The Evolution of Stitching "Family"

I love the meditative and intuitive process of stitching - at least my approach to stitching is intuitive and meditative. The soothing process and sound of pulling the thread through the fabric again and again and again... I don't always plan things out - usually I will start with a fabric that was part of an old project, or a scrap from a friend, or even a handful of threads that my daughter gave me from her finished project. For this particular piece, I started with some bits of fiber left over from some earrings I made and the piece evolved into a symbol of family and mothering. 

My intention was to video record my process of creating one of these highly textured abstract embroidery pieces to include in my online workshop. And I did record part of the process, but then I stopped working on the piece for a few days. After a little while I picked up some more scraps and threads around my work table including some small feathers that my daughter had left after a project. I stitched these feathers down to the cotton base fabric and continued with small seed stitches in my favorite dark pink thread, trapping some loose threads as I worked.

Next, I picked up some golden beige yarn that I had used to knit a scarf for my mom. I cut a small length and stitched it down near the feathers. The colors for my daughter and my mom are similar. They are both born in the same star sign and the gold, earthy tones seem to match their personalities. As I continued stitching and thinking about my mom and my daughter, this piece became a meditation on family - on being a mother and a daughter.  These ideas brought to mind my sister and how different our experiences were growing up - the blue is for her stitched down with gray - both are the color of her eyes depending on what she is wearing.

As I stitched around the bottom edge, keeping the feathers securely in place, I realized that I had two feathers - two children - one feather for each - and this piece was telling me that it was about being a mother and a daughter. So, I chose the large pink feather to represent myself and stitched that into place using the pink thread. I added the black yarn for contrast, but then as the black swirled around the pink feather (me) it began to remind me of the difficult times of parenting. Around the time when my daughter was two years old, my husband was working on a new business venture and I started graduate school for art therapy. It was a lot to take on for both of us, and although there were times when I wasn't sure what to do and felt physically and emotionally drained, my family was always there for support.

When I finished stitching all the threads, feathers, and yarn down to the cotton I took a picture of the finished piece to share on Instagram. Looking at the small image on my phone it reminded me of a face looking down (the way I remember looking at my children the first time I held them).

I am always fascinated when my art shows me more than what I was expecting.

The progression from beginning to end

marketing or just connecting with people?

I've been thinking a lot about marketing my art - how to market it, should I write a marketing plan, who are my customers and how do I reach them, what are the demographics...  and I don't think traditional business plan processes are always the best way to go with art, especially with the internet. I remember when I got a job at an art gallery, I was so excited to be working in my field until I realized it was just working retail. I was in sales, not art. The art was a product and whether I liked it or not, it was my job to talk with everyone who came in the door and apply all sorts of tactics (I had to go through sales training) to get them to buy. I had learn how to "close" a sale and anticipate objections so that I could negate them before the customer said it. I could never ask a yes or no question, had to keep them engaged in the art... It was stressful and not enjoyable at all.

After a while I realized my commission was barely anymore than my hourly, so I switched gears and just had conversations with people that came in. Conversations about whatever felt natural or whatever came up - if we talked about the art that was good, if not that was good too. I would see people around town and continue our conversations because they felt like friends, not customers. I'm still friends with some of those gallery customers because of that switch in my approach. It felt a little like anti-sales and it became fun. 

Yes, it's a product - I create a piece then you can buy then I can ship it to you. Art is also an extension of the artist. But the more I read about marketing, online or not, the more I find it all comes down to relationships. The relationship you build with your customers, who become more than that when you talk with them and learn about them and in turn they learn about you and your art. It's an exchange, or sharing. Either way, the majority of people who have purchased my work are people I know. I either met them at a gallery opening, through a friend or family member, a lot are family, or I have met them online. So, I guess as I stress about how I'm supposed to market my work, I should realize that I already am just by sharing the story and the process (even if it's difficult).  So, I'll just keep connecting with people and see how that goes.

