Hand carving walnut scoops

David Greisman came to visit me at the shop and he shot some video of me while I was working on a few walnut scoops.  We had a nice chat and it is so cool to see how his curiosity about my work turned into a cool piece of work of his.

I'm blown away, he did such a phenomenal job of this video.  He's busy shooting some swanky weddings this summer but should you be interested in his other work you can check him out at https://www.davidgreisman.ca/

an artist

A short essay I wrote a decade ag0 studying Fine Arts:

I don't like the label. "Artist" is not what I am striving for in any eventuality.  I  do feel an attachment to what is observed as art in the world today, though I'm not attached to the movements, breakthroughs, and sentiments thereof.  I have no use for the large black box or the ideas and ambitions behind it.  I have no reason to think that a vast amount of paint dripped on a canvas with nails and footprints is of any significance to myself.

I have the desire to work with my hands and create physical things.

My drawings are something I have a sentiment for because of the time, effort, and emotion I've put into them.  If others appreciate them for one reason or another, then they are successful on another level.  I do yearn for that level of success, however.  It is as though I'm unsure of what I've done until someone else has told me at times.

At the same time that I feel contempt for the language of artists and all the exclusions it creates, I am frustrated when people criticize aspects of my art that they know nothing about.  For examples sake, let's say that I have done a contour line drawing and they suggest that it does not look realistic, because it lacks shading.  They have defeated the purpose of the task I set out to do.  There are yet others that I can only compare to being artist groupies that will praise anything that is created and labeled art for that exact reason.  These civilians may be more dangerous yet than the former.  If in contact with an artist they can build up the the artist's confidence to a non-challenging standard, at which point it becomes more of a job than a passion.  Without criticism, and by that I mean educated criticism, there is no contest to reach a higher level of perfection. 

My reason for creating is in the process that leads to a result.  I don't create things that are all about the process, or the form if you will over the content.  The things that I make and want to make in the future are objects, drawings, or other things that have an appeal to me personally on some level of emotion.  I do this because the process of making something, resulting in something physical, is a satisfying one for me.  I love to be able to see a physical result to the effort I have put in, and art is my outlet for this.  This is not the say that I do not appreciate or value the work of other artists of the present or past, but that I do not enjoy thorough analysis and discussion that is vital to many artists in their relationships and understanding of their art.

*Fast forward to today:

I am growing comfortable with calling myself an artist. I think I used to feel that it would be pretentious to call myself one, or maybe I just wanted to leave that conclusion to other people, but more likely than that, I felt unworthy of the title. 

My ideas have changed a lot since then.  I no longer think that you have to have the highest skill level and make a comfortable living from your work to call yourself an artist.  Anyone can be an artist if only they dare to believe it of themselves.  I want for everyone to possess creative confidence, but it has been taught out of us.  We are taught that failure is a negative thing, when the truth is that failure is the inception of innovation.

Without persevering through frustration and mistakes I would have never gotten my drivers license, discovered some of my favorite hairstyles, or learned how to carve worth a lick.  Just this past weekend after numerous failed attempts previous years at sharpening my carving gouges, I was successful!  I cannot tell you the amount of pride I feel about it. You might understand if you were there while I wept over them in my prior attempts.

Instead of quitting carving because I couldn't sharpened my tools, I persisted.  After trying many methods I've seen online and watched on Youtube, I decided I needed to do it in a way that made sense to ME.  Like an artist, I solved my problem creatively so I can continue to do the work I love.

If at first you fail, know you're in good company. You are worthy of what you want, but you're going to have to work for it.  Persist a little past being pissed off and you might just end up with an inflated sense of pride in what you can accomplish.

Uri Portillo: Person of Interest

I met Uri at a party for my work at the last salon I was working.  He is the husband of a former coworker of mine.  He is always pleasant, but tends to be a man of few words.  I honestly didn’t know where to start, and in those days my social threshold was pretty high so I didn’t go any deeper into getting to know him... Until I began to notice his presence and quality of photography emerging on Instagram.  I made sure to comment on photos that resonated with me.  I am doing my best to not withhold compliments these days, that sort of thing is tied to jealous ugliness which has no place.  Wouldn’t you know, it's turned into a relationship of mutual respect.

*sigh* (happy feelings)

An introvert's self-portrait

Start with your day job, what’s your title?

Quality assurance administrator at Building Professionals.

What started this shift to a focus on photography?

It started when I got back (to Winnipeg) from going home for the first time ever, in 2014.

His parents and he emigrated from El Salvador when he was four.  The home that he’s talking about probably isn’t a place that he has many memories from, but one that resonates with him and is now helping him to feel more home in himself as he explores his creativity through the lens of a camera.

I think it was just a matter of being down there and seeing how everyone lives. They don’t have anything, but they are always so happy. It got me to thinking something was missing….

For months before that, something had been missing. It was a creative part of me that I grew up with. I used to do painting and drawing.

So when I got back it was back to the grind: work in an office, go home, office, home…  There was nothing in there to fill the void of creating something. 

Photography was something I have always enjoyed.  I’ve always looked at books, and followed photographers, but I never actually did it myself.  It was just the next expression of me doing it, and at the same time it was my first time creating a Facebook account or an Instagram account.

Of course, you wanted to give your work an audience. Not that Uri falls under this umbrella, but I think there are introverts out there that want attention and validation as much as extroverts do.  Just because we stay in and work quietly at our craft doesn’t mean we don’t want to share it and create connections in that way.  Online social platforms like Instagram can be such an incredible, empowering place to build each other up and to get support while pursing our creative endeavors.

I’ve been churning a little bit in the back of my mind of approaching Parlour Coffee, because it’s close to where I work right by it and I know they sometimes put up different artists work. There’s one in particular series of photos that I feel that could potentially make a collection worthy enough to be put up by them, but I haven’t actually taken the steps to actually contact them.

I remember hearing about your participation in Nuit Blanche, how did that opportunity present itself?

That was a collaboration.  The people organizing it put out a call and I contacted them and said this is my idea and this is what I’d like to do. They were on board and I contributed those images to their space.

When I saw Uri’s portrait work, I was immediately interested in working with him.  I’m always thinking of different ways to market my business and it’s obvious to me the importance of making my brand more personal.  I had been studying the Instagram feeds of people that I admire and I decided I needed someone to take some photos of me in action.  Selfies don’t cut it, and truthfully I’ve only mastered the “silly” selfie.  I’m often too self-conscious or don't take myself seriously enough to do pouty lips or the infamous perked eyebrow.  Everyone in Uri's photos look so at ease, candid.  I knew he was the one I wanted.

