Ever wonder if your sense of style is off?

[SeattleStamper]

I have to see if anyone else feels this. Often I'll post something to the gallery that I think is ok or I don't like much but shows a technique I want to share along with a card I love. Nearly everytime the card I don't like receives rave reviews while the one I love sits "ignored". It often makes me wonder if I'm choosing the wrong projects to demo sometimes.

The best thing about this site is the diversity in samples and styles and I'm always learning new things. Sometimes I just feel like my taste is off, does that make sense? I talked to my husband about it and he kindly reminded me that I'm not like most other stampers in the fact I'm so far from girly girl I resisted ribon for a while.

Just wondering if any of you get suprised about what gets attention in your gallery or from people you give your stamped items to.

[Ally]

I completely agree with you. The card that I think is OK, nothing special, in fact I have second thoughts gets so many comments and the one I love remains unloved and lonely, lol!
I think sometimes it's the quality of the photo I take, or some colors just don't translate well on my camera!

[Mona Lisa]

Oh this is a GREAT question! I am going to answer...just need a few minutes!

[Frenchy]

Absolutely - I've thought that so many times. It's so funny the ones that get the attention sometimes.

[scrapshappen]

If you love it, should it matter what other people think? I know I uploaded something I thought was a "wow" a few weeks ago and hardly got any response either. But I still love it. However, I do tend to let my insecurities get the best of me sometimes and then I start questioning my taste and talent and that is usually when I end up in a creative slump.

[Mom2Men]

Well, I just looked through your gallery and I think all your stuff is fabulous. Just keep posting.

[SeattleStamper]

I agree if you love it you should still love it no matter what. I just continually find myself suprised with the one persons trash is anothers treasure concept. I see it over and over when I give swaps as gifts to my customers. They are usually ones I feel like I can let go and they will ooh and aah over ones I couldn't stand. lol

[SeattleStamper]

Ah you are too kind, (blush)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mom2Men

Well, I just looked through your gallery and I think all your stuff is fabulous. Just keep posting.

[Mahloumel]

I've been admiring your cards for a few days now, tho I didn't realise it at the time as I was being a bad browser and just scanning the latest uploads and not commenting! Your gallery convinced me I need Big Pieces, btw!

I think one part of the issue is that some products just don't photograph well, for example shimmery paper, sparkly ep, etc.

[Mona Lisa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleStamper

Ever wonder if your sense of style is off

YOUR sense of style is never off! That is the wonderful thing about art! If you love something and feel pride in it's outcome, never let what anyone else thinks of it dampen your joy. Trends ebb and flow. So if a card you think is great is getting no love in the gallery, it might just mean that it's not the focus right now. That doesn't make it any less great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleStamper

Nearly everytime the card I don't like receives rave reviews while the one I love sits "ignored".

This is a universal issue for all artists! I have had many chats with some of the most talented artists here on SCS about this very thing. We all scratch our heads sometimes.

There are a few practical issues that affect upload viewings:
-time of day
-time of year
-quality of photography
-if it is a challenge card
-title
-if it is in a member gallery and uses an image that is not SU!
-many more I am sure!

All of that said, I want to encourage you to keep creating what you love and uploading it. Even if the SCS community as a whole doesn't pay it much attention, there are some people here who specifically look for those designs off the beaten path.

This is one of my favorite quotes and something I encourage you to consider:

"Take the road less travelled and make a path."

[SeattleStamper]

Thank you for looking! I'm seriously not fishing for comments here. I am always just so suprised by how different my opinion on something is from what seems to be the majority.
You are right on with the hard to photo items. I've bought the shimmer paper but not used it because I feel like I haven't seen a sample when in reality I've probably seen hundreds!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahloumel

I've been admiring your cards for a few days now, tho I didn't realise it at the time as I was being a bad browser and just scanning the latest uploads and not commenting! Your gallery convinced me I need Big Pieces, btw!

I think one part of the issue is that some products just don't photograph well, for example shimmery paper, sparkly ep, etc.

[koopdedoo]

Sarah - your gallery is full of beautiful things!!

