9.26.2007
art, craft, the space between
In my last post, I was lamenting that the calendars have been slow going this week. I know you really can't tell, but the February paper white really was not printing well. You'll just have to trust me on this. The photo does not really show it clearly, but there is a 'halo' of ink on the root that is reaching down the right side of the page. This, to me, is just not okay. It's not good printing and it's not what I want to put out there with my name on it.
I received this comment from a so-far loyal reader who, bless her heart, I think is really just trying to say something nice. She wrote: You really need to stop being so nit-picky about the itty bitty details. Everyone will love it all the same. I truly appreciate the sentiment and the support, but here's the thing: I don't agree. Well, perhaps there are lots of people who will love it all the same, but that's not really what I want. What I want is to feel proud of the quality of work that I am creating. To me, with this aspect of my life, it is ALL in the nit-picky, itty bitty details. To me, this is what differentiates a so-so piece from one I think is the best work I can do. Why put so-so work out in the world? Why contribute in that way? Why settle for mediocrity? And while I'm first to admit that I am seriously nit-picky {to a fault at times}, I think I'll stand by that trait, annoying as it might be to others. Well, at least I think I'll stand by it with my printing; in other parts of my life, so true – perhaps I should wave good-bye to it.
So this all leads me to my art and craft and the space between pondering ... It must be said that I may not win any friends with this post. Or maybe I will. I've no idea. I've been mulling this over for a while now – what is the difference between art and craft and what is all the stuff that falls in between? And where, exactly, does Satsuma Press fall? Where do I want to be? I am all for experimenting and trying your hand here and there and finding a way to use your hands to create. But {don't say I didn't warn you, I know I'm going to rot in do-it-yourself hell} sometimes we are not always very good at what we want to be very good at! There, I said it. I mean, I would love to be a good seamstress. I'm not. I would love to be a good gardener. I'm not. It took me time to find the thing I really had an affinity with – letterpress – and I'm still learning. There is plenty to learn here. I know this well.
What I shy away from is the whole craft-y, I-like-that-it-looks-hand-made thing. I like that someone's hands have made something, that time and care and thought have been put into something, yes. I don't mind the imperfections that come from human interaction and creation. At all. But I do mind knowing that the work I do is less than what I COULD or SHOULD do and keeping on the same way, crouching behind the hey-it's-hand-made line. Printing – this is what I do, it's not a hobby, this is part of who I am. I want to do it well. And I know that we are our own worst critics but someone has to do it, right?
And now for something completely different. I was asked to join Trunkt! Here is the link to my Trunkt portfolio: www.trunkt.org/satsumapress
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10 comments:
Hi Lynn,
I support and agree with your efforts in paying the utmost attention to detail. After all, if the details don't matter then what makes one unique from the rest? If excellence in craft is what you seek and strive for then that is a reflection of you and the products of your business. That is no small task as you hold yourself to high standards. Who could hold you at fault for that?
With the pop culture popularity of letterpress, a distinction has to be made and were it not for the details of fine craft there would seem to be none other than perhaps, style.
Just like Italian shoes or Stickley furniture, fine craft becomes part of your brand/your reputation. Whose to say you shouldn't be picky about that?
It may just be my age, at 20 years, so my comment may be misinterpreted, but it was written half in seriousness and half in, how should I put it, lightness all the same. Don't get me wrong about the details, I am from a line of perfectionists in the family.
My mom will toil hours away to make one little shirt for her niece when really she could've just dropped a few dollars at a store. Many clients love my dad's construction work on their homes and even in minor repair work and I am more than happy for a quickly made picture frame, but even in that endeavor he'll spend much time on (despite my pleas that he ought not to waste his time when all I needed was just the right size frame and not some museum piece). And my sister is the biggest perfectionist of them all! It'll take her days upon days to complete just one 8 by 11 printer paper size drawing, because the nose wasn't right, or the hand wasn't right, or that one strand of hair seems out of place.