Can you tell me how you handle requests that you aren’t interested in pursuing?  This is a tricky one for a lot of artists. When we’re starting out we think we need to take every opportunity, which isn’t always true.

I’m a straight shooter.   I thank them for considering me, thinking of me, or approaching me about their project or idea that they have.  I simply say it’s really not something that I do, but I can refer you or point you in the direction of some colleagues or friends who that is exactly what they do. They are good at that certain thing and kind of pass them along. 

How did this transition from a hobby to getting paid to do it?

It was a combination of things. One is my Instagram account and being consistent.  People were having some connection to the work that I do.  How I take my images, how I put them across.  Secondly the connections with other people.  I go onto photo blogs, met other photographers, met other people, and you know, it kind of gets to be a word of mouth kind of idea.

What’s been your biggest opportunity up until this point?

The biggest one came out of the blue when this organization called Find It Downtown, for the Winnipeg Downtown biz, contacted me to ask if they could print one of my pictures to put in their exhibit. It was completely random and unexpected. Everything else was through working with other people.

How do you used your skills to give back?

When I get around other photographers and other people that are interested in photography, I don’t mind giving them information, suggestions, or showing them different settings on their camera and lenses.

He told me about clients he had worked doing portrait work for their website and social media contacting him to inquire about teaching them to achieve better photos for their own daily posting.  Instead of making this into a business transaction, Uri went down to talk to them about lighting and taught them some basics free of charge.  This makes good sense to me, it is good business.  Business is all about relationships and going the extra mile ensures future success for everyone involved.

Do you have any ambition to quit your day job?

Ummm, the thought has crossed my mind, but I guess the “realist” part is that I have a job that pays me well.  It’s given me the ability to live a comfortable life with my wife and my dogs.  For me to make the jump to full time photography, I’m not there yet.  I can’t just jump off the cliff and hope for the best in this situation.  There are responsibilities that I, being who I am, I would never walk away from.

What’s the best professional purchase you’ve made?

***long pause***…… That’s a very good question. I think you’ve stumped me.

I don’t think I have an answer for that.  I really don’t.  The lenses are a tool that you use, but ultimately, I just find that if you give me a camera from Shell (a point and shoot,) I can still go out there and capture great images.  I think it’s different for photography it’s different than for other trades as far as tools that you need.  For photography for me, you either have the eye for photography or you don’t.  Plain and simple. 

Most people that are really good, that I follow, respect and that I call friends that do photography… They can take a fantastic image with any camera that they have whether it is their cell phone, their professional DSLR, a point and shoot, a polaroid, pocket camera, doesn’t matter what it is.  It’s different for photography.

On my Instagram account I don’t say whether I took the image with a professional camera, or my cell phone.  Going back to that exhibit from the downtown biz, out of all the images that I had on my account at the time, they chose one that I had taken with my phone, not my camera.

It’s true, cameras have come a long way to the point that photography is accessible to any level of skill.  His answer shows confidence, Uri is being modest though.  This is such an entrepreneurial outlook!  To be self-assured enough to know it’s not the tool, but the person yielding it.  He’ll get it done regardless of the advantages/disadvantages afforded to him.

What is powerful to you about being behind the camera?

I think it comes back to who I am.  I am a very introverted person and the only way I get out of my shell is when I’m behind the camera. It transforms me I am actually able to talk to people and communicate better as opposed to without it I won’t say two words.

I’ve really seen how Uri comes out of his shell when he’s surrounded by other creatives.  It was so energizing to see him all lit up at an event for From Here & Away, as he introduced me to people, told me about their work, and chatted up other photographers. I mentioned this to him and he smiles…

That’s why, it’s because of photography.  If it wasn’t for that there is no way.

The modern world is such a wonder.  It’s pretty incredible that we have the luxury to express ourselves creatively through any number of mediums, and have such diversity of social platforms to reach an audience and to connect with other like minds.  

You can find Uri’s work on Instagram @uriandrian­_   and   vsco.co/uriadrian

Anxiety, the cloaked adversary

This is about me, my faults and my flaws. I have no interest in posting a raw photo of me without makeup, even thinking about it makes me uncomfortable.  I am interested in telling you about my problem skin and other anxieties.

I think it might surprise some people who know me to hear me talk about having anxiety, but that might just be part of the narrative is contributing to the levels of anxiety that society sustains right now.  We all assume those who are moving forward, leading productive/busy, and have curated social media pages must be happy, whole humans.  As much as we read and are told to know otherwise we forget, click, get distracted and...

What was I saying? Oh yeah, we all have it: anxiety.  It's a spectrum and a slippery slope.  Anxiety is a tricky vixen. She lingers long after you think she's gone and she slips in between your bed sheets with you as you tuck in for the night.... She doesn't need invitiation but rather requires a fence to keep out.  A well maintained fence.
 

Any teeth grinders or clenchers out there? 

Yep, anxiety.  Throw a mouth guard in there, should be fine.  When you blow through that one come back and spend another couple hundred dollars on the next one.  We've got your back, we gotta protect those teeth.

What about the mind that has manifested this problem in the first place??

Why aren't we looking more into the source of these types of problems. I think it's an oversight that deserves examination. Is this problem solely physiological or possibly a sign of psychological distress?  For those of you who think that there is no need to examine a problem that is easily solved with the band aid method, I'm going to tell you this: 

I'd rather spend my time writing blog posts about things that I find irritating, interesting, or that require further investigation.  If you'd rather watch t.v., be my guest. Not literally of course though, I don't own a t.v., go do it somewhere else.

I don't WANT to put a mouth guard in at night because I think that I should be able to overcome this but, avoidance is easier for now so give me that mouth guard!  I go to sleep at night and try to make a conscious effort to relax physically. I roll my shoulders back so they aren't rounded and I resume the position that I liken to a corpse in a coffin.  Stillness right? Isn't that what we're supposed to aim for?  

I've actually slept like that since I was a child. Not surprisingly..... due to anxiety.  

A ceaseless line of questioning from a child with insatiable curiosity,  my poor mother.  Anyway, one day I asked her how she got those veins in her legs. "Poor circulation."  Another day it occurred to me to inquire if keeping my legs or arms bent would cut off my circulation. "A little bit, why?"

Because from now until forever more I will sleep like I have rigor mortis to avoid spider veins in my legs.