I rarely post to my gallery because...oh, just because. When I do post, it is because I am really excited about something I have created, and I suppose I am looking for affirmation. (and the kids are just saying, "ok, Mommy, another card...") So, if one of my uploads gets pushed aside, so to speak, I feel bad. "People don't like it", when in actuality, Lisa listed a whole bunch of reasons that it may have happened.

Doesn't make me love my creations any less...but, I agree with you, it does make you doubt yourself and your own talent.

Just keep creatin'!!

Kathy

[SeattleStamper]

Wow Lisa, thanks for listing all of those things that may play into it. I agree with them all.

It's good to know that artists the likes of you ponder this same question!

[Annek]

Sarah - I just peeked at your gallery - your work is great!!!

I do know what you mean & how you feel. Some of my work or even some techniques that I don't 'love' can often be the items that my friends or family gush over.

I see you're in Seattle - I will be out that way late next week, can't wait to visit some of the LSS's (A Muse, Rubber Soul, & Impress)!! Any other recommendations??

Anne

[santakitty]

Sarah - I just took a quick peek at your gallery & didn't find anything I didn't like. Some are more simple than others but I saw a sort of pattern running thru your description....you often challenged yourself!! which is great!!! so, you have now challenged me! Almost always when I start to make a card I'll sort thru my piles of stuff trying to decide what to use & what to do - can't decide - think I need to buy that one more thing - result...nothing gets done. Next time I'm going to pull out a main image, something for background, 2-4 colors (inc. scraps) & JUST DO IT!
Thanks for the inspiration,
Kitty

[SeattleStamper]

Kitty, you're right! I do challenge myself on most things. I find if I have no structure I'm just all over the place and can't decide what to make. The daily challenges keep me stampin. I love to restict myself even further and blindly pick a stamp set and limit to scraps (still doesn't seem to make that pile smaller). I seem to come up with some of my best stuff when I limit things like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by santakitty

Sarah - I just took a quick peek at your gallery & didn't find anything I didn't like. Some are more simple than others but I saw a sort of pattern running thru your description....you often challenged yourself!! which is great!!! so, you have now challenged me! Almost always when I start to make a card I'll sort thru my piles of stuff trying to decide what to use & what to do - can't decide - think I need to buy that one more thing - result...nothing gets done. Next time I'm going to pull out a main image, something for background, 2-4 colors (inc. scraps) & JUST DO IT!
Thanks for the inspiration,
Kitty

[dvinson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mom2Men

Well, I just looked through your gallery and I think all your stuff is fabulous. Just keep posting.

Ditto!!! Your gallery is awesome! Keep em' coming!!

[charming]

I know what you mean!
I sometimes make a card specifically to use up something
(I hate or am sick of or overbought )
or makeover a mass mistake from a swap I've nearly completed
(before I notice my set is no longer current or whatever.)
by the time I am finished, the love affair is *so*over* and I 'm shocked that anyone likes it !

I have to remind myself that the 'giftee' will not care at all if the set has last year's SAB set in it or not!
but as I hand it over, I wonder, will they like it?
am I being paranoid or modest or apologetic (LOL)
when I say" aw shucks, it twernt nuthin..."

another time, I slaved over 40 thank-you cards that made "word by word" into piano keys.
for a friend who wanted to thank her friends for chipping in and buying her a piano...
(each 'key' on the card was a word symbolizing the gift of the pianokey...friendship, glee....)

she said oh
.
um'
...
I thought it would go the other way...

(they were 'that way'...she was looking at them wrong!)

and have some flowers
.
. or glitter...

I was quietly freaking out!

no accounting for taste I guess!

[BillieBee]

I'm sad to say, but I haven't posted to the gallery for so looooong. I think my insecurities have gotten the best of me, as well --- especially since I can't quite "do" what the really talented artists put out there consistently. If only . . .

[lgulotta]

Go check out the earliest uploads in the "really talented artists" galleries and you will usually find (especially of those who have been at SCS the longest) that they have significantly grown and improved their stamping and style. That is always encouraging to me! We all start somewhere, and we all usually grow and improve over time if we keep at it .

[Michellelovesscrap]

Slight hijack:
Go to Billie Bees blog! She's only been doing it a couple of weeks and it is AWESOME! Lots of great samples and funny stories!