So, Lynn, I do understand the value and worth of putting all your effort into a product - be it for sale or not. In all honesty, I did write my comment light-heartedly (which cannot be inferred as writing has no tone). I suppose I feel that although details are quite important, and high standards are necessary, at times we do need to let it go just slightly and breathe, knowing that we still did a fantastic job. After all, at which point are we really just exceeding 'excellence'? At some point, it seems we must stop and realize we cannot go further, beyond what is humanly achievable. And of course, it is for the individual to decide when that time will be. (And if anyone ever sounds like they are annoyed and am giving you a command - as now I realize that's probably how it sounded - they probably really mean to say "Just enjoy your creation".)
My philosophy is (and feel free to disagree) that imperfection and our admittance of it should not be shielded but celebrated! Perhaps it is the hippie setting of the university I attend and the people I am surrounded by, but it took me all these years to realize how great it is to show and admit one's imperfections. To express it through the work we produce (but I suppose this applies more to modern, post-modern, some name of some type of art and not so much with letterpress). I am of a different generation and sometimes I forget that when I speak. The pop culture popularity that the previous writer speaks of is partially the time to which I belong and so our views may be different.
And yes, I did say what I said as a compliment. Through your blogging I can "see" the effort you place in your work which only makes me all the more in awe with the pieces you produce. And Deb makes a good point: whose to say you shouldn't be picky about your brand or reputation?
It makes me good to hear, though, that even adults (I don't know our age but I presume it is not near mine?) such as yourself are still in a learning stage. It gives me hope that I still have time to hone my craft, or art, or whatever it really is. (To this day, I still cannot clearly define the difference between craft and art).
-- phew! This was longer than I had anticipated. Remind me to learn when to stop typing (now that's a trait I would like to let go of). brevity is not my middle name.
Philosophy, opinion, perception, perspective, agreement, disagreement aside: When do you suppose we'll be able to see the entire calendar in its completion? :)
BTW - would you mind sharing with me how long it has taken you to get to where you are today, in terms of your skill with letterpress. I really feel like my calling is in the arts but am majoring in social welfare and I do not think I shall wish to switch majors or transfer to an art university. But I'd like to plan for a future (hobby or career) in the arts - in one form or another. Oh boy, what if I were to be a hippie artist?!
I've got to admit, it is the perfections - what you might call the finishing touches - which make me want to buy your work.
It's very easy to do work which is 'good enough', and it's very easy to accept it as a customer. But if I want 'good enough' I'd be buying something from a mass-produced store, not a craftsperson.
You've set yourself an exacting standard because you know you can reach it, and you're not satisfied unless you do reach it. Whilst it might seem like a waste of time to some, deploying your knowledge and skills to the very best of your ability is really the definition of being a craftsperson. It's not what you make, it's how well you make it.
I'm deeply involved in pop culture: I love ephemeral things passionately until the next new love arrives. But adoring pop things doesn't mean preferring imperfection above perfectionism. Take pop music: the perfect pop song will make your heart dance with glee - not just when you first hear it but a decade later - because the musicians and producers involved have set out producing the very best song they can. A 'good enough' pop song might make you smile, but you'll forget it in a month. I don't mean perfect in the sense of every note being spot on, every word clear: the imperfections of a slightly duff voice might be something which adds to its perfection as a whole.
Er, in short: so long as your perfectionism doesn't send you into overwork or printers' block (like writers' block but for letterpress artists...ha!) then it's what works for you and let it have its head.
Mmm, yes I have to say I agree with the above. Imperfections are beatiful. Striving for 'perfection' in a lot of people's eyes isn't what's 'perfect' at all. Flawlessness doesn't necessarily equal perfect - often it's the flaws that make something perfect!
But of course, we could argue endlessly about this because everyone has their own tastes and opinions about what is 'perfect'. The most important thing though is to be enjoying the process of making. If it's getting to the point where it's upsetting and frustrating you, then maybe it's worth taking a step back and reassessing things a bit.
Such as - does the medium of letterpress really go hand in hand with perfection? I'm assuming, every time you go to make a print you do everything you can to make that print come out right, but there are always going to be variables within the machine itself that are outside of your control. Which is what's so great about letterpress anyway!