I was the favorite sibling to share a bed with on family trips.  Again, no one would guess that it was anxiety that kept me so still at night.  I was just a happy-go-lucky gangly creature that produced excessive noise and chatter during the day.  Really, honestly I was, and am a happy kid.  It's not that.  I think it's important to normalize anxiety, at least to the point where it isn't dismissed as "weakness."  It prevents so many otherwise talented people with good intentions from doing things that they would otherwise enjoy.... That little voice (anxiety) is so persistently pessimistic. 

Nail biter?

Yep, but I got wise and mine went underground (metaphorically of course).  After almost 2 decades of being yelled at to get my fingers out of my mouth by my mother, something shifted.  I think I became aware of other people's perception of my problem.  

At my worst point, as a nail biter, I wasn't satisfied with chewing to the point they were jagged and tender.  I needed more.... flesh. It was so bad that when the nail was gone, I'd go for the skin.  A lot of skin.  

I practically chewed half the finger print off on my thumbs.  It hurt to hold things; pencils, my violin, but I didn't stop.  

Today I have it mostly beat, occasionally I catch my fingers in mouth, but as soon as I become aware I can stop.  It seems like I'm just chasing these demons around my body though.  Instead of going for my fingers now, most of the time I go for something more convenient & discreet: cheek and lip flesh.  I was shamed by my dentist about this a few years ago during a cleaning appointment.  Like come on lady, I can't be the ONLY one with this problem! @#$!

I have changed dentists since then, but we're still just treating the symptom: enamel wear from clenching.  I don't expect more from a dentist, this kind of thing is outta their league.  I do think that there should be a more comprehensive approach to these problems.  We are pretty terrible currently as a culture in terms of comfort levels talking about mental health. Asking questions is out of the question it seems.

I've always leaned in to self-improvement and seeking a better life, but more recently I'm shifting focus from symptoms to causes.  This is so challenging because like I said anxiety is a full of trickery.  Self-deception is the name of the game.  For me it starts with persuading other people.  I hear myself saying something that I'm not yet convinced of, but with a confident delivery I'm able to sell it to most any audience.  Even better if they are impressed by whatever concocted logic I throw their way.  Then it's incorporated in my self-image and becomes and accepted belief.  You do this too! 

I used to not even come down to breakfast without full foundation when I was in in high school.

It wasn't until recent years that I've allowed myself out of the house without make up on.  I also have a skin problem related to my anxiety.  I pick, and pick... for upwards of an hour at times. Always before bed.  It's slightly better when I'm in a relationship, mostly because I don't want them to know... but it's still there.  I'm beginning to understand that the root of this as a deeper sense of inadequacy... I constantly fight this.  I know logically I'm enough and do enough, but it's something that I will have to vigilantly remind myself of with daily affirmations.

It's time to stop putting band aids on bruises.  Walk with me....

Cara Mason: Person of Interest

Cara Mason

≫fine arts grad & painter ≫wife & pet mom ≫mental health advocate ≫self proclaimed zombie expert ≫winnipeg, mb ≫

Cara chilling in her yard with Virtute

I met Cara in the middle of my hair career. She was an amazing temp at the salon where I worked.  I ended many shifts trying to get her giggling, which wasn’t very hard.  Thanks to social media and trading our skills, we’ve been able to keep up marvelously ever since.   

I’ve had the pleasure of observing Cara moving from being an art student producing self-reflective works, to the beginning, and evolution of her pet portrait business. 

Cara invited me into her home and chatted with me about the unfolding of her life as an artist to date.

What's your current Job title? Artist. *pauses* I also work at the gallery. (That is the Winnipeg Art Gallery) That title is Studio Programs Assistant, but I don’t feel like it’s a good description of what I do.

Which is what?  I make sure that the courses run smoothly and that people get registered for what they want. Come up with ideas and programs to bring more people into the gallery and the studio.

So you’re looking at what’s current and trending. Do you want to change the demographic of people coming in? Yeah. the programs that we’ve been coming up with are going to bring more people in and hopefully create a more inclusive and enticing environment.

Formal education?  I have a BFA from U of M.

focused on... painting?  My focus was painting. I also worked photography, and in the last year of University I did printmaking. I really, really liked that.

Coming out of school what was your expectation for employment: After leaving I was like “oh yeah I’m going to do great” and then everything kind of fizzled and mmm….

Cara has been fairly active in speaking about mental illness on Instagram in the past.  Her followers witnessed and celebrated with in her weight loss journey as a dynamic part of her focus on her mental health.  We have often talked about how to "guard our happiness" throughout our friendship.  She graciously shares more about Borderline Personality Disorder in an effort to remove stigma related to mental illness. 

Did it fizzle within or without your circle of control: Uh, I think it was within my circle of control because once I started painting again outside of school assignments I took a really, really long time to do things. My first oil painting after school took a year and a half to complete, and I think that’s kinda why things fizzled. I wasn’t producing enough work. 

**I want to take a moment to attend to this: please notice artists talk about what they do as “work” regardless of whether it’s a commission job, self-initiated project or gift. Cara and I talk about how hard it is to motivate ourselves to do work that doesn’t have an exacting deadline or structure.

 

"Heavy boots" is a term Cara read and connected with as a description of the hard times she's weathered with BPD. Jenny Ramone took this photo as part of her ongoing photo project on hands. (click the photo to view the project)

What was your exposure to arts growing up? My dad owned a kitchen cabinet business and did all the drawings.  That was something that I was able to kind of connect with him on, I liked to draw.  My brothers were both athletes, so that was where they got to show off and for me it became almost like that’s where I was competitive. I think a lot of kids draw and color because they like it and find it fun.

But you were like “I’m better at this than other people.”  Yeah!

I get that. We can all be awesome but, it’s good to be competitive in certain contexts. Like when I’m trying to develop new skills. Yeah I’ve never been like “I just need to do my art to relax.”

That’s peoples misconception. People see you while you’re promoting yourself. They’re like “it must be so relaxing to do that,” and I think: Actually it’s infuriating, and, defeating. A lot of people don’t value what I/we do because they think I’m just sitting there pouring joy out of my soul while it happens the whole time.[yep] When really I’m putting way more hours into this than…{my shoulders slum in defeat} yeah that’s my bone. f*ck those guys.

Do you have a place that you go for peace? umm.. I am very in control of everything outwardly and I think that's kind of to make up for inward lack of control. So, yes in this house in general I’m very in control. The pillows have to be just the way I like them and I can’t go to bed unless the dishes are all put away *oh my god Cara, I think my dream is to wake up in your kitchen!

