Hey, I made it!

[AmyK]

I just looked and noticed that I'm over 500 too! Yay, me!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Maya for creating this site, and to thank all of you who have been so amazingly welcoming and encouraging. I can't believe it was just 25 days ago that I joined and tried quirking for the first time. Looking back through my traditional scrapbooking gallery yesterday, I feel like I've grown *years* in the last 3 weeks.

Here's my 500 million dollar question: What are you most afraid of when it comes to your art?

Me, I think it's people seeing who I really am and not liking it. Or maybe finding who I really am and then having to come to terms with it. There's been a lot of that going on in my life lately. :rolleyes:

[skyescrapz]

Wow, I already commented about this on your blog. I think I'm afraid of artists block. I'm afraid of my stuff not being understood or not being appreciated. I'm afraid of letting myself be as out there as my quirks have allowed me to be (like I'm opening up this special secret art place and letting people see it -- it's very scary actually).

[skyescrapz]

Oh, and huge CONGRATS for becoming OverQuirked! :)

[kygirl]

Congrats for hitting 500.

What am I afraid of? I would really hate it if I upset someone because they throught I was being unfeeling or disrespectful. I had to think long and hard about posting the game series featuring my relatives. I think they (the deceased relatives) would understand the humor, but I'm not sure my mother would.

And, now, I'm a little afraid of posting this -- I'm feeling a little vulnerable right now, but you did ask.

[Nevermore]

Well done!

What a scary question to ask! I think I am most afraid that people will think my art says nothing as in why bother, you have nothing to say?

[CathyRose]

I am going to be very honest. I have fears that my art is not deep enough or doesn't have the same depth of meaning that a lot of you here do in yours. A lot of time I just do things that I like the look of, there is no hidden meaning or emotion, I just enjoying making it.

[Nevermore]

I am going to be very honest. I have fears that my art is not deep enough or doesn't have the same depth of meaning that a lot of you here do in yours. A lot of time I just do things that I like the look of, there is no hidden meaning or emotion, I just enjoying making it.
Cathy, that is exactly what I meant. It is funny because I just read your ATC post where you said "my stuff is pretty" and I am so with you! Sometimes I stick on a blob of lace because, dang it, lace is pretty. But I think we can post anything here (read Maya's blurb on the homepage where she more or less says if it is digital, it is ok). The worse thing that can happen is we get kicked off the quirky board--and how bad can that be? I don't think quirky has to be deep, dark and ugly or right off the map bizarre. I can totally relate to your fear--like the big commentator in the sky is going to click "post comment" and type "how shallow!".

[AmyK]

Thanks for posting, ladies! I recently did an exercise on my blog where I admitted all my fears, and I thought it was really enlightening to think about. The cool thing was, once they were down in black and white, I realized I'm kind of silly, but in fantastic company. ;)

Krista, I know you and I have almost identical fears. Which makes me feel a whole lot better. I love your work, and hope you continue to do it FOR YOU.

Donna, I am afraid of that too. I have the one MAD piece I did of my grandfather, and I know my family would FLIP if they saw it. I'm not ready to really cut loose on my family yet. And please don't feel vulnerable or uncomfortable - I love your art work and your company here!

Raven, I think your art is so thought-provoking, even just with the colors and lines you use sometimes. Keep it all coming!

And Cathy (and Raven too), don't be afraid to be beautiful! Your work is lovely, and there's no reason to change it just to be strange! Art can be encouraging as well as provocative, you know. Art for the sake of art. :)

[skyescrapz]

Ditto what Amy just said. Pretty is perfectly acceptable (or else I'm going to have to pull down my ATC I posted earlier today -- I just did 'cause I liked the look of it -- it has NO DEPTH OF MEANING whatsoever). I think as long as it makes you feel good doing it, you will ALWAYS be welcome here. (At least that is my hope, because I've made myself WAY too at home to think of shuffling off somewhere else...)

[Nevermore]

Amy, that (posting fears) would be an interesting exercise. I have often said I would like to take the skeletons out of my closet, one by one, and dance with them around my room.

Now, if I wasn't soTERRIBLY tired and aching, I would drive myself INDEFATIGABLY until I tied up a plethora of related threads into this post but as it stands, I must limp to the end...

[Ursula]

Yay Amy! Congrats on meeting the goal!!!

Raven, someones name is Raven, let's see, must be Nevermore, it all begins to make sense. What a terribly COOL name!

[Ursula]

As for fears, I can so relate to what all of you have said already. I feel like my art very rarely has specific meaning that isn't written onto it. Though I find people frequently read something in which I did not intend or even see.

[Ursula]

My biggest fear is that my family hates the work I do. This is actually close to true. Hate may be a bit strong, but none of my family likes my work and I find that a bit defeating. I guess that's why I like being on the boards with all that folks that appreciate my art.

[Ursula]

Yes, yes, I'm post building. I do think that I sometimes am afraid of the BLOCK. I am afraid it will happen and never reverse itself. What if I run plum out of ideas?

