Such an important conversation with so many things to unpack. These are not fully formed ideas, but here goes anyway. I have deep respect for capital 'A' Artists, who demonstrate a rigour, discipline, experimentation, "originality", and who present their production for public critique, but I think there is room for doing things artistically or creatively. I believe one thing that we forget is how our internalized patriarchy affects how we see what we're doing. We see things in terms of duality (I am an artist, I am not an artist), perfectionnism (Not good enough to be an artist), comparison, etc. My own sewing journey has led me to rethink how women's crafts have been so devalued historically (I have to stop myself from going down that rabbit hole because it is frankly, infuriating). The running gag about women being bad at math is absurd when you think about cooking, sewing, knitting as substantially math-based activities. My new framework for thinking is rejecting this binary way of viewing what i'm doing as a lowly craft and instead accepting it as an activity on the artistic spectrum. I now see accepting my own work on that spectrum as radical act. So in a way, I do see a distinction between Artists and non-Artists, but I place them all on a spectrum.

@homestylealchemy

8 ай бұрын

Well said! I’ve been conditioned in the past to demean many traditionally feminine skills growing up, only to find out as an adult how technical they are. I now appreciate all art forms, and do not limit the title of “artist” to professionals. To add to your point, I think we also sometimes deny ourselves the title because society (especially North America) ties our worth (creativity included) to how much money is generated from the artistic product. You’re only an artist if you can successfully generate revenue.

This discussion really resonates with me. As someone who was "good" at school my creativity was never encouraged. All my life I've loved using my hands to make things and have tried a variety of crafts over the years but didn't really speak about it to others, or shared what I made until I started knitting in around 2006. I'm now in my late 40's and am finally "allowing" myself to fully embrace my creative side. When you were speaking about not wanting to get things wrong I was reminded of the GG madeit quote " it's not hard, it's just new" and I love this reframe. Also- if you make a mistake whilst knitting you can frog it!! Jut stick a lifeline in and you can rip it back 😊

Fellow grew-up-academic-became-crafty* here - I think knit and chats like this that you put together combine your academic background and the creative sphere delightfully. ❤ Edited to add: *I would have called you an "artist", had you have assigned that title to yourself. To me, I am a creative soul and crafty person, never considered whether I would call myself an artist. That's something for me to think about.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

I really love the idea of these videos combining an academic perspective with a crafty one -- i think it's why I like video essays so much!

I have never related to a KZread video more!! I feel like you’ve lived my life - being very academically motivated and achieving in that field to transitioning to trying to be comfortable calling yourself a ‘creative’ despite only having a few years experience. Please never stop making these ‘knit and chats’, they’re not only my favourite videos of yours to watch but some of my favourite videos to watch on KZread period. ❤️🙌

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Oh that's so great to hear, thank you for sharing :)

Ok, I may be howled off this channel but here are my thoughts. Listening to you brings up the whole issue of labels, how they used, how they can restrict us because they place us in an often self imposed mental and emotional bind. I am over 60 and grew up the eldest child of post World war 2 child of immigrant parents. Education was everything. I grew up very academically focused, went to university and studied nursing, lectured in nursing, became deputy head of a school of nursing, did a PhD, published scholarly articles and a book. All this life was definitely positioned within a scientific base or framework - creative was not a term associated with academic life. But what I have come to understand for/about myself is that my creativity or artistic expression has never been restricted to binary notions of academia or art(I’m using this word in its broadest sense here). I think when we create, it’s about communicating engaging and sharing with others. This could be creating. Lesson/lecture (yes I gave stats and the information on the neurobiology but I also used big bang theory, music and getting down amongst several hundred students and asking them what they thought). There is skill and art in writing papers and books. How do you craft language to get your message across to engage readers to share your passion etc? And all this takes knowledge, practice, making mistakes, realising nothing in any facet of life is ‘perfect’ and getting back up, learning from it and moving forward. I am now retired, I went back to my knitting and have been teaching myself to sew. This journey is teaching me (very slowly) to embrace my newbie status in this phase of my life, take the lessons learnt and continue to grow. Listening to you speak about your journey speaks volumes (to me) about how reflective, thoughtful and artistic you are and have been throughout your life journey so far. Thanks so much for a thoughtful provoking vlog. PS: Minerva sewing channel also have a great series on pattern drafting if that is something you want to check out. Oh and apologies for any typos!

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for this thoughtful comment, I appreciate you sharing this with us!

I can relate. I’ve been pushed into academia and although my creativity was always encouraged, there was this underlying fear from family that I would choose art over law school or medical school. It has taken me living on my own with no restrictions to not only accept my creative tendencies, but to also act on them. Great video.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Thank you!

An interesting discussion. I will have some thinking to do on this subject.

