in a word... yes... but that don't really mean jack

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Posted by Alissa on September 9, 2001 at 13:59:35:

In reply to: Asking the forum's opinion: Do you want my book? posted by Nick on September 9, 2001 at 01:18:08:

It seems like you're getting some good feed back so far, and I don't
know that I have anything meaningful to add (esp. since I just sat
down with my first cup of coffee for the day). But I can say that I
totally get it when you're talking about the originality issue.

I first found the forum in June and since then have really been
exposed to a lot of henna artists' work. And it has definitely had an
influence on what I'm creating. I see this same bleed-over effect
most when I'm writing fiction -- if I happen to read a really GREAT
fiction piece while I'm in the middle of writing something I can see
the "thumbprints" of that other author's style temporarily spilling
into my own. But it's not bad, it's still my words (just like your
art will still be your art from your hand) and it's still me who put
the whole damn thing together, so it's mine.

You know, art is intrisically a "copy-cat" oriented thing. Many
artists train their hand by copying the style of those who came
before them (I will skip a meaningful discussion on how students of
the Da Vinci school copied his style so well and created bits and
pieces of late Da vinci works and Da Vinci got all the credit, but
you see where I'm going).

For myself, I didn't start hennaeing anyone but myself and a few
friends until this Spring. And since I couldn't sit down with
strangers and say "You like vines and flowers doncha?" then paint
away, I had to put together a design book for people to choose from
(like everyone else here). So does that mean my design book is one
elaborate way to copy others and get credit? nooooo. Most of my work
is a modified (sometimes GREATLY) version on something someone else
has done,and even if it's an exact replica it's still not copying.
But I think my point is I've trained my hand to do these various
styles (CCJ or Liisa or Alex, etc) and now they've blended and become
part of my own style.

The only other thing I guess I can say is that writing an entire book
seems horrible (I mean really, it is sit down and just CRY horrible)
when you look at it as an entire project. But... BUT ... it's not so
intimidating if you approach it as simply a day's work. For me it was
writing down this next scene that I could visualize and therefore
writing the next 5-10-15 pages of a 300 page manuscript. The idea of
having to create 300 pages, and holy !@#$ over 325,000 words (not to
mention spelling, punctuation, grammar, editing, re-editing, and the
grind of months of double proofing before sending off to a pub.
house) was just too entirely much for me to EVER do in a LIFETIME.
But sure enough, it happens when it's just a day's work, and it's
done b/c you have this need inside to get it OUT.

Creating (for me) is usually a compelling need. I HAVE to write this
scene or it's gonna keep writing and re-playing in my head until I
do. In henna, I HAVE to get down this new design I'm seeing ...or
it's looking at the pattern on the toilet paper and saying, wow that
would be a really pretty mehndi design (it's happened) and just
itchin' to go and do it to see how it looks.

If it ain't fun, don't do it. If you don't enjoy the process, you
will never enjoy the finished product -- and no amount of
cheerleading (yeah-Nick-we-love-you-youre-the-Wonder-Boy-keep-drawing
etc etc) will make you feel any better about it. If it's not the time
for it, then put it on the back burner until it is. Don't make us
make you do it, if you want it you will. If you don't, your creative
energies will sputter out every time.

I hope this makes sense and doesn't sound like Alissa giving big
sister tough love talk. If you want to talk more along these lines,
just drop me an email and I will be happy to expound if it's helpful.
Looking for support from fellow artists (or writers) who've been
there and know what you're dealing with is also beneficial, and not
to be forgotten. (And collaboration isn't copying either.)

-- "nothing meaningful to add"??? I'm gonna stop babbling now and get
more coffee... my gawd I hope this made sense... I feel rather stream
of consciousness right now ---

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: It seems like you're getting some good feed back so far, and I don't : know that I have anything meaningful to add (esp. since I just sat : down with my first cup of coffee for the day). But I can say that I : totally get it when you're talking about the originality issue. : : I first found the forum in June and since then have really been : exposed to a lot of henna artists' work. And it has definitely had an : influence on what I'm creating. I see this same bleed-over effect : most when I'm writing fiction -- if I happen to read a really GREAT : fiction piece while I'm in the middle of writing something I can see : the "thumbprints" of that other author's style temporarily spilling : into my own. But it's not bad, it's still my words (just like your : art will still be your art from your hand) and it's still me who put : the whole damn thing together, so it's mine. : : You know, art is intrisically a "copy-cat" oriented thing. Many : artists train their hand by copying the style of those who came : before them (I will skip a meaningful discussion on how students of : the Da Vinci school copied his style so well and created bits and : pieces of late Da vinci works and Da Vinci got all the credit, but : you see where I'm going). : : For myself, I didn't start hennaeing anyone but myself and a few : friends until this Spring. And since I couldn't sit down with : strangers and say "You like vines and flowers doncha?" then paint : away, I had to put together a design book for people to choose from : (like everyone else here). So does that mean my design book is one : elaborate way to copy others and get credit? nooooo. Most of my work : is a modified (sometimes GREATLY) version on something someone else : has done,and even if it's an exact replica it's still not copying. : But I think my point is I've trained my hand to do these various : styles (CCJ or Liisa or Alex, etc) and now they've blended and become : part of my own style. : : The only other thing I guess I can say is that writing an entire book : seems horrible (I mean really, it is sit down and just CRY horrible) : when you look at it as an entire project. But... BUT ... it's not so : intimidating if you approach it as simply a day's work. For me it was : writing down this next scene that I could visualize and therefore : writing the next 5-10-15 pages of a 300 page manuscript. The idea of : having to create 300 pages, and holy !@#$ over 325,000 words (not to : mention spelling, punctuation, grammar, editing, re-editing, and the : grind of months of double proofing before sending off to a pub. : house) was just too entirely much for me to EVER do in a LIFETIME. : But sure enough, it happens when it's just a day's work, and it's : done b/c you have this need inside to get it OUT. : : Creating (for me) is usually a compelling need. I HAVE to write this : scene or it's gonna keep writing and re-playing in my head until I : do. In henna, I HAVE to get down this new design I'm seeing ...or : it's looking at the pattern on the toilet paper and saying, wow that : would be a really pretty mehndi design (it's happened) and just : itchin' to go and do it to see how it looks. : : If it ain't fun, don't do it. If you don't enjoy the process, you : will never enjoy the finished product -- and no amount of : cheerleading (yeah-Nick-we-love-you-youre-the-Wonder-Boy-keep-drawing : etc etc) will make you feel any better about it. If it's not the time : for it, then put it on the back burner until it is. Don't make us : make you do it, if you want it you will. If you don't, your creative : energies will sputter out every time. : : I hope this makes sense and doesn't sound like Alissa giving big : sister tough love talk. If you want to talk more along these lines, : just drop me an email and I will be happy to expound if it's helpful. : Looking for support from fellow artists (or writers) who've been : there and know what you're dealing with is also beneficial, and not : to be forgotten. (And collaboration isn't copying either.) : : -- "nothing meaningful to add"??? I'm gonna stop babbling now and get : more coffee... my gawd I hope this made sense... I feel rather stream : of consciousness right now ---
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