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Joined: 2/23/2008
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Location: San Jose
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Let me start by saying that I have been creating since the time I learned to pick up a crayon and glue blocks together(Or my mother's very expensive linen's  ), it's in my blood. I would die without the act of creation. Yet throughout my life, I have found myself intimidated by artwork, and other artists, that were "better". I would stare at the beauty that was Picasso, Georgia O' Keefe, Rembrant, etc... and say to myself "I could never be that good." And for many years of my life I let it keep me from getting better. I just quit trying because I doubted my own ability. One day I realized there is always going to be someone out there better than me, so what does it matter? My art is mine, and how could I possibly compare it to anyone elses? That was a lesson I had to learn the hard way, and I regret it every day that I gave up my art for so long. So I guess what I'm trying to say here is, if you come across a Zazzler's shop (or anyones artwork for that matter) that starts to make you feel intimidated or doubt yourself or your own abilities, try to understand and learn from them instead. Why do they choose warm reds instead of blues? Why did they place the cat to the left of the window instead of to the right? Why did they choose that wallpaper pattern? There is never a right answer, after all you can't be in someone else's head when they made the thing (And thank god for that  ). But every little bit helps. Who knows, you might just be the next Picasso and not even know yet! 
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Joined: 4/3/2008
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Nice post. Thank you for encouraging us all. The Spotted Olive
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Joined: 7/25/2006
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Location: Goose Creek
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thanks for the uplifting words. I get down in the dumps alot too about my art work. I had to learn to deal with my own issues and handicaps. I have shakey hands because of a brain tumor I had when i was 3. I finaly had to learn that my little goofs were part of my personal style.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 4/22/2007
Posts: 328
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I agree whole-heartedly! Art should be about how it makes you feel when you look at it. Art is everywhere also. I haven't seen much art that I didn't like in this world. It all has a place. Art is life, and life is art. 
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Joined: 5/3/2008
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Location: Kamuela
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I'd extend that one further: Once you've reached your own conclusions about the artist's choices, go ahead and ask them! Most of the artists I've talked to (ok, not the ones who have passed on, mind you... Georgia O'Keefe doesn't converse with me) are pretty open about it, and often glad to talk to someone who geeks out on the same thing.
See if their reasons line up at all with your own conclusions. Or see if they hit it by serendipitous experimentation, and they just knew it worked.
Tom
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Joined: 5/6/2006
Posts: 118
Location: Brighton
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I don't think anybody would want to be in my head! There are times that I myself don't want to be in my head! Be true to yourself. Don't worry about what others think. Your style is yours and yours alone. Be unique. Be different. But above all.... Be creative!
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Joined: 3/15/2008
Posts: 238
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The one reason I have never "studied" art is that I do not see why someone should be able to tell me what is "right" and what is "wrong".
I guess most of the professors would get a heartattack if they saw how I achieve my results. I have long ago given up to feel annoyed about people belittling my work as "housewife dabbling".
And one thing my husband (who´s a talented airbrusher) and me have always said to people who look at our paintings and say "I wish I could paint!" is: as long as you can see it, you can draw or paint it!
And there´s no such thing as "can´t". No two people see a tree the same, or a flower, or a house. And isn´t it great that there´s so many different styles - how boring the world would be if we all painted the way some "experts" tell us is the only and correct way!
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Joined: 7/31/2007
Posts: 347
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Good sharing on this post. I was an Art Major in college, one of my favorite professors in college always used to say "If you wish to be more like someone else, than who shall be like you?" The diversity in talents, thought processes, strengths, creativity that I see in the galleries on Zazzle is pretty astounding. It all has purpose, and meaning and a place in this world. And we all are a part of that process...
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Joined: 3/19/2007
Posts: 1,152
Location: St. Louis
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This is such a motivational thread, everyone feels intimidated and strives to become better in thei chosen medium and I for one am so awed by the talent I see here and in other places that I'm often depressed regarding my own inability to 'create' as others do. I wasn't given the gift of imagination or talent that I see in so many others and my only way of giving my artistic wants/needs an outlet was first through pixel art and then through Poser. I still wish I could create on a par with what I see but have learned that we all have our own styles and limitations and that the purpose of any art form is to be able to express yourself and not be someone else.