I was originally going to school for fine art and always had an art leaning preference. I was never disciplined enough to follow through and I’m now a nurse. I still find the most pleasure in creating, I’ve painted, thrown pottery, and now I sew for myself. It’s the most fulfilling thing I do at the moment. I struggle to call myself an ‘artist’ but these pursuits are def an art and take a lot of talent. I also am able to imagine what I want to make and whether I am self drafting, modifying a pattern or using thrift store fabric to create something unique, it’s only something that I can do in my own way.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

So interesting to think about the different paths we take! Thank you for sharing.

You really made me think about what the difference is between 'being crafty' and 'being artistic'. I fear that in some ways it may be that there's a judgement of 'less worthy' and 'more worthy' connected to the two. But in the end, I think the artistic and creative crafter is a beautiful person that we should all learn to love. Thanks for such a wonderful video! Discovering your channel has inspired me in my deeper thinking while creating.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Aw I'm glad to hear that, thank you :)

Very relatable! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. I've always felt reluctant to call myself an artist, even during phases where I was very into practicing forms of art that are considered more traditionally "artistic" - like visual art or music. Which makes me wonder if it's less about the medium, and more about my inner world and how I see myself. 🤷

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!!

Art is so subjective, so it's really about what your own definition of it is. I originally went to school for art, and I don't identify as an "artist" or "creative." I think, most of the things I personally produce serve more of a function in my daily life. Where art, to me can function, but most importantly, has an underlying message or "to make people feel." There are a lot of designers that use intricate storytelling in collections, so it can be done in clothing. I just don't do that with the wearable items I make. I'm not trying to "make people think" with what I wear. I'm a simple person. I dress to be comfortable and make myself happy. But it is arguable, that maybe that's what "art" could be. My definition could just be too small, to fit my own "art." I am using it to make myself feel something. And whether I intend to or not, my appearance will always make somebody else feel something. Style could be seen as a form of external validation, to make others around you feel something, so they will treat you a certain way, and validate your very definition of "self." But there is art, in this slight manipulation of the audience. There are lots of layers and nuances.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Really interesting thoughts, thank you for sharing!

I love this discussion! I've also been very torn between academia/writing/research and creativity in the past and one of the things that has helped reconcile these things in my head has been researching traditional crafts. I doubt anyone would look at these incredible craftspeople, artisans, masters of their craft and for even a second debate that they are artists - so why do we deny this label to ourselves? It may not be our profession, but the industrial world has tried to diminish the idea of craft in favour of mass production so I think it's super important to reclaim the word craft and give weight to it. I think crafty might seem easier to claim because it's usually linked to objects with a practical purpose but to me at least, that doesn't make them any less works of art than a beautiful sculpture!

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Well said, thank you for sharing!

@jessiekind_

8 ай бұрын

@@MakingCassie sent me on a craft pinterest hole this morning! 🤍

I think this is a fascinating idea to ask ourselves. But remember, even the master’s were following those who came before and drawing influence from each other. Da Vinci trained under another following his instructions. And then it’s play where the artists freedom comes! ❤

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Oh for sure, which is why I mentioned that art is very referential!

Such an important topic, thank you for discussing it ! To add to the other great comments, I am wondering also if you, like me, set yourself very different standards that you would for someone else. Anyone around me doing anything creative I would easily call an artist, or creative. Yet, like you, I don't feel worthy of the word, even though I do create, I make things, and often stray from the pattern. I feel that if I can do it, then surely it can't be that hard, and I think I diminish the amount of skills and creatvity that I have, because I haven't done something that I perceive as cool as this person or that person. I'm too hard on myself, and I think a lot of us are.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

From what I can tell, my standards are hopelessly high for myself!

I feel like there’s something you didn’t mention in this video… your videos. Following a pattern to produce something doesn’t feel artistic but you bring a higher meaning to everything you make. You start discussions, you interpret your work, you make things that are inspired and that create further inspiration. You engage with knitting on an artistic level. That’s what makes it art.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Overlooked the obvious didn't I?!

Do what you want and grow how you want. Enjoy every moment of it too. Give yourself permission to do it. One doesn't need to be the greatest to just enjoy doing. I found out the hard way that academia wasn't for me. I studied philosophy and anthropology. Later on computer science. Nobody considers me to be creative or artistic. I grew up with being shot down by my birth family over everything. They are toxic and unsafe people. Also set me up for toxic men. I am a nerd that loves to create. It sounds oxymoronic but what the hell, it works for me. Other description that I see myself as; middle aged nerdy Bohemian Goth. When I sew, the process is magical for me and I can let go and use my Autistic focus without restraint to create. I can work or do something that interests me for 12-37 hours straight without realizing that hours have passed. This super focus also pertains to doing research. These days, it revolves around sewing. Please be good to yourself. If you want to learn pattern drafting, watch The Closet Historian. Bianca has several videos about it and she drafts her own patterns for each project. She will answer your questions.

@MakingCassie

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!