Social media vulnerability, mental illness etc: In terms of talking about mental illness, when I was in University was when I first started actually being open about it. I started doing art about it. In my crits I would hesitantly talk about it.  People would come up to me after and whisper that it connected with them. Just the fact that they kind of had to whisper about it made me really hyper aware that I also felt that same way, that for me to talk about it was really scary. I didn’t like that.  It got me really upset that something that was beyond my control that is not very different from someone having Diabetes or anything like that was something to be ashamed of.

Responses?  Yeah I’ve had negative experiences. I’ve had a boss cut my hours. I’ve had instructors tell me that I shouldn’t be in school. I feel for the most part it has been really positive though, in that I’ve had a lot of people open up to me in return. People that are having issues with friends or family that are going through the same thing have been able to ask me questions that they are maybe too nervous to ask their friends & family.  I hope by being open about it some of the stigma gets broken down, and people realize it's not so scary.

That is huge for people who want to support other people. I’ve definitely felt like I needed a resource for humans that I love before and I don’t know who to ask.  I already don’t make a lot the appointments in my life that I need to go to already so making an appointment to talk to someone is pretty unlikely. Reaching out to someone on social media is more appealing.

Childhood hero?  oOoooh. *silence* This is going to be awful, but it’s probably Ken (Cara’s now husband, then camp counselor.) Childhood is a very loose term, I was a teenager.  He represented a male figure in a different way than I had experienced before.  My brothers and dad are all kind of boisterous, loud men. He was a funny, friendly guy that got along with everybody but, was fairly opinionated.  That was really interesting to me.   Hehe. Yeah. Then I married him

Niiice

Borderline Personality Disorder traits: It’s different with everybody. With me the most common thing is the sensitivity, and intense emotions. I'm a very “sensitive” person and get emotional easy. I’m also sensitive to light, sound, textures, and stuff like that.  I started group therapy. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is kind of considered the “cure” for BPD.  The foundation of it is mindfulness.  It's 24 evening sessions and I’m kind of hoping that it will provide tools to feel like I’m capable of more. I feel healthier than I have in a long time but I still know that there are days.

What’s the best place for an introvert, socially awkward, or socially anxious person to network?  I would like to know the saaaame answer.  I definitely also struggle with that, I struggle with keeping friends because I don’t like to reach out to people, umm and ask people to hang out.  That’s something that I *we have simultaneous giggling fits* uhh, am hoping that by the end of the therapy that..

Ok so that’s something that you want to change? Yeah.

**Cara and I laughed pretty hard after she explains not reaching out to others. Let’s just say we’ve taken a long time getting to know each other, not for lack of interest in the other’s life or work.  It makes more sense to me now… and it’s nice to know.

 

Besides my own darling dog portraits, I think Milly is my one of favorites.  I've seen many of my furry face friends become beautiful watercolors through Cara's work.

On cats and dogs, pet portraits: beginning & evolution of the business:

You want me to explain how I started?  Cool, so like I said the first painting outside of university took me a year and a half to do (self-initiated, self-portrait.)   When I was finished it I was like “nobody is going to be able to buy this. There will be no price that I could put on this that someone would be willing to pay that would match what effort I put into it.”  The first ones that I did were gifts for some of my coworkers.

They still represented who I am as an artist, it’s still portraiture, and it still has an illustrative element... 

...which, was what I was doing in my oil paintings. It was something that I could create within a couple days or a week and have it in someone’s home. I started doing them because I was finding that the majority of my paintings were all based on my experience with mental illness and I was doing things about memories being messed up and finding comfort in anxiety. I was forgetting the other things that were just keeping me sane, like my pets.  I know that whether you have a mental illness or not your pets are a source of comfort and joy. I wanted to start doing things that I could kind of connect with other people on.  It became this way that I started getting paid to look at other people’s pets and hear stories about goofy things their animals do and how they wanted to incorporate it into the work. It was a nice way for me to balance my style with their stories and add on a mental well-being twist.

Is this mostly online that you're getting commissions?  That’s the only way that I’ve been getting them.  And consulting through email.

That’s a huge part of it. When I graduated from school all of the people that I graduated with that were doing the same level of work that I was doing were these huge social butterflies that would go to all these gallery openings and be invited to collaborate with other artists and that just wasn’t me at all.  Every opening I had I was just miserable at. I enjoyed connecting with people online through talking about my story and it seemed seamless to move from those same people that I was connecting with about my mental illness or life in general to then connect with them about their pets and doing art for those people.  I did a whole bunch at the very start for free that I sent to people that had large social media followings.

*This is not something that I would normally encourage - giving away work for free can result in undercutting yourself and other artists, and really devalues your work.  However, I saw this as an opportunity to share my gratitude for these people, as well as get a little promo.

I think it’s okay for some of those people to promote you because, you’re still giving them value.

I didn’t ask any of them to post them. It benefited me in the beginning anyway because I was creating content for my portfolio, and expanding my social media following.

What’s the last thing you quit and don’t regret: My method of taking commissions.  Before I was taking on every single one that came in and I would line them up.  I was booking 6 months in advance.  That was starting to make me really anxious and really stressed out. I was also accepting portraits that didn’t really appeal to me.  That maybe the photo wasn’t a good reference or the subject matter they wanted to do didn’t really go with my goal for the series.

So I changed it instead to being open for a short period of time and taking the ones that interested me then closing shop.  A huge chunk of time more so than me actually painting was spent time emailing and telling them how to take the best photo. That was taking up so much time and was very draining. Now if people are emailing me and it’s not during that period of time when I’m not taking commissions.

 Do you have an auto response?  I have an auto response!  99% of the people who are interested in my work follow me on Instagram. So I post on my website when I’m open and I post when I’m closed.

I think calling this a labor of love would be an understatement! This is the work Cara talks about having worked on for a year and a half following University.

 Cara’s work is breathtaking.  Her self-portraits are so detailed I could lose myself in those tiny, meticulous brush strokes.  Check out her work @carajmason & caramason.com

out takes:  *cat barfs* Cara giggles a bunch....  You cat owners know.

A texting code of conduct

I'm all about efficiency in conversation.  Time is money, but time is also solitude, peace, productivity, etc.  So I'll cut to the chase.  I want to help you to be more effective with your questions. I find the seemingly aimless questioning SO frustrating via text message! Come on, please keep up! It's not that I'm not interesting in talking to you, it's that we are lingering too long on fluffy stuff.  If we resolve this quickly we can all go back to what we were doing before this interaction started, allowing us to be more present in our lives.  and saving my aching hands from the implicate obligation to respond.