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Joined: 12/28/2004
Posts: 164
Location: San Antonio
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Ages ago (nearly 30 years, geez I'm old!) when I was going thru college and majoring in "fine art" I listened to a lot of "artsy" people telling a lot of other "artsy" people what was "art". I decided I am not a "fine artist", I have always considered myself an illustrator/cartoonist. I could not believe how narrow the views of some of these people who considered themselves "fine artists" actually were... I look at art and enjoy what I see. I used to wish I could paint like Rembrandt or draw like DaVinci or carve like Michelangelo. But as someone else in this post pointed out, if I were like them, who would be like me? I have learned to like my eccentric style and strange sende of humor. I love it when people tell me they appreciate my art, but if they don't tell me, well... okay. I can't draw or paint in a different manner than I do. For me it's great fun. If it ever stopped being fun I wouldn't do it. I look at all of the exceptional work here on Zazzle and wonder how people are able to produce such fantastic images and sometimes get a bit jealous of the talent. But then I remind myself why I look at their work in the first place -- it's marvelous! It's fine to appreciate their talent and maybe even to be a little envious when you see such talent, but yeah, we are all talented in our own way. You have to be able to appreciate your own talent. For me, I just have fun with it! And when someone buys a tshirt or card or whatever -- that's the little bonus that keeps me coming back and doing more. The people I associated with back in college would say things like, "No one could draw like (Picasso/Michelangelo/DaVinci -- take your pick)"... Yeah, but then again, they couldn't draw like ME! Or YOU! Or you over there... 
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Joined: 3/15/2008
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dradcliffe wrote:Ages ago (nearly 30 years, geez I'm old!) You´re only as old as you feel - I started painting over 30 yrs ago - and I was 26 at the time  Some days I feel like 18, and some like 98 And I love your drawings - I have always wished I could draw cartoony stuff, shows you can´t have it all ...
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Joined: 7/30/2005
Posts: 488
Location: Brighton
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Felidae52 wrote:I have always wished I could draw cartoony stuff, shows you can´t have it all . You can never have it all. Doesn't matter how hard you try there's always something that will escape you! It's a condition of life and one of the rules that are there but not written down...toast drops butter side down, red wine only spills on white carpets etc. Maxgrafix wrote:I was an Art Major in college, one of my favorite professors in college always used to say "If you wish to be more like someone else, than who shall be like you?" What a brilliant quote, sounds like an excellent proffesor to me. Just the sort of thing to inspire you and make you want to go on. I have a saying that I love, I pretty much try to live my life by it. It was in a book I read several years ago and I have since put it on a couple of my products. It goes like this:-
'A mind is like a parachute...it works best when it's open!'
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Joined: 2/23/2008
Posts: 347
Location: San Jose
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Heres a great quote from Andy Warhol - "I always think I don't do the first one good, so I try to do it more." From Scott Adams - "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." "If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?"
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Joined: 8/13/2007
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Oh, this has been such fun to read...shows how we are all alike in so many ways... thanks Csprinks!! Very uplifting!
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Joined: 2/6/2008
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Location: Silly-con Valley
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Yeah, I wish I had the talent of Van Gogh, but I'm pretty fond of my ears and my sanity too... (no trade!)
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Joined: 11/19/2007
Posts: 258
Location: fernley
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Look at it this way..VanGogh is VanGogh, if someone wants a VanGogh print, those are avaiable.
You be you, be different...the besst artists, musicians even chefs do not try to be someone else.
You can make a living copying the greats...or you can become famous being yourself.
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Joined: 3/28/2008
Posts: 63
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I have loved reading these posts. I spent a lifetime around talented people. I always felt I was the only one in my family with no talent...I have a brother who is artistic and can sing..and play any instrument he picks up. I am flat and tone deaf and tried for years to sing and play instruments....LOL..not a hope... I have a father who could sing and play instruments...mother who could sing and draw and paint..best friend and sister who is an amazing artist..children who have become artists..amazing artists...and I kept trying and trying....I think I just missed out..always wanted to draw and paint..tried for years..and still do....nope..not a hope.... I see things...I want to show others..to be able to express what I see.... Then one day I picked up a camera... I am still learning....but now...I can show people what I am seeing...I can share with them.. I know a lot of people dont see photography as art, but to me it is my form of expression...my form of art
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Joined: 12/28/2004
Posts: 164
Location: San Antonio
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Don't sell yourself short when it comes to photography, PhotoPixie. It is most definitely art, and it takes a talented artist to create with a camera. Some people think all you have to do is point the camera and push the button and the camera does all the work. By doing that, you get a picture (maybe) but it could hardly be called art. I'm sure we've all seen bad photography, so you know what I mean: ("Oh, you just have to come over sometime and see our 40,000 vacation slides of our trip to Yellowstone.") Yeah, anybody can pick up a camera and capture some image, but it takes an artist to capture art.
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Joined: 8/24/2007
Posts: 374
Location: South Wales
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What lovely posts.
That's what I love about zazzle; there's room for everyone, whether you create with a pen, paint, camera or computer.
When it comes to customers; they are as diverse as us. From shop keepers to lawyers, and everything in between.
Who is to say what a customer will like?
I don't pretend my work is ART, but my customers like it. It also makes people smile
so I will continue to ZAZZLE ON!
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Joined: 5/6/2006
Posts: 118
Location: Brighton
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Eddy_G wrote:I don't pretend my work is ART, but my customers like it. It also makes people smile
so I will continue to ZAZZLE ON! If it makes people smile it's worth doing! Simple as that!!!
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