Re: A question of artistry and experience
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Posted by Desiree on March 09, 1998 at 19:18:54:
In Reply to: A question of artistry and experience posted by jennifer on March 06, 1998 at 23:34:15:
: I have a question for all of you... how do you feel about the general : level of artistry and cultural understanding among people who do : henna/mehndi professionally? : Here's my take on it... I am not myself an artist. I do my own henna : sometimes, and sometimes I have it done by a friend of mine who has : been doing it professionally for something like 10 years. She's an : exceptional artist and has lived in africa and traveled extensively in : areas where henna is traditionally used. However at the other end of : the spectrum, I've seen "professionals" (and I use that term loosely) : who seem to think that a decent recipie for henna paste is the only : thing required to set themselves up as henna artists. I've seen some : people who have either low artistic standards or very little : understanding of the traditional cultures or both! In my mind at a : minimum an artist who considers herself/himself a professional should : have a basic understanding of both middle eastern and indian styles : and have the basic draftmans skills to be able to create a piece in : those traditional styles... if they want to start offering celtic, : fantasy, tattoo ect... styles then that's great, but I guess I've seen : WAY to many sloppy, poorly executed designs or portfolios of work that : show almost no traditional work. Now I know that information about : traditional henna work is hard to find, but it seems like some people : are not even making an effort... they just make up a good paste then : set up a table on Venice beach or a sign in their nail salon saying : they know what they're doing. : Now I'm not talking here about henna art done by amatures by themselve : or for a friend. That's the way it's always been done in traditional : cultures and hell... it's FUN! But if I go to a professional I expect : them to have a greater library of incredible designs in their head, to : be able to accomodate a clients request (I personally usually ask for : tradtional designs) and I expect them to be able to execute them WAY : better than I could on my own. So what do the people on this board : think? : -jj
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