Friday 26 September 2008

Merry go Round


Jump on our merry go round and join a group of artists/crafts-women as they link hands around the world and tell you a little about their lives in art and craft.

Today is the first time we have this feature in our blogs. As a group of 8 women from all over the world, we have got together in what would constitute an example of peaceful idea exchange and diplomacy, and agreed to come to our blogs once a month and share a bit more about ourselves.
We choose a question and all of us have to answer it in our blogs. It will be very interesting to read what each of us has to say, taking in account how much our lives and crafts differ.

This months question:

What was your journey to your art/craft?

My journey has been long. I started to show interest in arts in general when I was a little girl. So my parents signed me up to every workshop there was in town: drawing, ceramics, puppet making, music...
As I grew older, in my teen years, I basically stuck to ceramics. I dont know how much I learnt or did in those years but then that group of people I used to see once a week at the class, was my second group of friends, another type of friends away from my school friends, and that felt special.
When I left town and moved 1000km away to go to University, arts seemed to dissapear from my life for a while. First couple of years of uni I spent, I think, every waking hour with my nose glued to a book... or running to a class or a study group. I think the urgency of the examns and this new life meant that there was no time for anything else... and I ignored my "calling". Deep down inside I think I would have loved to join the Fine Arts School and study something there, but in a family of laywers, Ingeneers and doctors; arts are a hobby, not a job ... so in my head it didnt really fit the chance of studying some form of fine arts to develope it into a job later.
After a couple of years I started to draw again, took a couple of workshops on photography (right before digital era, so all those tricks for the speed and shutter went unused once I got a digital reflex).
In the year 2000 I thook 3 months off and came to Europe on vacations (Im Argentinean, south America). Whilst in Firenze, Italy (talking about art, uh!?) I met this dutch man who a couple of months later, was ringing on my bell in Argentina, surprising me and asking me to marry him. So I packed up and moved to The Netherlands.
For the first 3 years here, arts were reserved just for my free time... a museum here and there, sketching at home, playing "Pollock" in the garden with big canvases... but not much more exploration.
After the birth of my son 2 years ago, and my decission to stay home for a few years with him, I joined an Atelier to further my "education" in ceramics. Further or really begin it! I also joined a 6hour workshop on hand felting... and I was hoocked!
Ceramics and wool have been a constant in my life. And as I immerse myself more and more into the craft world, and pay more attention to what I always really would have liked to do with my life, be an artist; I learn new tricks, discover new mediums of expression... and ways of expressing it.
And the fun is just beginning. So, the journey took 32 years... since I was born. I now know that this is what I like, what makes me happy and what I want to do with the rest of my life. And Im just starting...


Please, do visit the blogs of the other women who are posting today about this very same thing in their blogs. They are:

http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com
http://fancypicnic.blogspot.com
http://lilypangart.blogspot.com
http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/
http://easterya.blogspot.com
http://halfanacreblog.blogspot.com
http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com
http://blog.glamasaurus.com

12 comments:

meherio68 said...

No hablo Castellano... but I went to Buenos Aires a few years ago and what a fantastic city!
It's so inspiring reading everyone's story, isn't it?
I can't believe how much we all have in common...

Lily Pang said...

Being an artist seldom is a choice for us. It is a hard journey. It's wonderful that you are able to it. Starting at 32 is not late at all. I am looking forward to seeing how your art evolved and developed.

Mariana said...

hey Meherio! Im glad you liked it. What were you doing there? tourist?
Thatnks for stopping by, I will also soon!

Hey Lily... thanks, your words are encouraging!

Easterya said...

Lovely story, thanks for sharing! I agree with Lily, and I'd even say it's never too late to start...

The Bunny Maker said...

I feel the same as you - as thought the journey started a long time ago - its just that I didn't realise where I was heading until I arrived not so long ago!

'fancypicnic' said...

Funny how we've all moved through our lives, taking our deep interest with us. Makes us who we are.
Ahh! The love of a good dutchman! I love a good love story xx

Sara Millis said...

It's amazing how we start in one place in our lives and end in quite another... but all the while there is one strong passion that sees us through!
Sx

Yvette said...

What a super initiative, you describe your story very good, glad you fell in love with a dutch man, living here now? your journey could be mine. During my study Arabics my art went to the backround but it fought its way back....later on I'll visit your links..

Cary said...

wonderful story! my journey in art began around the same time... it's so inspiring to find others doing the same:)

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

I have enjoyed reading about your life with art and craft.
Thank you for sharing.

Mariana said...

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Hilde C. said...

It's been very interesting to read your story. Thank you for sharing :-)