[Faereygirl]

Soooooo many times! I post cards that I don't like and it gets the most comments. Granted....I am just so happy that people look!

[SherryLC05]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillieBee

I'm sad to say, but I haven't posted to the gallery for so looooong. I think my insecurities have gotten the best of me, as well --- especially since I can't quite "do" what the really talented artists put out there consistently. If only . . .

I just peeked at your gallery and I think it is great. Definitely post more creations. You shouldn't let what other people do reflect on you. You know- I don't always look so closely at the so-called "talented" artists because I don't thinkthat I could do what they do- I like to see art work that is closer to my skill level because I want to see something that I think I could actually make. You don't know who you could be inspring by posting your cards. What you think isn't good enough could be a masterpiece to someone else.

And another thing to think about is not just how many comments you get but how many "views" your card gets. Not everyone posts comments (they may not have time or they may think no one cares what they think....could be any reason) but the fact that your card caught someone's eye enough for them to take a closer look should flatter you as well. There are tons of gallery uploads each day- but someone saw your card and thought, "hmmm....let me get a better look at that card!"

[willwork4stamps]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleStamper

I just continually find myself suprised with the one persons trash is anothers treasure concept.

Try going to a craft show if you want to see this in action! There was one show I went to where people actually paid money for a roll of toilet paper, wrapped in ribbon and hung from a coat hanger! This is still a running joke with DH and me. To each his own (or her own) I suppose!

[SeattleStamper]

You are quite right Karen, Craft fairs are a great example of this. Same with stamp sets that stay current. I've thought Nice & Easy Notes will retire every year for the last 4 and I've been wrong everytime. This was the first set my Mom ordered and she uses all the time. She loves and I hate it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willwork4stamps

Try going to a craft show if you want to see this in action! There was one show I went to where people actually paid money for a roll of toilet paper, wrapped in ribbon and hung from a coat hanger! This is still a running joke with DH and me. To each his own (or her own) I suppose!

[JulieHRR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleStamper

I have to see if anyone else feels this. . . .

Sure!

Part of the problem, too, may lie in how much we are able to separate ourselves emotionally from our artwork, not always easy. Over time, I've developed a *very* thick skin.

But, like Mona Lisa said, there are soooooo many factors involved that frequently have absolutely nothing to do with the piece itself.

Art is in and of itself, subjective: either what you see pleases your eye, or it doesn't.

But, that's OK! If YOUR eye is pleased, it's the only eye that matters.

[star]

OH YES!!! I have felt this way MANY times!! I'm fairly new to stamping and still trying to find what works for me. Funny thing...lately, I've been looking at the cards/artists that have so many comments and "comparing" my cards to theirs (wrong, I know!). I think that sometimes, the "wow" cards follow a certain "style" and I'm slowly coming to realize that while these cards are great, they are not MY style. I am finding that I am more drawn to the very simple cards with maybe a small "pop". My next step is to try and grow in MY style and realize, that if I truely love what I do, that will sell to my (small) customer base and if not...I'm not a failure, I just see art in a different form than they do. (K~now who is going to remind me of this daily??!! haha!!)

[kittie747]

I find myself going down a creative path of my own that makes me very happy. When I try to pull off something that just isn't my thing I always find myself feeling stressed and not having fun. This is not to say we shouldn't try new things that make us think or that are difficult. I have learned so many new techniques by taking part in challenges and find I am good at lots of them. Not so good at others. It is just that we need to march to the beat of our own drum and do what makes us happy. I am always over joyed to see one of my cards receive lots of comments. I would be lying if I said differently. But I know that my thing doesn't always fit the norm of layout, design or technique. If it doesn't get lots of notice, I do not allow myself to lose the joy that I felt in creating it.

[deeth1]

I agree. Some of the cards that I think are my best work get very few comments and others that I think are only ok get a bunch.

For example, I recently posted a Victorian themed card made with a sticker and a simple saying stamped on top and it got more comments than any other stamped card in my gallery. When I made it, I thought it was just ok and almost didn't post it.

[APandi]

Your gallery is great. I don't add to my gallery too often but if I ever got 42 comments I would pass out, hit my head and not be able to stamp for awhile. So, actually, I guess it is in my best interest not to get too many comments!