We've been fascinated with the telephone since it's invention... and what a trip we've been on ever since!

 

What are the rules to texting? Has is been around long enough that we can agree to some common practices? please let the answer be yesss....

Rule #1. Opening the conversation with something specific is a must. Open-ended questions read like a lot of work to me. There is enough small talk in our daily work interactions that there is no place for it in texting. 

ex. Common question "What are you up to this weekend?"

My internal response @#&*%!  Do you seriously want my whole itinerary for the weekend?!? Because I literally write one out most of the time, but I doubt that's what you're looking for.

How about: "Hey do you have time this weekend to hang out?"

I mean, maybe you actually do want to know what I'm doing, but really?!? I know that sounds self-important, but I have a limited social capacity and I don't want to spend time "making conversation" via text. If you want to know, I'm pretty active on my social media showing my hobbies and work. So what is it that you would precisely like to know? Instead of exchanging niceties in the beginning just ask the question you want answered.. Do I sound like a raving lunatic?!? Perhaps, I have been known to go on the occasional rant...

I just don't see the benefit in not cutting to the chase. Unless it's some form of flirting and both parties are enjoying themselves, then lets move on! So stop asking "how it's going" over text. If you really give a care to find out how someone is doing pick up your texting machine, put it to your ear, and wait to hear the human voice on the other side of the line.

Rule #2. Don't Ghost. Just say goodbye, or goodnight. No need to explain, for the most part you don't owe anyone that, but unless the conversation was of the briefest nature it's good form to say goodbye.  This is especially true with technology that allows the sender to see when you've read their message.  I think this technology is corrosive to mental health for MANY reasons, but that's another days rant.  So be kind, announce your exit just as you would if you were having that conversation in person.

Rule #3. Anything serious can and should wait to until you are having an in-person conversation.  Texting to set a time for this to happen is totally acceptable, but even then watch your word choices. Don't pick fights. It's a stupid waste of time.  In order to properly resolve an issue it's usually necessary to have every advantage.  Seeing each other's body language is a huge advantage when navigating contentious conversations. Save it.  

For the more manipulative among you: if you think about it... when you fight through text you're giving the other person documentation of how ridiculous you are.  Instead you should entrust that exclusively to memory, which is malleable.

There is an undeniable tendency for us (humans) to interpret tone as negative in a text message when in doubt.

We've all been guilty of implying tone when receiving a message from someone.  When you receive a message do yourself a favor and take a moment to observe the individual words. Are they actually negative?  Or are you just colouring them that way when you read it?  It's far more likely the latter, and this is where you end up getting your panties in a knot.  Texting is such an impulsive/reactive form of communication that we fire off a response without even properly reading the message.  I get this, sometimes we don't have time, with everything else going on.  That bring me to the next rule:

Rule # 4.  You are under NO obligation to respond immediately.  If you don't have time to respond to it, then you probably shouldn't read it either.  Our primitive brain reacts to the dopamine surge when we see a notification, imploring us to check it immediately. While we're driving, walking in a crowd, in the middle of a workout.... you name it.  Not only is this dangerous, rude or annoying, there's no way that you'll remember to go back once prompt is gone.  We're all guilty of it and unless you have a deliberate daily practice of checking over your messages before bed then there is a chance of missing something important.

There will always be people who have unrealistic expectations of you. I suggest being especially conscious of your consistency in responding to these people.  Make them wait, defend your personal time with vigilance.  They will learn to adjust their expectations, or go insane, but that's not your problem.

Rule #5. Use emoticons.  Ugh, I hate to have to tell people to do this, but it has made a big difference in the way my messages have been received.  Due to the fact that I tend to be a more direct communicator, it can come off a little harsh at times when the reader doesn't have my face for reference.  Alternately, when you're looking for the appropriate smiley face or fruit it forces you to take a little more time, reducing impulsive reactions that lead to misunderstandings.

I am at the point now where I gleefully refuse to accept any implicate "tone" in messages.  Subtle word choices are a big indicator. I usually know when someone is being passive aggressive, but it's just easier to take it at face value and move on.  How many minute, hours, or days can be spent worrying about what is not being said?  If they don't have the courage or skill to properly convey their issue then it's time to move on. I spend enough time as a service provider reading between the lines, trying to find out what my clients want even when it's not said. I just can't spend the energy doing it in these minute interactions.

The little envelope that pops up in the top left corner of our screen is an ironic symbol, a reminder of the days gone when communication afforded no urgency. Please slow down and text responsibly.

Meghan Kinita: person of interest

If I've ever met one, she's it: Winner! Please enjoy

Before I met Meghan, I heard about her from my roommate Jennah, who gushed about her from Prep and from a mutual maker friend, Sara Clark. I'll tell you about those two gals another time, equally talented in their own rights.  The point is that Meg's reputation proceeded her.  She has intention about her, I like this.

Meghan Kinita is woman after my own heart.  She has an unapologetic air about her, which I think is admirable.  Megs often jokes about using pottery as her "excuse" to slip out of activities or socialize events, but I want to make pause at that to try to explain something. I think that people sometimes misread artists when they meet at a show or, in Megs case, come visit her at the salon. You have to realize that it takes a lot of time to produce a body of work, to challenge oneself, and to achieve some level of mastery.  One of the things I admire most about artists is how much time they often spend alone experimenting, researching and doing self-exploration.  My best advice to young artists: Your friends will still think you're "cool" if you take a holiday from socializing, I'm experimenting with it myself at the moment. Stop making excuses and start making art!

She pours me some tea after our initial chat at we sit down to do my first interview...

How did you get into pottery? I decided to take a class at the WAG 2 years ago in October, last month.  I decided to take some pottery. A friend of mine came in for a haircut and she’s like “I’m going to sign up for some pottery classes.”  I checked the registration, and there was still room.

How did you transition this from a hobby to a business? And what gave you the confidence to do so?  I think it was a leap of faith. After all of the classes were done there was an opportunity to do a members show…. Yeah you know, I have so many pieces I feel like I’m just going to submit 5 pieces and it was accepted and it was a little bit exciting to go to a gallery show, see my peers work, my work. 

 

People seemed to like it online, on IG.  SOo I started making more and more pieces and worked really hard all summer. (she works from her home) At the house I’ve got a wheel already,  and then it was just playing and experimenting and watching videos all the time, and just trying to develop a style.

