It is natural to want to stick to things you know. As artists, we practice our craft over and over again, so much so that it becomes second nature. We become comfortable with techniques, ideas, practices – they become “muscle memory”. But also as artists, we need to be creative. Creativity can mean many things to different people.
As a crafter, I have taught myself many different skills. Various forms of fiber crafts: knitting, crochet, embroidery, Tatting (creating lace), and macrame. Jewelry making, watercolor painting (I am not so good at this one), diamond painting, and of course Pyrography just to name a few.
When I started the business in 2021, I knew I couldn’t do all the things I knew because it would be way too much, plus many of those crafts take time to make. Realistically, I also knew that the market was over-saturated with many of those crafts. So I had to think about what I wanted to focus on, what did I want to do? What would be my focus. I have always been someone who immerses themselves in whatever craft/art I have decided to teach myself. I had been wanting to try wood burning for a while. I had a pyrography pen for years and never really tried it. I knew if I wanted to give it a go, I needed to leave my comfort zone and try a new medium. I would have to step out of my comfort zone. Never one to back down from learning a new craft, I did some research, watched some YouTube, bought a book, and some wood blanks, and dove in!
3 years later, it’s 2024 and I know I have grown so much. In my art. So much so that I am trying to move into a fine art realm. I started with SVGs, and simple pictures – essentially coloring books/pictures on wood. I sold many pieces this way at markets, many of which prompted people to want custom orders. My goal, though, is I want to do fine art. I see the work of people I look up to and I strive for the realism, crispness, and emotions it evokes as well as the prices they command. So I have been practicing with more realistic pictures, practicing the patience and techniques required for a piece that will take hours if not days rather than a few hours. It’s uncomfortable for me as I like to “be done” with a project. I have in my head that I want to be done in 20 hours or fewer. It’s a conscious practice to focus on the current project, each line, and think about THIS project and how it needs to be created rather than the next one after this project. But I have started the transition and it feels less and less uncomfortable each time. I am confident at some point it will stop being uncomfortable altogether.
What have you taken on that was uncomfortable at first? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.