Andi

[SeattleStamper]

I agree with what everyone is saying on taking joy in your stamping and being happy with what you do because it makes you happy. When it comes down to it, that is whats important.


I guess this may have been the wrong forum for this because of where my intentions lie. I think these are feelings all stampers get from time to time. As a demo I stress about what to pick for a workshop because if I wow them, I'll get more booking, thus enabling me more with stamping

I'm just stumped sometimes when I post that no so great card IMO and it gets rave reviews. I can't tell you how many times I've changed what I demo last second because of response on here. This is my testing grounds for what I demo and if you gals like it I give it a whirl with the other stampers. In a way I let all of you set the trend for what I demo.

I'm starting to think I'd save myself a whole lot of trouble if I just don't consider it. Just share and then check response after I demo something then I can't match the cust. response to what I get here and see how close it is to my gut....OOOH Lightbulb moment!

[stampinsweeney]

Given the number of comments in your gallery, I would say that you are spot on when it comes to style. I only wish that I could have the many comments.

I know what you mean though. Art is not about popularity...personal expression is much more important when it comes to creation. You're doing great!

[Marthar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleStamper

I have to see if anyone else feels this. Often I'll post something to the gallery that I think is ok or I don't like much but shows a technique I want to share along with a card I love. Nearly everytime the card I don't like receives rave reviews while the one I love sits "ignored". It often makes me wonder if I'm choosing the wrong projects to demo sometimes.

The best thing about this site is the diversity in samples and styles and I'm always learning new things. Sometimes I just feel like my taste is off, does that make sense? I talked to my husband about it and he kindly reminded me that I'm not like most other stampers in the fact I'm so far from girly girl I resisted ribon for a while.

Just wondering if any of you get suprised about what gets attention in your gallery or from people you give your stamped items to.

Oh, yeah! You hit that nail right on the head!

[kjbmusic]

I was wonder this same thing. I think sometimes it may have to do with how many uploads you put in at once. I joined the comment thread (GREAT FUN BTW). I noticed that the cards at the top of my gallery are getting more comments. I had uploaded about 12 cards one day though, so if you scroll down there are some with no comments. I think it is just where they are in the gallery. (at least I hope).

[charming]

I remember seeing a thread a ways back, that brought up a comment/idea about having a categoery that invites comments...
like" feedback wanted...check here..."
but there was concern that it would be inviting too much "honesty" and that maybe it would be rough to deal with it sometimes.

but just how many times can you type "nice card,TFS?"
I'm afraid to get too specific and offend too!
(although I treasure each and every comment in my gallery!)

on the other hand," if you can't say something nice, don't say anything" can also be disheartening to a sensitive newbie who is waiting with bated breath for some encouragement...

hey!
maybe that is what the category could be..."encouragement welcome..."
after all, one person's harmless "helpful pointer" is another person's "hurtful criticism".

and if I were unsure about my card's color combo, use of embellishments, etc...
I would just say so in my upload...and just try to be ready for the comments I'd get!

Alas!
I'm a coward, I've never asked for anything specific!
Maybe if I played some VSN games or challenges I could get objective specific feedback...that's what they're there for!

just some loose thoughts...
anyone else have ideas on the subject?

[BillieBee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michellelovesscrap

Slight hijack:
Go to Billie Bees blog! She's only been doing it a couple of weeks and it is AWESOME! Lots of great samples and funny stories!

Thank you Michelle! You are TOOOOOO sweet! Oh no. The pressure is on!

Billie

[BillieBee]

Hey Michelle and JulieHRR . . .

I hope you don't mind, but I put a link on my blog that leads to the two of you. Please let me know if this is okay. . .

I enjoy looking at both your sites so much and check them daily.

[falconstamper]

Funny--I read the title and thought it meant sense of CLOTHING style. since I'm about 15 years behind in that style, why should I be any different in any other area? You have a gallery. You put yourself out there and share. I have been too disorganized to share.

[MichelleGoodrich]

Since my gallery is pretty new, I haven't experienced this yet. Still, the fact that we all have different 'eyes' for cards is part of what I love about SCS. I get so many ideas that I'd never think of myself!