I have seen several comments about the little bird house I made a few weeks ago. I told the story how a friend of mine bought a little house necklace in Australia and that I loved it but couldn’t remember what it looked like. I made one for myself, see post here.My friend that bought the necklace told me her name but as an artist I remembered the image and not the name. Her name is Jen Crossley, her work is very nice have a look. As I read her post about the necklace I saw that she got the idea from Catherine Witherall and credited her for the design. I think this is all part of being creative, as people we are inspired by others and their work. I was inspired by Jen Crossley and Jen by Catherine Witherall and so on. This reminds me of a couple of posts that other artists have recently written, Michael deMeng wrote on the subject here, and Diane Trout wrote about it here. I agree with them and hope if someone was inspired by the bird house necklace that I made they will try to make one for themselves.
10 comments:
I like Michael deMeng's notion of sharing ideas as a way of moving art forward. We are often inspired by the same thing that inspires others.
The beauty of it is that art is still unique to its creator; just as your birdhouse pendant is made of materials and techniques that differ from the other two artists you've acknowledged.
Unless we live in a vacuum, it seems almost impossible not to be influenced by other's art. Especially with the internet. I zip through tons of blogs and websites and never really know if a seed idea comes from one of them or not. And then by the time I get around to making something, I've long forgotten where that seed might have come from. Unless you are sitting with the original in front of you and trying for an exact duplicate, it seems like each piece is going to have each artist's own stamp to it.
Tory, your blog post explores an issue many artists ponder. We learn from our teachers, the visual feasts of artwork seen in-person, online or in galleries and use the inspiration to create our own artwork- putting our unique stamp on it. Early versions may be similar but as we create more our individual style develops. Thanks for sharing the artist names that inspired you. I enjoyed the links to their artwork, too.
Thanks, Tory, for bringing up such a timely topic. It is obviously a hot button as several artists have recently written on the topic. For me, when I put my stuff out there in the form of teaching classes or art work on my blog, I'm releasing it into the world. I know that no one can replicate exactly what I've done, but others take it and add their own twists, interpretation, and personality. When I am trying something new and I know where I got the idea (and sometimes just the inspiration), I try and give credit. But as you have found, oftntimes the artist you give credit to got the idea from another artist (who probabably got it from another artist)! There really isn't much new under the sun!
Thanks for the link to Michael deMeng's post Tory. We all get ideas & inspiration from every thing around us. Our artistic individuality comes through when we add our own twist to what we have seen. I enjoyed seeing the lovely work of the other two artists mentioned. Thanks for sharing their names and blogs. You each interpreted a cylinder birdhouse in your own way...pmc, brass, and then yours with copper pipe. I liked the original elements you added like the perch and scalloped roof also.
I think it would be cool done in vintage tin with graphics too. Hmmm...I'll have to experiment with that. And one with fabric...and..!
Thanks for contributing to my own artistic inspiration...
Teaching a class, sharing your ideas, your techniques is what we do as artists. I think it is inherent in all of us to want to pass on what we have learned. And as we pass on these things, we also pass on our take on those lessons. The techniques are the techniques, they are what they are. What makes the art, is how much we put ourselves into it. Like Michael said, you can make the art like he does, but it won't be his.
When I used to teach beading classes, I loved how my students would take my ideas and run with them. That's why we teach. To see that spark and see how far it will take the artist.
Your birdhouse is very nicely done! Thank you for mentioning me and how you were inspired. It lead me to your blog and I like that. I get to learn something from you! Nice to meet you Tory,
Catherine Witherell
Very true words, Tory - we are all inspired by each others art and that is what is beautiful about the community of artists. I was remiss in posting a link to the necklace that inspired Tory's charming birdhouse. The original necklace by Jen can be seen here: http://purplebirdart.blogspot.com/2010/06/jens-necklace-and-new-bit-of-art.html
I agree with ‘inspiration’ (have not read Michael nor Diane’s ‘thoughts’ on the topic - yet) - there are very few ‘new original ideas’ out there these days - only end results … most art is an inspiration from another.
My concern lies with … to make mention from where ones source of inspiration arrived from. There is no need to go back through history to name each individual - like links in the chain … that would be, next to impossible. I just feel, on a personal level, when one sees another persons art then duplicates it, one should name their ‘source of inspiration’. Then hopefully from there one gets led to its original creator so he/she too receives credit.
Of course, if one knows it origin from its ‘beginning’ - then that is more the reward for the original artist. And yes … there will be times when one has no clue nor anyway of finding out how ones ‘visual memory’ of a piece of ‘human produced’ art can be acknowledged when there is no avenue of finding out … or sometimes, simply - lack of memory (ie: MY present state of mind ... oh the joys of an aging mind - NOT … lol).
Eva
Thanks everyone for your comments, Catherine I hope to meet you in the future, we will both be teaching at Artfest,Jan thanks for posting the necklace for everyone to see. And yes Eva the aging mind is fun to live with.Thanks to the rest of you for your time and thoughts.
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