Having an Idea for a Small Fiber Art Series: Should I Pursue the Project?

I had an idea for a project, which is always very dangerous, because ideas are just powerful.

Also, ideas tend to be very strong for me in the beginning of the inspiration cycle, so sometimes I need to sit on it for a few days to see if it's wise to pursue.

Meanwhile, I want to make a small fiber/mixed media series called The Twelve Baskets.

Each of the vessels represents, or will represent something we can give to God that he makes bigger. We give of our little, we give of whatever tiny thing we have, and trust in him to grow it to fill the need.

I had many ideas for how to go about this, even down to asking for donations of materials so I could "enlarge" the donation with the art process and make a piece of trash worth $60, and have a sort of cooperative art work! We'll see. I'd like to have people invested in the process, and they can see thier contribution in the final product too. And I'd have at least 12 people at the opening event.

But where to exhibit these things? I would be selling them individually unless someone really wanted
all of them. And I'd want to have a little booklet to go with them.


Another idea for Art Shows:  QR codes that people can scan and go to information about the art! I'd have to see how those work, because I don't have a smart phone.

Being an Artist: What Media Do You Work In? All of Them

How many times have you been asked "Are you an artist? What media do you work in?"

Do most artists only work in one media, really? Do you?

Isn't being an artist so much more? Sure there are visual artists, preforming artists, musical artists, writing arts, etc. But who says your art is defined by only one way of expression? 

What is art all about? Expressing something, usually abstract through a physical means.   Emotion through sound, honor and justice through heroism and plot, beauty and dignity through jewelry, etc.

I don't like working in one media only. In fact, I can't. My brain and inspiration won't let me.

 One of the things I DON'T like about the multifaceted aspect  of my work is that

• 1. it becomes harder to market when people don't know what to expect, and 
• 2. I feel like I will never become a master craftsperson at anything.

And both of these objections can be circumvented.

But what is so great about dabbling about in so many mediums? WELL. I'm glad you asked.




 Invention. Expression. Sometimes the means carry the message, sometimes the processes merge together to create a new medium, sometimes you're poor and can't afford all the supplies so you use what you have and are more creative for it.

No art form was created without borrowing something from another industry or craft. 

Paint needs pigment and minerals, chemistry and geology. Music needs the physics of materials, math, and notation. Fiber art needs animal husbandry, fashion skills and the chemistry of dyes.

And so, mixed media, which has become another sort of media on it's own, is a creation of more art forms. Performance painting! I would love to do that, mix theater, painting, and digital arts.  Maybe I will someday and make a video. Hm. I'd need a dancer and a great camera for that.

Another thing about moving around in your media is that you won't get as stagnant about your subjects, your skill set with one of your media will strengthen and broaden. You can learn new brush strokes for your oil painting through calligraphy.


Mixed media is more than mixing media, it's about using what is best for the expression of your message, and inventing the future of expression for someone else. You can hone your skills and be a master at what you invented! Explore the possibilities of mixing oils and watercolor! Can't think it can be done?

I'll take that as a challenge. 

My handmade traveling art kit.