I have to interject here. Meg’s mentor and I passed each other in the entry of the house as I arrived. Meg is radiating excitement about the new setting they’ve programmed the kiln with, and the test glazes she’s got going in there while we chat.  It’ll take a day and a half for her to find out if the new lustre glaze and gold she used will work.

…  And in the spring this year, really early on in the year, Chelsea (Owner/stylist @prephair) worked to get me to bring these to work.  I decided on a whim to open an Instagram account just for the pottery because people were saying, asking do you have an online store? *She was posting on her “other” Instagram accounts. *other, chuckle* Two Instagram feeds because I’m completely addicted to Instagram. It actually just started to take off and I very nervously decided to apply to Lucky girl pop up this spring and I was accepted. And within a few hours I almost sold out and I’m like “this is awesome!”

I was pumped, it was a massive confidence booster and like to the point where I almost wanted to cry out of happiness because I felt like I had been actually expressing myself and had been received and I was flattered that people wanted to have my little pieces in their house.

Why do it? A few reasons.  I think there is a market for the style and the size of pieces that I make. They are like treasures or like small decorative items, which I believe suits people’s lives these days.  I think it has a cultural appeal. I think it has a good gift giving aesthetic.  Many pieces are very affordable as treats or for yourself or for your best friend. A tiny bit of luxury to it.

Clay deets: No, I’m a complete jerk, I’m one of those new comers who did not take it professionally in art school for 4 years and don’t have an art degree however, I’m a student of life. I do a lot of art.  Anything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from my mentor Crystal.  Trial and error and on the internet.   …we talk a little bit about having a career while learning a new skill and the challenges/limitations in balancing them *sigh*

How do you pick the clay that you use? I tend to generally pick a very light clay, it’s a not porcelain, it’s a few stages down there. It’s very easy to stretch, it’s good for vases. Bud vases, Dishes those types of things.  It fires really light in the end so whatever type of glaze you put on it it’s going to be more true to the tone.  The transition of colour theory from hair to glazes seems natural enough to me, I can see the appeal

Opportunities: Lucky Girl was big.  The weekend after Lucky Girl was happening there was another huge pop up and almost everyone who showed up was like “will you have more and will you be at this show? (asking about future pop-ups) This summer was getting to be a pop-up at urban outfitters.  My friend Andrew who used to work there was in charge of helping acquire some artist at “Doers and Dreamers.” Its’ curated, juried. There is just a small amount of people who had been there.  It went really well and after it was almost like it created a buzz. 

Collabs:  I have a few collabs in the works.  Some pretty adorable up and coming artist.  I have had requests to do ceramic pet accessories in the New Year bhahaha!  Umm, so someone is suggesting that I make these little cactus pots so that people can grow cat grass. I make these cactus pots for air plants but people are suggesting (above) I don’t want to get too “kitchy” with it though.

Future ideas: Metallics and metallic finishes on my pieces. I think it also adds to some of the branding I want to do in the future.  I definitely want to incorporate fibers in the future, I’m not sure how.

Admiring:  tom_kemp_ (IG)  *gahhh* an artist that kills me. These lovely grand beautiful pieces and finishes them off with this insane brushstroke. And yah, I watch his videos all the time, they literally make me want to cry. I mean you have one shot and it’s over in 30 seconds.  I asks about glaze viscosity etc, I’m curious by nature.  I like to finish off some of my pieces but I don’t have the skill of Tom

tortus_copenhagen (IG) you watch him throw and it’s like magic, it’s like the clay is weightless. He’s an incredible artist to watch throw, his hands just … yah  

*We must share this weird obsession with artists hands.  Someone's hands can leave an impression in my memory, watching them do work that looks effortless and fluid. When they are fluent in their art. 

Meg again: “Will my hands ever look that dreamy, someone tell me yes.” 

On the personal side….

Big decisions, what’s your process: Umm, I think the biggest things is that it has to be a decision that I’m happy with. What is the risk factor? I’m not a huge risk taker at the end of the day.  I try to be fair, to myself, to my partner, to my lifestyle. 

Who do you want to honor and how: Yeah, I do have a project in mind with some of the pieces that I create especially the pieces that are popular.  For example people are really fiendish about any of the Alpacas I make, insanely popular items.  And of course that came from being in Peru 2 years ago. I mean yeah, who doesn’t want to send money back down at some point. I mean sponsor a llama, lol just joking.  I mean something along those lines, it’s like you invest back into the inspiration In the first place. To me that’s a very obvious one. 

What’s the last thing you quit and don't regret: *bhahah hearty laughter* repeats the question to herself with a huge smile: probably the last salon I worked at. Yeah, zero regrets. It was probably one of the best things I ever quit…. other than smoking, but yah. If I hadn’t quit and didn’t work for myself at this point in my life I’m not sure where I’d be. I wouldn’t’ be doing this, I wouldn’t have this.

Most recent big ticket purchase: Oh, it’s currently plugged in and running in the basement. Still needs a name but uh, yeah it’s crazy. Everyone’s been asking when my next trip is (Megs travels a lot, and her work speaks to that). Well I make it weekly into the basement because that IS a trip sitting in the basement. I wanna test pieces this winter, the list of things I want to cross off.  I’m trying out a lustre firing right now, my first one.  And I added gold to a bunch of pieces this morning and I love that style. But yeah so it’s like oh ok cool I’m going to see how this works and try it out.  

 

Meghan is a gracious host and has offered me delicious beverages both times I have had the pleasure to visit.  She surrounds herself with photos and fibers from her travels.  The walls are gallery-like, of course, curation seems to be a general theme in our conversation today and the weekend she just came off of at Third & Bird market (go ahead and check their IG out too).  She's got an obvious soft spot for the up and coming WPG makers.  I'd say you have a chance of meeting Meghan at one of the pop-ups, if you're a hair client, or if you're just damn lucky because this girl is SO busy!  Lucky me, she took the time to be my first Local talent interview feature.  She's focused on keeping up with the demand, and is eternally grateful for the support! Get at her stuff guys, She has one more show this year, check her out @luckygirlpopup December 17th  

Meghan Kinita: @megdoespottery @meghankinita is where you can find more Megs

Sorry to keep you waiting, complicated business...

image by Uri Portillo 

I’ve been talking to people all week about ideas, getting feedback, and creating social accountability.  So now I have to state my mission:  Living the most beautiful life possible while creating real connections with other humans, and taking care to not cause harm to others for my own gain.  Respect for life is a crucial part of my decision making process, to the point where I sometimes find it crippling.  Riddled with anxiety about making a choice that could causes another’s suffering.  On the one hand it can be great for the budget because I end up going without a lot of the time, but often it ends up making my life a little more complicated...

