I Should Be Better at This

Okay, I'm throwing a minor (although semi-long winded) pity fuss. *grin* Statistically, I should be much better at scrapping than I currently am. It isn't coming naturally, and the LO's I've come up with so far feel awkward and forced. Granted, I'm newish (5 months), but still....

I have a BA in English with Writing and Fine Art. I won art scholarships to college. I went to a special creative arts high school, portfolio necessary for admission. When I was a senior in high school, I had artwork hang in the museum in Philadephia. Now I have a career as a 3D animator/artist in the marketing department of a major manufacturer. My renderings have been in company brochures, on our company web site, in our proprietary specification software. I've done CD covers, won awards, had my renderings featured in magazines.

And darn it, I find scrapping challenging! I'm suddenly awkward, graceless, forced. And not very creative. I love all of the papers and embellishments, I love looking at everyone's gorgeous layouts, and yet I can't seem to form my own context. Hmmm...

I think I am going to go on a major scraplift. Immerse myself in known styles until scrapping as a whole feels as familiar as painting or using 3D Studio MAX. Maybe once I can grasp the whole, I can start creating pieces specific to my photos. Hope it works!

Thanks for letting me rant. Just out of curiosity, anyone else with an artistic background have this type of trouble?

I have NO artistic background so it all feels difficult for me! Have you tried digital scrapping? It's not for everyone, but with your background maybe that would be something fun for you to try as well? Good luck!

Ok, I just went and scanned your gallery and you are GOOD!

Well, I didn't go through your gallery yet but I'm betting you're being way too hard on yourself. Here's my tidbits of advice:

1. This is supposed to be fun, so don't stress about it. Maybe it's not the ideal hobby for you since it's so close to what you do already. Not saying you should quit, but if you're not enjoying it, what's the point?

2. Maybe the fact that you're struggling is hard for you b/c you've never struggled with stuff before. I know when I came to college and had a science class that didn't come naturally I cried. Everything up to that point had come so easily. When you're good at a lot of stuff (which you obviously are) it can be hard to adjust when something doesn't come easily.

3. I think the best thing to remember when you're stuck in a slump is *why* you're doing it. It's not to win an art contest or have your work on display in a museum, it's to preserve memories. Of course being published is a goal a lot of scrappers have, but IMO that's not the most important thing. Enjoy the process and the creation, even if it's less than perfect in your eyes.

4. I think scraplifting is a great way to get your creative juices flowing in a new direction. There are tons of great ideas in the galleries here and the reason they're there is for us to use! Give yourself permission to use other people's ideas, at least for awhile. Before you know it, the ideas will start flowing At lesat that's my experience.

Good luck! Hope this doesn't come across critical or preachy, not my intention at all. These are just some things that came to mind as I read your post.

I don't come from an art background, necessarily, but I rubber stamped and did calligraphy and illumination before taking on scrapbooking. From the beginning, I thought, "This is sooo hard!" And I did just what you plan to do--I scraplifted, tried lots of different styles, products, techniques, etc. It worked! After two and a half years (I'm a slow learner, LOL!), I still scraplift some layouts, but my finished pages look like "me," not the model. I have loosened up a lot and am having loads of fun with my own look, which is pretty simple and doesn't use a lot of those techniques or products I spent so lavishly on! But I wouldn't change the fact that I tried all that stuff--it was all part of the learning process for me.

I still feel like I'm learning, but it's so much more fun. Right now, I'm challenging myself to incorporate more of my huge stamp collection into my scrapbooks. Next challenge--posting lo's on this site! I still feel intimidated by all the talent here and need to just "get over it!" After all, there is no "right way" to scrap, and what's great is, no matter what your pages look like, your great grandkids are going to LOVE them!


Good luck and press on!

You are way too good to be criticizing yourself. Seriously! I have been doing this twice as long as you and I only wish I had half the talent.

I just love scrapping. It helps me unwind, relax, play ... I LOVE IT ALL!

Anywho hang in there (if you enjoy it) because GIRL YOU ROCK!!!

I just glanced through your gallery and I must say... Force on!
Your LOs are great! You have your own style. There is an article in CK June that you should read about not being perfect... it may help put your scrapping in perspective for you.

Also, I think you should try digital scrapping as suggested above! It may be just the thing that you are looking for... Check out some of the digital LOs in the gallery. I esp. love Lizzie's digital work. I have admired it since shortly after joining this site last summer! Here is a link to her gallery:

LIZZIE 19

If only I wasn't a Digital Dork! {sigh}

OMG! Your stuff is amazing. I could only hope that my LOs look that good. I've been scrapbooking for almost a year now, and mine are not nearly that good. Perhaps since sbing is so close to what you do for a living, you're being as critical of your LOs as you would be of your work, KWIM?

hun you are being waaaaay to hard on yourself. Your gallery is awesome. This "hobby" takes time to develop your style and panache. But you are on a heck of a start alot better than me. You have tha background you just need to figure away of putting it to paper. Good Luck!!! I will be watching, but do not give up

You stuff is awesome!! OMG you should see my stuff at 5 months into.. BAD!! Just check the beginning of my gallery and that was 1.5 years into scrapping! LOL
I think your style is unique and your lo's are really good!! Don't give up!!

I know how you feel....

It's hard not to look at all the awesome layouts here and not compare them to yours. I feel very incompetent sometimes when I see other people's work. (I'm about two months into scrapping).

But I try to remember that:

1. I'm preserving memories. That's what matters most to me.

2. I do enjoy it. It's only when I look at other people's work that I get down on myself, but when I'm in the process of making a layout I do enjoy it.

