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NewsletterJill of all trades…
Growing up my brother used to always say that being a jack or jill of all trades is no good. You would dabble in everything but be an expert in nothing. Oh how those words have hung over me these many years…and still haunt me a bit at times when I get frustrated. I happen to love a lot of different things, enough so that I pursue them with all my heart (at least at the time of passion). I have varied interests, darn it! Variety is the spice of life, don’t you think?
Digital Card Design
Sure, there might be a few things that I might be more passionate about than others. Graphic design and photography are biggies…but I honestly also enjoy acrylic painting, watercolor, doodling madly and coloring them in with my niece. Sometimes I embroider, sometimes I bend some wire and make a pair of earrings. I’ve dabbled in hand-printing methods and love to make cards scrapbooking style. I used to play the violin, but now I like the acoustic guitar and hope to write some real songs one day. Depending on my mood and what inspiration hits me, I go with different avenues to express what is inside me. The list goes on and I have started to document on my Flickr. Most people probably just think I’m crazy and flighty! I know many crafters who hide some of their side passions for fear of disapproval or judgement.
Watercolor and Ink
Normally I can go about my creative ventures without interruption because that’s just what happens. You find out about something really cool and you simply have to try it out. I’m not thinking about what others think or really thinking about anything else, because I’m engrossed and super excited to learn something new and create. However, usually when you get into the middle of something, there are times when doubt sets in. Trials and tribulations come along with the process and perhaps I get impatient as well.
Photography
Suddenly I’m thinking…can I justify spending all this money for an interest that might fade in a short time period? Do I really have time to learn another skill that I will probably never master? Why am I jumping to something new and not concentrating on something I know? Why am I so flighty and disconnected? Is it normal? These questions spin in my head and cause me to freeze at times. Suddenly I’m deprived of the freedom I once had to explore at will whatever the consequences. I don’t want to lose my freedom in curiosity. Why should I deprive myself?
Graphic and Web Design
Growing up you are taught to find what you want to do, so you can go to school and learn the skills then go get that job. I’ve done it and found myself still searching for more after the fact. Why is it so negative to want to do many things? I understand the concept of mastering something, but I what if I don’t want to be Picasso? I just want to express myself in paint and be happy! I sort of turned the tables and thought about why it is okay to explore new things. Why the heck not? I suppose I’m not very scientific with my argument, but I do think that people sometimes box themselves in. They create rules and expectations for themselves and make things harder than they have to be. Why not just be content and look on the bright side? Maybe a venture goes sour, well, you tried and now you know. Move on. You never know when something might turn into a great and deep passion!
Acrylic Painting
I just read a great post on the wish studio blog, musepreneur :: are you a scanner/slasher with many passions? on this very topic. It gives very helpful tips on how to work with who you are, rather than trying to change yourself! I don’t know if I should call myself a musepreneur or scanner or slasher, but I know that I want to continue with any fancy or passion I might have. That is my outlet and expression in creativity and I can’t let anything stop me! How do you all feel about this topic and how do you help yourself and others understand?
Digital Illustration and Design
Posted on October 22, 2009 at 7:23 pm | thoughts + discussion
Hello fellow explorers and creative minds! My name is Linda, aka tortagialla - a nickname my adorable husband dubbed me meaning "yellow cake" in Italian. I'm your not-so-typical Californian girl who took the plunge and moved to the Tuscan hills of Italy. Now I'm living my dream designing, illustrating and crafting full-time. You can contact me via email linda [!at] tortagialla [!dot] com
thank you so much for your visit to my blog! i love your work! you are going straight into my blogroll ;o)
and thank you very much for sharing that post on wish studio!!!! it’s exactly what i needed today!
love + luck + bliss,
missysue xox
Thanks for stopping by as well, I appreciate it! Glad to share a good read!
OMG! I feel the same way
I just love to create and do so many different things! But isn’t great to always want to be learning and doing new things? I think this is a dilemma that we all artists go through. Have a great weekend!
We should embrace our curiosities…driving us forward! I agree it’s great to want to learn and grow! Best way to live!
I too am a jack of all trades- master of none…and it used to bother me for the exact reasons. Until I read this: Am I confused or creative? I think the answer is creative…and it’s that creative bent that causes me to try new things, wander into new techniques and have a host of differnt artistic interests. (I got that from a great book on page 115 – Holy Moly Mackeroly, by Gloria Page)
So true, we are all creative…just have to believe in it! Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll have to check out that book!
I have the exact same “problem”! I’m interested in sewing, doodling, printing, scrapbooking, photography… Even when I was setting up my etsy shop, I was wondering if I should have a focus– just paper goods or just needlecraft. But in the end, i thought, why not both? Why deprive myself of what I love? Of course some of my creative pursuits were short-lived but I got out of them having a clearer picture of what I really like. They help narrow the focus in a way.
That is so true, that you have to try different things to find what your true passions are…experimentation is key! Part of the process of creating things I think!