art

Honesty

June 25, 2014

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There’s something that’s been on my mind lately. It’s about honesty, as a person and as an artist. I feel like I am not able to be entirely honest, for fear of criticism, misunderstanding, fitting in a certain definition of blogger, you name it.

It can be a little bit frustrating, as you may well imagine. I am interested in experimenting with self image, it’s part of my creativity (I’ve mentioned this before). These days I am feeling more adventurous. Possibly because I got tired of playing “safe” all the time, maybe because I’m getting tired of doing the same old thing and as I’ve said before, I want/need change. I need to experiment more and be more creative. I don’t want to carry on feeling stale. I like modifying my image by exploring the way I dress, but I would like to go beyond that. Not as far as Orlan, who constantly changed her appearance through cosmetic surgery, but at least look into different facets of my psyche by creating different looks using makeup, accessories, you name it.

Here are some weird ass photos I did, using some items I had lying around the house. I will probably be making more of this type of thing in the future. I hope that at least some of my regular readers will like this. You can’t always please everyone so I thought I might as well just please myself! It’s a challenge, and it would be great to embark on it with all you guys!

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Gems – (similar) Party Eyes, Lipstick from the Kate Moss collection for Rimmel, Black Smokey eye crayon from the Body Shop, Blusher from H&M

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8 Comments

  • Reply KizzyDoll June 25, 2014 at 08:03

    Do it doll, we talked on this and it’s a must!! Am gathering up my ideas too…getting back to doing the more creative stuff I used to before so many outfit posts. We are creative types and I believe that when we stop being creative in the way that is in us to be creative, we begin to drown so to speak. So its time to let it out and do as you wish to do. No worries to anyone else, this is your space and the ones that will appreciate it will appreciate it!! And maybe those who don’t get it, will maybe have the decency to keep it shut or at least be constructive. I love these a lot…fantastic!! xx

  • Reply Jennie June 25, 2014 at 10:14

    I find the blogosphere a rather bewildering place sometimes. On occasion I will surf around and visit blogs that I wouldn’t normally frequent, the really “successful” ones with bloggers that look like super models, always perfectly turned out, in a fabulous location, expensive clothes, bouncy hair, flawless make-up and boyfriend’s that take glossy fashion rag-worthy images. What strikes me the most is that although many of these blogs have been going for years they don’t seem to change much from one year to the next. I guess that once you hit upon a successful formula you wouldn’t want to upset the apple cart by shaking things up and risk alienating your readership, make a dent in those hard-earned stats. For me these blogs are like a well-thumbed issue of Vogue lying around in a dentist waiting room, I flick through them once in a blue moon but they don’t inspire me enough to go out and bag a subscription.
    I recently attended a business gateway workshop about social media and it was made clear to me what the cookie-cutter version of a business blog should look like. Sure I could scrap my blog, start again and build it up, religiously following all the guidelines in order to yield more engagement but it is not me. It feels too contrived and blogging wise I feel that I’m in a happy place now. I blog about what I love when I feel like it, not churning out endless OOTD posts because I feel I should.
    I think it is awesome that you are starting to explore different creative concepts and sharing them on the blog. The first thing that sprung to mind when I looked at the pics was that this would make for an interesting blogger link-up party thingamajig, I’ve never taken part in one before but I would happily contribute with a creative and honest selfie if I get an invite 😉
    All the best with settling in the big smoke and if you are looking for a place to peddle your artwork (I’m rocking your fabulous tote bag to death BTW) give Leslie at the Dandy Lion Market a bell. It is a fab place to meet other creatives.
    Loads of love,
    Jennie

  • Reply Natalia June 25, 2014 at 21:19

    I agree with Kizzydoll. I am a new reader of your blog, so I don’t really have any expectations (and I try not to have them anyway – the only thing bothers me is commercialism, but even that can be done sincerely :)… I try to do something like this with adding my creative writing and photography as another part of my blog (I actually started a second blog which is connected to the personal style blog, so there is no pressure for any of old readers to follow what I post there). The step you are taking is very brave and scary, I believe, but it is also very liberating. To not do it can sufficate our artistic souls. And yes, not everyone will understand or appreciate, but we don’t do it for “them” – we have to do it for ourselves. So I applaud your new step, go for it!

  • Reply Connie* June 26, 2014 at 01:00

    It can be hard to be one’s own true self. Expectations of family, friends and society can hold us back. But true authenticity is so rare and you have it. I fell in love with your point of view a while ago and I will follow you down any path. I think you are awesome, my little Sara. These photos are stunning. XXXXXOOOOO

  • Reply Val S June 26, 2014 at 15:35

    I think you should definitely explore your ideas and passions. Unless you specifically want your blog to be a commercial venture. Or maybe you could have two blogs and explore both sides.

    These photos are inventive and arresting, and some people won’t bother to look at them. But so what? I started doing more varied things on my blog, too, and I don’t always keep up with the link-ups. I sometimes think Oh, I only got 9 comments. But they’re comments from people that are actually interested, not just going along with the norm. I think having a blog is like having an artist’s journal – it’s a place to experiment with images and write down your thoughts. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s really for you anyway.

  • Reply Jan Graham-McMillen June 26, 2014 at 22:33

    Here’s a question and issue that concerns just about all artists, in all eras, in all styles, and of every persuasion or genre or area of expertise. How much of our real, deepest selves to show.
    Do you look much at Cindy Sherman’s work? I’m so familiar with her image, but I don’t know if I’d recognize her on the street. If you haven’t seen her work, I think you’d find it interesting.
    One of the things I’ve always valued about painting the human figure ( don’t know if you’ve seen my work .. I don’t put it on the blog except for rare occasions. I’ve always liked being able to hide behind my canvases, where actors and performance artists stand in front, embodying their work. Takes some considerable bravery to do that. Keep working on it. Take it seriously, even if you make yourself laugh with it sometimes, but don’t let anyone discount what you do.
    Where I failed was to value the process enough. It really is all about the process and the end product is often just the icing.
    Keep working!
    And, before I forget; your photographs here really do work. They are intriguing and a little dangerous and are full of opportunities for the viewer to speculate. Content!

  • Reply Melanie June 27, 2014 at 07:15

    I love that you are doing this! Yeah, bust it all out. Go for it. Explore, explore, explore. This is exciting and I’m glad you will be sharing your process with us. I think we need to be stretched and poked and I’m looking forward to seeing how your work influences my own. I don’t post many of the explorations I do in terms of image, but VOGOFF is a vehicle that I hope is an outlet. Would you consider sending some of this kind of work in for the next issue… Even if you don’t, I’m glad I can see it here sometimes.

  • Reply PinkCheetahVintage July 5, 2014 at 15:27

    I likeeeee it.

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