Technique and reputation

[RaindropRising]

As a student of glass art at the moment, I've been having a large part of my time devoted to thoughts pertaining to how my art will be perceived by others.

For instance, if I start making a lot of pipes, I feel my reputation will be that of a pipemaker, and it will be harder for me to find my way into the world of furnaces and larger glass art. Then again, I may be completely wrong.

'What is typically frowned upon in the glass community if I want to go all the way' I suppose is my question. What should you not do if you are trying to get up the ladder, and for that matter what should you do? Or should I say screw it and follow my own path? Damn, just some advice I suppose.

I come to you guys because you have all been in this far longer than I have. Any input is very appreciated.

Thanks again guys.

The crazy one,
Andrew

[vetropod]

There is no think, only do.

PS - some of the top-name flameworkers on the scene right now are pipemakers, whether or not the art world knows it. For instance, JAG won a Niche Award (one of the most prestigious craft awards) with a pipe. Granted, those voting had no idea it was a pipe. :D

[p.j.]

art is art no matter what other people think. beast master is right, some of the best artist now were(are) pipemakers.

art comes from your soul no matter what form it is....feel the flow no matter where it takes you.

[naughty pirate wench]

Word.

You're an artist because you create.

It doesn't matter WHAT form your creativity takes, whether it's a glass pipe, a painting, a batch of cookies, a rebuilt carburetor, a vegetable garden, or a story, or something else entirely.

Follow your own muse. Follow your own path. It'll be OK.

[ALIEN!]

dont be lazy and dont abuse drugs and alcohol. Keep motivated and enthusiastic and you can go far. No matter what you do in life, it takes hard work and time to reach success.

[Ginkgoglass]

'What is typically frowned upon in the glass community if I want to go all the way' I suppose is my question. What should you not do if you are trying to get up the ladder, and for that matter what should you do? Or should I say screw it and follow my own path?


I think you answered your own question. Follow your own path.

Please take my next comment in the spirit from which it is given: Who cares what is frowned upon in the glass community? People who do great things don't have a lot of "shoulds." I spent way to much time in my younger years worrying about what other people think. Take my advice and bypass that train of thought; it will lead to resentment.

There are incredible artists out there making beautiful works of art that are pipes, many of whom are on this board. Even if you decide you want to make vessels or sculpture, the techniques you can learn from pipes are invaluable.

[lucidvisions]

Don't ever be stagnant. Constantly be pushing your boundaries. Try and find you own style/expression. There's going to be a lot of hills and valleys. Be more focused on the climb up the hill than the fall down the valley because each hill you climb the next one will be higher and the fall shorter. Not sure if that makes sense. Just be true to yourself.

Josh

[xlconch]

I agree with most of the above except the implication that pipes are THE medium. For you it could be butterflies or lace or ? IMHO do what you LIKE and the quality will come thru. Good luck.

[lucidvisions]

Pipes are not the medium but rather the expression from the medium. The real issue is that those making the most waves in Lampworking and pushing it to the next level just happen to choose a pipe as their base to express themselves.

Josh

[Bunyip]

I wouldn't worry about reputation in terms of what you make. Worry instead about creativity, vision and integrity. By all means make what sells, whatever that may be, if it allows you to explore and expand your artistic expression.

[Swampy]

fuck art -I'm art.

[vetropod]

fuck art -I'm art.

fnck you :D

[Swampy]

even with that sweeping statement, I often make stuff and worry that someone else will be able to appreciate it.

even the skill or love that went into it. so is that naivety or at the very least, the sign of an amateur artistic temprament :-)

[J B]

make what you want !!! I 've seen some of my fugly stuff -- go fast -- ok i'm thinking ,what the @*&^% -- you never know what peeps will want . let your mind "go" = expole = go with it . you never know !

[Sparkey]

Pipers are the red-headed stepchildren of the glass world. I've gotten resentment from furnace workers that are hustling to pay their bills while I bust out production work on a daily basis to make my ends meet. (I don't do prodo anymore, no time with a regular job.)

If you're serious about getting into galleries, pipemaking definitely carries a stigma.....just my .02...not to say you can't do them, but you may want to keep it on the DL.

Josh




As a student of glass art at the moment, I've been having a large part of my time devoted to thoughts pertaining to how my art will be perceived by others.

For instance, if I start making a lot of pipes, I feel my reputation will be that of a pipemaker, and it will be harder for me to find my way into the world of furnaces and larger glass art. Then again, I may be completely wrong.

'What is typically frowned upon in the glass community if I want to go all the way' I suppose is my question. What should you not do if you are trying to get up the ladder, and for that matter what should you do? Or should I say screw it and follow my own path? Damn, just some advice I suppose.

I come to you guys because you have all been in this far longer than I have. Any input is very appreciated.

Thanks again guys.

The crazy one,
Andrew

[davidwillisglass]

make what you want. make it epic. make it original. make it well.

where you want your work shown is something you might want to think about. If you would like to show/sell your work somewhere that shows/sells pipes, that that is probably what you want to make...

If you're not sure what you want to make right now, and that's what I'm getting a bit, I'd recommend goblets, which are terrific for skill building, although the market is definitely not what the pipe market is.

In terms of what is frowned upon by the glass community, I would say excellence is appreciated in any form, and letting what other people may think get in the way of what you want to do is probably not where you want to start as an artist

[davidwillisglass]

Also, since we're talking about what people think, I think it is part of an artist's job to get into the processes of other people's thoughts, to ask questions, be part of a conversation, suggest your views, not merely make objects. I like art with a voice, and maybe some teeth.

This is a bit off topic, but my .02.