So is it unrealistic to expect perfection, when it's not really in your control? (and 'control' doesn't include the ability to throw out the duds). And therefore is it realistic to think badly of yourself if you let something pass, even though you've done everything you can be reasonably expected to do to to make it as good as possible? Bar throwing the whole thing out and wasting a bunch of paper and resources?
Anyway sorry for the rant but I'm just throwing food for thought out there. I think that it's good that you have such pride in your work, but it sounds like that level of pride/perfectionism isn't making you very happy, and is leaving you constantly torn on the inside. And that can't be a good thing! I'm just worried about you :)
Love, Lara.
*a smile* it seems people will never be able to agree on any aspect of life. myself. i prefer to just breathe and forget about it. i hope i didn't cause any upset. i can't read tone in writing so i shall just have to move on. lah di dah...
Intonation is tough with email and comments on blogs. Perhaps someone will come up with audio comments instead?
I do love reading all ya'll's comments. Interesting discussion!
I have to agree with Mags: 'so long as your perfectionism doesn't send you into overwork...then it's what works for you...;
And, as for pop culture, I didn't mean that pop culture wholly translates to a choice of perfection or imperfection as there are varying degrees/range of craft within each as I have my pop culture faves as well :-)
For me, pop culture was more to address the sheer amount of choices. The popular medium becoming fashion/fad and with that brings a wider range from "imperfect" to "perfection" however those may be defined.
Aesthetic is part of this discussion, yes? As Lara says, '... often it's the flaws that make something perfect!' Agreed.
Context is no small thing. Letterpress in the context of our time, at present; in this digital age. The charm, the lure, the fascination, etc. (for me) of letterpress is the seeming imperfection; the slight variances from piece to piece.
So, the discussion continues... perfection. What is it? How to obtain it? Does it exist? How is it validated and even then, is it really perfect?
In the end, sanity seems to be a greater goal. One could go mad debating this in one's head...
I'm dizzy!
Deb says, "So, the discussion continues... perfection. What is it? How to obtain it? Does it exist? How is it validated and even then, is it really perfect?"
I guess we'll never really know the answer to that, will we? Given each person's unique perspective and experience, we'd have billions of different responses!
Well said nonetheless. Deb: did you earn perfect scores on your written compositions? It was a very organized, succinct and objective response. Me likes. :)
Hello all!
Seems this post has sparked a {never-ending} dialogue, which I think is nothing but a good thing. Thank you for voicing your opinions, different as they may be. I think it's important to do as we go along, right?
I'll be posting more about the perfection of imperfection or is it the imperfection of perfection? :)
More soon ... Keep reading, keep commenting!
Lynn.
Hi!
I've been lurking here for months now, but now I must comment. I totally understand you and your wish for perfection. I'm a master of bookbinding, the youngest one in Finland, and I constantly feel that I'm pressured to do things well, but not as well as I can, because "it's not worth it". People who don't know how to bind books won't notice the difference, but I do! It's really important to do my best, because self respect is more important than the few more euros I would get if I were a little faster and more productive.
And the details do matter! There will always be people who notice the difference. Maybe in the long run "normal" people will notice it too, as my books will outlast others being better made.
I too feel the frustration when I'm torn between productivity and the need for perfection. My point in this comment is basically that it is most important that you do as your dignity says. There's a price for perfection, but it's a lot easier to pay than to sell your dignity.
English is totally not my mother tongue, but you'll get the point. It's difficult to comment with a foreign language as my perfectionism affects most parts of my life :)
All the best for you. And thank you for your great blog, I love your works.
Kaija
Kaija's comment reminds me of something which happens a lot in my chosen professional craft of writing.
I write fiction based in historical settings. I know the vast majority of readers will never know if the biro pen existed in 1936 or not, but that doesn't stop me spending an evening checking because it will niggle at me if I put a false piece of historical information in due to carelessness (as opposed to deliberate historical inaccuracies due to the needs of plot/character!). I would constantly expect someone to spot and criticise my laziness...
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