All Of Me

I just read something very interesting by mixed media artist Kelly Kilmer.  Her post is about being yourself - and creating art that is OF yourself.  I like it. 

When I first started freeforming - I had no idea where the wacky stuff that grew from my hook and needles came from.  It certainly didn't look anything like me - the buttoned up LL Bean Me with the Goretex rain gear.  Or the Me that wore Anne Klein suits to an office in Manhattan.  Or even the Me that had flannel poodle pants (more on this later).  My freeform was complex and slightly dark - even in the bright colors.  Now after over a year of working at "the work", as I prefer to call it, I can see Myself in it.  It's the side of me that I kept out of sight for fear of - what - I don't know.

It's the chaotic, emotional side that I had been taught was inappropriate for polite company.  It's the wild side that is VERY far from the middle of the road.  It's PINK - when black is in and it's the butter I slather on my croissants (yes, I do that).  But it's definitely me.  It took me a while to figure this out - I denied the truth about that part of me for a long time - most of my life in fact.  But now it's out of the closet and i couldn't be more excited.  This uncovered part of me allows for a lot more leeway - a lot fewer rules.

My point?  Well, there wasn't one when I started - but I've come around to thinking I should say that it's been good for me and I think it can be good for you.   So go ahead - don't be afraid of who you'll find - the uncovered you is still you all.  And you had a sneaking suspicion she was in there in the first place. Thanks Kelly - for making me think about this and for stating it so succinctly.  Be you - be all of you.    

 

Comments

[myra]

Doin a FF happy dance with you.
Get down with your bad self Girl!!
Love ya~~

[Sue Lyn]

I loved this entry-- you capture something I strive for in my own creative work. Your post made me look at your knitting projects with new eyes. I especially love the piece you called Chandra's Garden. It looks so wild and organic it's almost hard to believe it was made by human hands.