[Nevermore]

Ursala, I don't have any family support either. What I do get is the equivalent of "that's nice, dear" which is often far more hurtful than the person (who is trying to be nice, I guess) can imagine because it is so completely dismissive. I am pretty prickly and would just be running true to form to say "well, actually, it isn't supposed to be nice" and it would all end up nowhere anyway. The only good thing is at least I can buy all the stuff I want and no one says boo. It is cheaper than therapy and I never tie up the TV...

[Ursula]

You know Raven, I have quit sharing my stuff with family on purpose. If they happen to see what I'm working on cause they're in the room, then that's fine, but I don't run and ask Mom or Dh to come check it out. They just don't think the way I do. They are very linear and frankly, I think they miss an awful lot of life by staying in their safe little boxes. One day, maybe they'll break out of it.

[Ursula]

I've often wondered why God placed me so firmly into this family, all of whom I love, but with none of whom I really relate. Everyone knows I'm a sqare peg in a round hole. But sometimes I think I'm here in order to teach them that unique is good. That diverging from what everyone else does is pleasing before God. After all, Jesus was the original misfit, not to mention all the profets of both the Old and New Testaments. I'm an avid believer in the God of the Bible, but my take on it is a bit unique and I think there's a reason for that.

[Ursula]

Well, I've done it now, I've outed myself as a Jesus Freak. Part of my quirk!

[skyescrapz]

Wow, a post building run by Ursula. She's on FIRE. Look at those fingers flying on the keyboard.

I'm sorry (truly) to Raven and Ursula and others whose families don't get what they do. I am blessed in that my mom and SIL TOTALLY dig it. DH thinks it's cool (not his bag, but he praises and comments accordingly). Brother thinks it's weird, but appreciates me sharing it. Dunno what my dad thinks. I know he sees the emails I send since he shares an account with my mom (or rather he reads all of her email), but he's never commented on it. Who knows. But I do consider it a blessing that these folks don't think I'm totally off my rocker. Then again, I haven't put any clown hats on my ancestors. That will likely be coming soon to a DAQ gallery near you, though.

Keep posting here, girls. I personally LOVE seeing what everyone is up to and love everything I've seen so far. Some of you folks are really making me push the envelope (in the best way) by being so darn good.

[Chinook]

Congrats!

My answer to your question, is just to echo those before me. Well not Nevermore, she could never be echoed. :-)))

[nicole hinrichs]

afraid? well I am afraid that a big fat black spider will come on my computerscreen and decides to build a web on there, that would freak me out because I would be too afraid to kill it and mess up my screen. lol

no I am not afraid anyone not liking my art, there is people who like it and some dont, well that happens thank god, otherwise we would all make the same things, walk in the same clothes, liking the same kind of guy. lol.
we are all unique, and so is our art, and that is good. As long as you like it it is fine I believe. for myself I make a lot of art with no meaning behind it and just liking the look of it. we post it, because we like it. and who likes it too can comment on it. and who does not like it does not comment. so simple is that (I believe). I make my art for myself because I like it.

my family is supportive of it (it took a little while but they have come around, and now they oooh and aaaah over it)

I work for a paperscrap magazine in holland, and when I showed my first digital work they said, no no holland is not ready for that, you have to stop that, but I went on and let myself not get thrown of my feet by their negative comments. now half a year later I make didgital articles for them and my digital designs are printed on paper by another company.

so whatever anybody says, just go on ladies, you are all doing great work and it is beautiful.
besides that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, soooooo true.

well I hope this counts for 10 posts, I still have soo many to go to get the overquirked title. lol

[Kazadoodle]

WTG Miss Amy!!!

And Nicole, when you are you going to learn to break up your posts? LOL

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

You did it, you did it!!! :D

[nicole hinrichs]

i should have done that kazadoodle, but I was just typing away.lol

[jessica b]

I am simply jealous. Waaa! I want to be past 500 posts, too!

[jessica b]

Well, I am just past the halfway point! LOL!

Congratulations, Amy! :D

[Vania16]

Congrats Amy! And, a great question, albeit a tough one. First of all, I'm with Nicole, there's always going to be someone who doesn't like a particular piece of art. After years of playing in music auditions and competitions in high school and college, I definitely learned that sometimes you'll do everything right and just not be what they're looking for. So, although I still fear rejection to some degree, I've learned to put that fear aside and just create and put it out there.

My big fear though is that I won't be able to handle everything I want to do (and to some degree feel driven to do) - that I won't be able to do justice to my legal work, my art and my family. It's so hard to balance everything. Fortunately DH is pretty supportive, but I know he doesn't like it if I spend too much time on the computer when I could be with him - especially since I do work quite a bit. So, the struggle goes on to find some balance in life.

[Ursula]

Aaggghhh, balance is so very difficult to find, isn't it Lisa. and You're right, it is a very important key. All the wonderful people I've met online have made a fabulous impact on my level of confidence. There's a gal I met at DSP who is the reason I am all over the boards now. She continually told me "your designs Rock!" until I finally believed her. Now, I'm feeling pretty good about my art. I know that every piece is not fantastic, but I also no that I have a gift and I ought to use it. So, I'm very grateful for the giving community that exists online!