I’ve never been one to shy away from hard work though.  I want to empower people with information and inspiration to live a richer, fuller life starting at home.  The influence we make on and in the world with our daily choices as they compound through weeks, months, and years can add up.  I’m suggesting that {easier} isn’t better and [cheap] is neither easier OR better in most cases. 

Every single day we have opportunities to be creative with how we are investing ourselves in the world.  There are too many to bring attention to in a single post so that is just going to be an overlying theme in the blog. 

We can’t afford to maintain the current mentality of getting things cheaply made and sold knowing that they will not last.  Not caring if they last or not.  We don’t even respect the object in question as much as we would had the price tag been higher. Or if you had more of a personal connection to it ex. Buying a t-shirt at a local event vs. going ­­­­­­­ to (­insert box store of your choice) and getting one just because it was cheap. I feel terrible about insanely cheap clothing that is pumped out every day where the workers making them for us are being exploited. They are in this position because they had the misfortune of coming into existence in a corrupt country.  Easy enough for us to avoid feeling poorly about it though, we only see the end product.

Why is this still a problem?? We are a sophisticated race with so much knowledge and information at our fingertips!

How do we not know the first thing about looking after each other?

“Hmm seems like a lot of work.” I hear this a lot and it makes me so happy.  Yah! I work hard and I’m preaching the good word.  Hard work is soOo rewarding.  Just the other day my roommate made new covers for the cushions in the living room.  You should have seen the look on her face, she was beaming! Now isn’t that more fun than going out and buying new ones at the store.  She has such a connection with them now and probably feels better having things around her that she’s invested in.  There are studies about these things people, you’ll just have to trust me for now.  I can site facts in a different rant on another day. 

I encourage you to start more projects.  Yes, sometimes they linger around as an annoying reminder of failed attempts, but that’s ok! You can’t finish anything you don’t start so just get started on something!

 

 

“Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” 

-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Good Mourning America

A nation in mourning after yesterdays Presidental race election. Well, half a nation anyway.  Y'all are going to have to strap in and get ready for a wild ride on a toupe.  I have to honest though, a toupe WOULD actually look better than what he's got going on there.  I can't help but wonder how long he's been seeing his current stylist.  You think he's been more loyal to his hair dresser than his wives?  To be a fly on the wall during those services...

Knowing that this will be a time of intense stress and pressure in the states, I hope that we will use this opportunity to reflect.  As Canadians we feel comfort in knowing that we will never go to this extreme, we're just not that extreme of people.  However I don't think that means that we're clear of social responsibility.  Just because we've got a crazy cousin down south lighting his own hair on fire doesn't mean that we are entitled to pat ourselves on the back for living in a country with beautiful diverse geography, ample fresh sources of drinking water, and a "generally" tolerant population.  We owe more to ourselves and to those without a voice in other nations.  

In the midst of angry chatter in the media, businesses and streets I find myself a more annoyed at the people doing the whining than the current issue.  We can do better, talk is cheap.  

What enrages you?  Me personally, I got a lot or rage and you're about to find out about it next week.

Life changing

I recently read “The life changing magic of tidying up,” and… it’s starting to change my life!  I now have an underwear drawer that I worry makes me look like a serial killer with my gitch and socks folded up into little squares, standing vertically so I can see them all at a glance.  I got rid of the majority of my clothes and for once in my life my hamper doesn’t feel like my secret mountain of debt that I’m living under. 

I’ve always been a little cut-throat about purging, but in the last few years I’ve gotten a soft or sentimental.  I also bought a house so I felt justified hoarding for my hobbies.  This book by Marie Kondo has given me permission and inspiration to let go of some things that were no longer giving me joy. 

Now, I live with two other humans and believe me if I could throw out 2/3 of their possessions as well I would.  However, that’s not going to be good for our relationship and Marie touches on this topic in the book, noting her own errors with this in the past.  I think it would probably just perpetuate the squirrel piles around the house if they lived in fear of my catharsis cleaning. 

I feel more mental clarity now that I’ve started the process.  I’ve taken a few truckloads of things to the dump and thrift store. I just smile as I decline the discount coupons for the donations.  No thanks, I don’t need any more things! Except pants, the one pair I kept are so tattered that I can’t even pretend that it’s part of my edgy style anymore.  That is a topic for another day though.

Accountability, we all need it sometimes

So, as is obvious with my lack of consistency to this point I need some accountability structure and support system.  I have a lot of goals!..... which is part of the problem.

An ADHD mind is a magical place full of possibility and great ideas, subjectively speaking of course.  It also means that I have more energy than the average person, and have with I call "antinyourpants-itis."  I can't sit still. My friends know this about me and in general I forget that it is even abnormal to get up and leave the room to tend to various things while having company over.  Erratic jumps in conversation from topic to topic are the norm, and commonly viewed as entertaining though from time to time cause frustration to my peers when I am interrupting.  In general, I have wonderfully patience friends who allow for my sometimes inappropriate style of conversing.

I have tried numerous different solutions to my ADHD marks that I perceive to be in the way of personal and professional success. Smart phones have fixed my triple booking woes, color coded timed itineraries help my through the day, and I write with dry erase markers on my mirrors and microwave reminders that I think I'll need when I'm in each respective location.  Between the sticky notes, dry erase markers and lists I'm often just transferring the information to multiple places without taking the steps to complete them, or even breaking down the tasks to make them less overwhelming. 

I am looking outside of myself now to create an accountability system.

It has a been my habit to always share my plans with people publicly.  I do find this a useful accountability tool because, for one, just even verbalizing a plan makes it more real. Another reason it works when properly used is that I don't like the feeling when someone follows up with me about something later and all I've done is talk about it.  I try not to just spew ideas with no follow-through, successfully comes in varying degrees.

To find a group of like-minded and driven people to keep in regular communication with is another one of my active pursuits.  I have a girlfriend that I have started to meet with to goal set and check in weekly.  It's useful to have to answer to someone other than myself on hitting the target.  Both of us are at such an early stage that I am looking to include people that are farther along in their businesses.  In the research I've done over the years, I'm told that we have to have something to offer this or these people in order for it to be of benefit to them to participate.

