Are you someone that enjoys being particular about details in life?
I have this collection of old Whole Foods market bags from back when they would offer a new design often. They were irresistible to me. I had to carry my groceries and I wanted to use a recyclable bag. So I could logically justify acquiring two or three. But then, I would see a new design and think: hmmmm, this could be good for holding certain toys. Or this would be useful for putting away those extra gloves. I was seduced by the design of an item, but I also was happy to see something I liked: I knew I was going to look at it again and again and again.
I’m particular. They don’t offer those bags now and mine are showing wear. Instead I see them offer these plastic bags with maybe a logo on it. Ugh! Not for me.
Are you also very particular about certain things?
I think of my 4 children again : Nika who at age three would only wear pink clothes. Hunter, when she was very young, would eat only certain foods. It was a surprise when she would like something new. Ariella wore her dinosaur costume to school every day for a year. When was it that she switched to her favorite dress that she wore day in and day out? For Samsun, it was – yes – again, words – the longer the better.
For me in my art, it’s color. Well, mostly color. I look for THAT color. The color must be in the right hue, the right amount, the right place. It must play with the other colors. Often one color is infused with its opposite . And in the whole piece, color must lead the eye from top to bottom or right to left. It must move.
As well, though, I want my art to be less than perfect. That Japanese Wabi Sabi effect where the lopsided bowl is better; or in Persian rugs where there was an intentional flaw woven in. Allowing the viewer to feel at ease.
What I’m looking for – particular me – is for my art to feel right.
So when I decided to offer my silk designs on pillows and bags, for which it had to be reproduced, I have had to deal with how very particular I am. At this point, I’ve discarded as many of the reproductions as I’ve kept, because I want them to represent each piece well. I want to offer something that I care about myself.
Here’s my latest. I sent in the order for the running horse, in which I was judging the background color as best I could on the computer. The background was not part of the original piece, but it needs to compliment it. I wasn’t sure so I tried 2 options. These came back (as you’ve already seen in an earlier post):
But even before I had received them, I chose to try a third option – just to see if it worked better:
Normally, my preference is strong, but these all work for me. That may have been a first time! But until the reproduction comes back, I couldn’t know. I had to wait for the unfolding.
You might be able to tell what a good time I’ve had with this art part. My challenge has been the tech side ; setting up the process of selling online. Slowly but surely, I’ll get there.
And then, you can have fun being really particular too!
Oh Peaches…