This is the latest piece I've been working on. It is another burst design, this time on vintage fabric. I wasn't sure if I would like the idea of a patterned background, but I think it is great and it has given me a lot of ideas about manipulating the fabric before stitching. I have one more color to add to this before it's done, and then I may paint the paint like I've done on others before mounting it on stretcher bars. I have been posting the "in progress" pics of my work on Instagram - if you're there, please let me know - it is currently my favorite photo app : )

10 art studio / business productivity things that I find useful

10 art studio / business productivity things that I find useful
and I probably should implement them... 

1. Plan ahead! 

I am currently working in fibers to create my art, I need a lot of time to get pieces finished. Stitching takes a long time - I've tried to embroider things quickly, it doesn't work, I just stab myself with the needle more quickly. However.... when I have my projects lined up and know what I need to do to finish them, then no matter how much studio time I have there is always an opportunity to make a little progress.

2. Watch Dr. Who - or reruns of your favorite show.
I have a chance to work in my studio in the evenings, but I get tired by 9pm and will fall asleep if all is quiet. So, I get my stitching ready and turn on Netflix. I am on season 3 of Dr. Who (I think this may be my third time through), I really wish Netflix would make the newest season available now... although, the reason reruns are great is because I already know what happens and I don't really need to pay attention to it so I can stay awake and get my stitching done. All the Harry Potter movies work well for this, too.

3. Do Not Organize! 
or maybe just organize and label things - or put things in places that make sense. It seems that every time I organize my studio, I can't find anything and I waste a lot of time looking for something that I know I have and I'm sure I put it in just the right spot. Arrg! (I could take some clues from these Pinterest ideas).


4. Turn off alerts on your computer and phone
It's amazing how much I can focus when I'm not checking my email constantly or looking at my phone to see how people like my new pic on Instagram! (by the way, I love Instagram and the insta-validation I get from all those 'likes' - follow me at @kellydarke !).

5. Stop playing Words with Friends. seriously.

6. Step away from the computer!
This sounds a lot like #4 and #5... I currently have 16 tabs open in my browser, plus I'm listening to an audio clip from a business group (ArtBiz). I think I just read that multitasking is not a good idea and is actually bad for your brain. I can't remember where I read that though, so I can't provide a link - sorry.  I open links from articles, from Facebook, and for my own research. I genuinely want to read about and / or save the information on all these things, but there really isn't enough time for all of it. Prioritize and make a schedule.

7. Use Inventory tools
I have a spreadsheet of my inventory and income / expenses of all personal and business information. I found I was wasting time trying to account for some of my artwork because I wasn't updating my inventory list regularly. Such bad business practice, I know, but I would give pieces to family members, or donate something for an auction and forget to write it down. Now, I update my spreadsheet immediately when I sell something, give something, or put something in a gallery, or a different store online.  I highlight items in green when they are sold, blue for auctions, and leave the color black for pieces that are still available. I have a column that lists where the piece is, including if it is at home. Selling my art is a business and I'm starting to treat it that way.

8. Know how you want to feel
Danielle LaPorte is amazing. Everyone should read her work - The Desire Map is brilliant. When you can identify how you really want to feel you are better able to prioritize your time.

9. Love the work you're doing
or at least like it enough that it doesn't completely drain you to work hard at it every day. There are a lot of different things that I really love to do and most are art related, so that's my area of focus. Also, do the work because you love it, not because you think you should love it. When you truly love the work you're doing it will be easier to put in the studio time. I know it helps to get feedback and validation from friends and online followers, especially if you are working alone in your studio, but you are the expert on what really makes you happy. Or just try to figure out how to make a living using your passion... or not. (This topic requires more research...)


10. Find Support
If you can surround yourself with supportive people then they will encourage you to spend more time in your studio and get the work done. My husband will take the kids to their stuff on the weekends so that I can have those days in the studio - (of course, if I haven't implemented #1 - #9, then I might just be wasting a lot of time, but I'm getting there). I have also been trying to prepare meals ahead of time, so that I can focus when I am in the studio and not think about dinner, which at the last minute might be a sandwich or a bowl of cereal...whatever...