This week, I create some value to approach my friend Sara Clark with in hopes that she be willing to participate on some level in or group.  Sara wanted to create some income while being on maternity leave, with the potential of replacing her job.  Instead of doing what I did and drowning myself in research and planning, Sara just did it!  She created products and opened up shop on Etsy.  Her work has evolved and so have her selling methods as she consistently participates in local pop-up shops and sells from her own website now.  Less talk, more action, that's my girl.

Much time has passed...

So much time has passes since I've done much about this webpage except feel the a very moderate amount guilt about not maintaining it.  The truth is, everything else in my life reeked of neglect or screamed at me to demand my attention.... and I got distracted with a few things.

I spent 6 month in the picturesque town of Perth, Ontario learning skills and techniques to make studio furniture.  It was an amazing environment that allowed me to focus on my studies without any of the usual distractions from my life back home.  I can back home looking for work and landed 3 jobs in the next month! I went from underemployed to over-employed... and after 3 weeks of doing them all I hesitantly let one go.  I couldn't feel more relieved!  

I am happy to be gainfully employed in company of hard working goofs.  We like to make sh*t and have fun.  

I am intent on working on my house and documenting it for you this year so I can appreciate the process a little more.  I am usually flying through things so quickly that I hardly stop to admire my hours spent.  There is also the problem that I have with half finished projects and this is a way of keeping accountable.  Sooo see you soon!

New Endeavours

Previously on Bow & Arrow blog: Shemerdine's market weekend.

The market went really well. I got to talk to a lot of people about the pieces I've done, heard a lot of stories about furniture that people have a connection with in their own homes and sold a few pieces.  The coolest part selling my pieces was that they all went to people I knew that came out to support me! Thanks guys, I hope you love them so much, because I'm sick of looking at them. Kidding... but it really it does feel like that sometimes immediately after completion, especially if the piece involved a lot of sanding (they ALL do).  That feeling changes immediately from loathing to love as soon as I put something in the drawer or place a vignette on top. Passion can be so fickle sometimes ;)

I now reside in Perth, Ontario (sorry not Australia) for the next twelve weeks to learn the skills of furniture making at Rosewood Studio, and if everything goes as planned I will be back in the new year to join for advanced training.  The town is small, picturesque, has a rich history and beautiful buildings.

This particular running of the course is unusual in that the majority of those enrolled are young people, lucky me! It's usually men, retirement age or pretty close to it. You can imagine my delight when I walked in and saw a woman my age. The same look of relief washed over her face when we made eye contact.  Already after the first day a couple of us already found our way to a local park to go on a short hike.

Ok, a brief description of the course and I'll be off.  It's an intimate studio with only eight benches. They are skill development workshops mostly focused on just that, as opposed to completing projects, although we will be doing some of those.

Shelmerdine

As usual long absences with much happening in between them it's hard for me to know where to start. I ended up getting that opportunity to run the pop-up shop, Yay! Unfortunately, I couldn't take it since it started so late in the summer and goes for 3 months.  However, like a good little future entrepeneur, I pursued multiple opportunities at once and another one came my way. This weekend I'm going to be a vendor at Shelmerdine's (formerly a garden center but they have expanded so much in their gift shop, home decor, and clothing that the dropped "garden center" from the name) local market weekend.  In the end, the other one would have been an amazing opportunity if I was ready to open a business soon, but as it turns out I am going out of province at the end of this month to pursue some training in furniture. 

I've been stressing, fretting, and chewing my nails over this whole thing nonetheless. It's going to be amazing and I have the good fortune of having talented friends and a supportive family to help me along the way. The main fear is just of the unknown. So, going forward being aware of this I can be comforted in that it means I'm entering new territory and a little discomfort means I'm growing, and that after I've got one market under my belt I'll be unstoppable. Well... maybe not, but I'll certainly have more confidence for the next round.

I surrender to the process, see you on the other side.

Taking the leap

I've been dreaming about it for years, talking about it for just as long and planning my entrance into the world of marketing my craft.  If I'm going to do it, I have to do it to the best of my ability and ask for help when I need it.

I'm applying for my first store space. Besides my head being filled with staging ideas and vignettes, I actually have to make a business plan! That's the less fun part, but so necessary. If you don't have a plan than you have no direction. I am definitely someone who needs something to aim at.  

My target is having a space at PUSH Winnipeg.  This is an amazing thing that is happening in winnipeg (Pop Up Shop Hop) that allows local artists, crafters, and creatives a temporary space to test the market and get their first shop experience.  

Time to use the left brain to kick start this business! 

Edmund's before shot

So it's been over 8 months since I got this piece on Kijijii. For a while there I was just accumulating furniture to the point that my home became an uncomfortably crowded place to live in.  Fortunately, I have wonderfully skilled and generous parents who built me a shed in my yard to store my "inventory" in.  I am grateful to have folks in my life that support me doing something I'm passionate about.

Prep

First, I removed the two appliques that you can see the halo from on either side.  They were ugly and made the piece look dated.

I washed this piece of furniture down with TSP.  I'm not sure if it wasn't diluted enough but had I known it would create such an inconsistent finish I would have stripped instead.

I chose Amy Howard Chalk paint because of it's low prep requirements. Let's be honest though, I still sanded it after the TSP ate away too much finish. 

Anyway, it's coming along beautifully, if not a little Beetle Juice influence. 

More pictures to come soon!

Creativity

Creativity can  be defined "as the process of producing something that is both original and worthwhile" or "characterized by originality and expressiveness and imaginative"

SO often people tell me "I'm not creative." To me, this is a learned limiting belief.  When we ask a five year old to draw us something, they usually get right to work.  Now, it doesn't always look like what we expect it to, and sometimes requires explaination, but they are never afraid to try.  Where along the way did we learn to be self-conscious in creative expression?  

My dream is for every person to have creative confidence.  As individuals we are unique.  No other human being shares the experiences that have molded us into the people that we are.  Maybe one of those experiences taught these people that they weren't original, imaginative or that their expression of creativity wasn't valuable. 

F*ck them! Try something that makes you nervous.  If you never get the fluttery feeling in your stomach before you take a risk you'll never get the surge of emotion when you succeed (or fail.) Besides, even if you do take a tumble, some of the greatest inventions were failed attempts at something else: post-it notes, potato chips, fireworks, and superglue!

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new"  -Albert Einstein 

You won't ever know the talent you have if you don't put in the time to make it a skill.