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@firststrokesswimacademy4156 funny you say that as I just discovered that when using a more liquid Golden’s acrylic things went much better. Need to go to her site and look around. Haven’t been over there in years! She has great stencils as I recall. ❤️

[@judymarkel8029]

Great thoughts. Thank you

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@judymarkel8029 ❤️💕❤️

[@ellenblack5376]

This is such a wonderful conversation! Everyone has a beginning, no matter what. So hard for me! You hit on everything! Also now, I have to take notes and not only that, keep track of them. 😊 One other thing for me, i have to organize. I am terrible at it. I work in chaos to often, well mostly I do😮

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thx so much Ellen. There's chaos that I have some inkling of where things are and then there's chaos where it's all up in the air. I can work with the first! ❤️

[@marthamanigross]

Love this! I’ve always struggled with - I make all this stuff, so I should sell it - because it’s money I spent making it. I have a couple of large plastic bins of stuff I’ve made. Sold a little here and there, have had an Etsy shop with lots of different things. One thing took off but after a year I got so tired of making them I quit. Now, I’m learning to just make for me and if it sits in a bin, I try to give it away, unless I love it, then it sits out or gets hung up! The other thing I’ve gotten way too much is - what will you do with it?I did a 100 day challenge 2 years ago and that question came up at least once a day during that project. My answer was, I don’t know! Thanks so much for making these videos. I love them. Since I can’t use my left hand for anything and probably won’t for a few more months, I’m watching YT videos on how to draw. Something I’ve always been a failure at, but with practice, I’m getting better. Only need my dominant hand for that! 😃❤️

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@marthamanigross I’m so glad to hear you’re drawing. This is something I’ve often thought I’d love to get better at too! Love hearing that with practice you see improvement. For some reason with things like drawing I have it in my mind that this is an innate talent and practice won’t make a difference(I know intellectually that doesn’t make sense, but another one of those beliefs that don’t serve us!)❤️💕❤️

[@marthamanigross]

@ me too! I thought you either have talent or you don’t (to draw/paint). I binged the Prime show “Portrait Artist of the Year” and it made me want to draw, and I’ve always felt like a failure…till I couldn’t do anything else because of my thumb. I NEED to create or I go insane! So I got sketch pads and mixed media pads, watercolor markers and other supplies and I’m playing. Thanks goodness I’m right handed and the thumb surgery was on the left! I’m enjoying it too!! 😃. It’s also meditative.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@ you’re inspiring me to give it a more serious go!! ❤️💕❤️

[@marthamanigross]

@ YES!!! I’ve been doing the Pencil Room Online here on YT. She may or may not be your cup of tea but it starts at the beginning and it’s been helpful for me. I always go a little rogue tho, lol. 😂. She has a FB page but I haven’t joined it yet. This is something I want to continue even when I can stitch again (which cannot be soon enough!!). I think I’ve forgotten soooo much already. 😕

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@marthamanigross I'll look for it! ❤

[@sharonneth4231]

I do not know if you have ever heard of an vintage mafazibe called "Quilting Arts" but somehow sone of your art work i think i have seen in there some how? I am absolutely inspired by your color combinations of your vessels as well as your flatter pieces. I am also trying to learn about color removal techniques as well. I am hoping that maybe you might make a video about that subject in the future if you have time? Thanks so much!

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@sharonneth4231 hi Sharon thx so much for reaching out. When you say color removal techniques- what exactly do you mean? What are you referring to specifically? As in fabric? Paint? Do you mean you’re trying to bleach out color or are you referring to negative space? Tell me more!

[@sharonneth4231]

Yes, maybe bleach? I also think there are other options too but I am not sure if "discharge paste" is an option? For installation work I am wondering what is best?

[@sharonneth4231]

My goal is to produce pieces for a small gallery space. I would like to think of "ghost images" as well as stenciling too. Thanks so much!

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@sharonneth4231 This is a question I cannot answer. However I have used Soft Scrub to remove color, but test it out first as it will be different depending upon what medium you're attempting to remove.

[@GelineReynolds]

I so heard you. AS ARTIST WE ARE ASKED. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT? The hated question. The answer. This is what I am doing with it. I am working on it. It may or may not have another life. But this is what I am doing right now, I am doing my work. I work on it. What's next is another process. Ask me when I go there.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@GelineReynolds haha! Love that. ❤️💕❤️

[@debbiegallett1125]

Oh #2 is me 100%

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@debbiegallett1125 haha! Oh boy. I get it (obviously!) ❤️😂❤️

[@alicemoline698]

#1 Respecting the process. There was one piece that I worked on as a commission piece for our church. I titled it "Bearing Precious Seed.........Psalm 126:5-6. Revision after revision and several trips to the fabric store [40 mins away one way] to buy more fabric for the hands. The color was not coming out the way that I envisioned it should be. It was almost my undoing. I'm going to try to include a picture of the finished piece here. NOPE.......won't paste. Hummm. I'll need another format for that I guess. Anyway........I walked away from this piece several times taking "mind" breaks........trying to be patient......which is kind of an oxymoron, right. #2 I don't want to be a beginner. One of my "things" from the get go. What this involves for me, because I have fewer teachers than hen's teeth, I'm really tired of being the Teacher, being the Student, being the Student, being the Teacher. It's a gnarly road.........with many many forks in it and no "maps". #'s 4&5 are kind of bookends. My mantra has had to be that comparison is a Joy Robber. I have had gallery owners tell me that my work is too high priced.........that they have NO problem selling so-and-so's works.........and that I need to consider lowering my prices. First off, I tell them that I COULD do what that person does, and have done that............but I am creating this now. AND to compare my work with hers is ludicrous. I can do what she is doing in h.o.u.r.s.........ask me how I know. My work now takes me weeks and sometimes months to complete.........from conception to framed and ready to sell. My work is tedious and requires many many tiny pieces of fabric. Most people think that it is a painting.......and I'm often asked: Alice, how long did it take you to finish that painting. And then i need to tell them that it is NOT a painting..........it is all FABRIC. Even my Photographer listed my works on his invoice as "paintings". I have had to correct him. If there is another format, I can send you pictures. If not, then that's fine too. Blessings to you..........looking forward to the next video and advice.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Oh my Alice! I loved seeing the photos you posted for me over on IG. Thank you. Amazing work!!! And I love all your thoughts on this. xx

[@redparrot9489]

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thank you!😊💕😊