Identifying with more than one medium

[A Maritime Girl]

Since going into business for myself I've struggled with the urge (for lack of a better word) to explore many mediums. Being self taught I always imagined with was the process when folks went to art school, to find 'their thing'. But six years later and I still am drawn in many directions. Someone told me once that I have to find the one medium that will take me further into my creativity, otherwise I'll not excel at anything...jack of all trades, master of none sort of thing. So I often told myself, 'just because I can do something well, doesn't mean it's my thing'. I started out with Jewelry. Learned it quickly, have great success at selling it. And while I enjoy it and continue with that last year I started to do painted bags which I love and find so much fun. Again, quickly developed a sellable product and that is going well. So finally said to myself, 'ah, I'm an accessory designer, whew...that's it! I know what I am'.

But this year I'm excited about drawing once more as it's been with me my whole life. Have pen and paper and it's all good. Could fill a million notebooks with scribbles and doodles. I have a class starting in October and I can't tell you how much I can't wait for that to start. I love water soluble graphite and figure drawing.

Sometimes I worry that this endless pull between mediums will keep me from reaching some place...I don't know what to call it...but I imagine being in school and finally seeing where my life's work will be.

But really...aren't there people who do more then one thing? Work in more than one medium and do that their entire lives? Is it detrimental to the development of one medium if you are doing several? Or does it just speak to my own creative process or creative purpose that I go wherever I feel a pull? I seriously can't see doing only one thing, but that's only because I've never done only one thing.

Gail

[A Maritime Girl]

Just sitting here thinking about it, as I do almost daily....perhaps it's just the difference between someone wanting to be an [insert type of artist] and at the age I am (42) focusing instead on having a business. I want to sell what I make. Hmmmm....so when I try something and find I like it, can do it, and think it's a good product, I stick with it and try to develop skill.

Maybe because of that focus, business rather than creativity, I'm driven to keep exploring and developing? Not that everyone doesn't want to sell what they make, but I guess it's more important to me then for the creative work itself.

Perhaps.

Gail

[Use Her Name]

That's like saying you can't be a good nurse and a good artist, or a writer and an artist. Most of us are artists and "something else." Only within art do people start defying the rules of logic. A surgeon can work on eyes and noses, but needs to specialize simply to grow a practice. It does not mean they can't do both things well. No one bitches when a deli company makes deli meat, and deli cheese-- it is all deli. Same goes for art, it is all an expression of some creative impulse, but for some reason, galleries refuse to see that.

I think the "specialization" thing is a marketing tool used by galleries to induce artists not to tinker with the formula much, so there is uniformity in their work. You can be a writer and a film maker, a composer and a musician and a poet. They are all somewhat sister arts. I really think all and any arts are "sister arts" to each other. Some have a better logical fit like sculpture and jewelry, but that doesn't mean the sculptor isn't a wonderful drawer and can paint in any medium.

The thing is that you can actually make something like that work for you. For example, you may do some paintings and sell them at one gallery, and do sculptures and sell them at another gallery. Your work flow never crosses.

In the end; don't listen to these people. generally falling into a niche is about more than forcing yourself to specialize. It is more about being at the right place at the right time with the right talent, and in order to have the right talent, you have to know most mediums pretty well.

[A Maritime Girl]

Thanks, that made great sense. And I have often thought to myself why not develop one product for one shop and an entirely different product for another!? But I guess I get bogged down in 'well, no one else is doing that', sort of thing. Funny, I tell my kids all the time about defining things as they want to, not by how others are doing it...guess it's time to listen to myself.

[alfreda]

a
But really...aren't there people who do more then one thing? Work in more than one medium and do that their entire lives? Is it detrimental to the development of one medium if you are doing several? Or does it just speak to my own creative process or creative purpose that I go wherever I feel a pull? I seriously can't see doing only one thing, but that's only because I've never done only one thing.

Gail

Yes I do more than one thing and no I don't feel it has been detrimental in the least, technically or professionally. I do any kind of painting from representational to abstract, fine art to low art, oil painting, acrylic, reverse painting on plastic, embroidery, yarnbombing, street art stencils. I don't see that my attention to various media has damaged the development of my skills in painting or embroidery. On the other hand I choose NOT to develop other things such as knitting and photography because I find my current level serves my purpose well.
As I say on my cv "As a multimedia artist my language of expression is not limited to one voice. I like the freedom to work between genres, disciplines, mediums, between fine art and craft, high art and low art. This allows form to be dictated by the content and not restricted by discipline."

Hope that helps.:heart:

[Greg Long]

A visual artist, creates visual art, media doesn't really matter. I think most of us work in more than one medium. I have designed medals, worked in 3D, painted in oils, acrylic, watercolour, produced lino-cuts, woodcuts, alongside collaborative projects, murals and landscape design for two people who insisted I draw up my 'artistic' vision for their landscape gardeners....(who were quite happy to work off my plans and help work out planting schemes, the money must have been very good- my cut was :D )
Art is art, be it paintings, functional art, or any other art form.

[RiJoRi]

"When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

Different media have different strengths and different weaknesses. If one of the purposes of your art is to communicate, then you should know which medium will communicate your message -- whatever it is -- most effectively.

--Rich

[Use Her Name]

"When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

Different media have different strengths and different weaknesses. If one of the purposes of your art is to communicate, then you should know which medium will communicate your message -- whatever it is -- most effectively.

--Rich

I find that words like "Your Message" are more or less Propaganda. I personally don't have a message. I think not all artists have "a message." Message art is a particular style.

[RiJoRi]

I find that words like "Your Message" are more or less Propaganda. I personally don't have a message. I think not all artists have "a message." Message art is a particular style.

Baloney! You are warping my words to fit your concepts. Note that I did not Capitalize the words 'your message.' Even Jackson Pollock had a message. The message may be "Look at the horror" or "Look at the beauty," but there is something you are trying to communicate. If you have nothing you want to communicate, then why bother with art? (Or anything else for that matter.)

The implication of art being without any message is that art is meaningless. Pissing on the floor and calling it art has as much meaning as the Sistine Chapel -- NONE.

--Rich

[La_]

But really...aren't there people who do more then one thing? Work in more than one medium and do that their entire lives?
Gail

well geez, i sure hope so! avid oil painter here, but at least five other mediums within easy reach

nothing stopping any artist from delving into many mediums other than money and space

delve away, you'll learn something new from every medium you try, and you'll find a favorite - tho that doesn't mean it'll be an exclusive favorite

if you want to be the best [portrait, scenery, wildlife, rock] painter in the world, use every medium within your reach and mass produce in all of them ... your style and skill will show through in all of them

imho

la

[pastelskies]

Switching mediums I read to be on the list of helping to avoid artist's block... switching things up. Keeping things new and exciting.

Also it keeps you limited if you feel you can't try certain things for having to sticking to the conformity of one style that is selling.

You can always do both.. stick to what sells, and do some trial fun on your own.

Mediums are also tools that enhance your skills.