So if you really aren't enjoying it, I'd say it may be time to move on, but otherwise keep at it, you'll improve!

BTW, I looked at your gallery and as others have said, you are really GOOD!!

Yes, you are too hard on yourself. Relax and quit comparing yourself to those in the gallery you really admire. Scrapbooking is for fun and for memories--and you're doing great on the memories part. Scraplifting could be a good way for you to feel better; then with confidence and experience, start developing your own style, just as you have in writing and art. And if that still doesn't work, maybe scrapping isn't for you. I know a career in art is definately not for me! But, as the others have said, you have some great lo's.

Karen, your photos are great in you layouts! And your los are really, really good! Don't short change yourself.

Maybe because you are in commercial art right now your thinking is more inclined to the message (in this case the photos), which is fine. It might be difficult for you to change pace when you're scrapping.

I've been scrapbooking for almost a year now. It takes time and lots of shopping, and looking at others' los to get a feel for the whole craft. I don't have an artistic background, but this is something I think anyone can do, and that's what makes it such a universal pastime.

I get particular joy out of just getting out my papers and putting together color and patterns that look beautiful together, and go from there. You would be surprised what you can come up with if you just set your photos on a table and gather together papers and ribbon and embellishments. I always start with the best cardstock to mat the photos and go from there. Not that I should be giving advice here, but I always feel so great when I'm scrapping, and I want you to be excited too, because it shouldn't be a chore. Joy!

Jill

Your LO's are great and I feel where you are coming from. I come from an art background and extremely artistic family...all things artistic have always come easily to me, but I understand about this being more difficult. I am fairly new to "real" scrapbooking and also have a hard time but I enjoy it. You should't worry and just have fun,because when you stop worrying the process will come naturally! Good Luck!

Kristina

I think that your los are great!!! Really good for having only been doing it for 5mths! Looks like everyone else has the same opinions about them, and I bet as more time goes on you will find ways to use different things and make them even better! I for one, think they are great now and you have nothing to worry about!

Ok...I checked out your gallery.......and YOUR COMPLAINING WHY??? you haven't gotten an award YET...but you are GOOD....so just KEEP ON SCRAPPING....and eventually it will feel like second nature....remember when you first began to learn those other things that felt foreign at first?? Now you don't think twice about doing it...well my dear....practice makes perfect....

*sniffle* You guys are awesome. Thanks for all of the encouragement. (And I hope everyone realizes I'm not going fishing for compliments....I'm honestly feeling frustration, and I find the frustration confusing!)

But I'm not ready to give up on it yet! I love looking at scrapbooks (and scrapbook stores with all their goodies). Several of you indicated that it takes time to find your flow, artistic background or not. So I'm going to relax, quit worrying, quit trying to force it, and see what happens. And since you guys said that scraplifting has helped you, then I'm definitely going to give that a try.

I did think about digital scrapping, and I know it would be a million times easier, but...well, I kinda want to get away from the computer outside of work. In an artistic sense, anyway...I certainly lurk around here a lot! But maybe I will try a few digital LO's, too. Hmmm....do a few digital, do a few tactile....might just be the thing.

Thanks again for the advice everyone! I think I'm going to try it all!

Posted in your gallery. Great layouts. Love them all.

YOU are doing great! We are our own best critics and I think that everyone has basically said the same I would. It's difficult to not be hard on yourself, I know. But believe me, you've got a FANTASTIC start. I would have never guessed that you've only been doing this for 5 months. I don't have an artistic background but I've been craft-sy all my life...ceramics, pottery, glasss painting, decoupage, mosaics, etc. etc. etc.

Take it easy and enjoy the process. A friend of mine (who just started scrapbooking 2 months ago) said that she realized that scrapbooking was more about the journey for her, not the masterpiece she hoped for at the end. Along the way, she appreciates the memories from the pictures she has taken while she puts more and more of her own, unique touches on her layouts. She thinks it's going to take her forever to feel like she's really good and comfortable (which I completely disagree with...like you, her first layouts are amazing compared to all of my early ones). She is scraplifting as well and picking up what she likes and doesn't like to do and pretty soon, she'll decide what stays in her arsenal of things to do with a page.

So, enjoy yourself and hang out with us neighbors. You're bound to get tons of ideas and, as you can see, support and encouragement as you develop your own unique style.

I am right there with you, I feel that I should be better than I am too. I have always been artsy, painting, drawing, writing, ect. Never had a problem before, well...until now. Scrapbooking is a challenge for me.

I just can't manage to get my hands to put it together the way my mind see's it. I was in a rutt, so I decided that I was going to work on some of the Becky Higgins sketches since the concept is already laid out for me. I love the fact that I do not have to come up with the page LO myself, that is always the biggest obstacle for me.

By the way, your LO's are great! I love the I'm not to little LO!

I never did like the term "scraplifting".....I like to say I am looking for inspiration.....anyway.....you should be enjoying yourself.....not worrying about if it is 'good enough'....cuz its great work!

Yep...Know what you're going through Karen. (nice name BTW ) I took art lessons from the time I was 6 until 18, and until I suffered Brain Freeze from my teenage "love" my senior yr. in HS, I was suposed to go on to Art Institute in PGH to major in animation. Well, 15 yrs. later...that marriage is over and I never did get to continue my carreer in art. All through my life I wrote little short stories and poetry . I DO still paint portraits for members of family and have considered starting my own mural business (kids rooms). AND I go through SEVERE scrappers block...total lack of creativity. I see soo many GORGEOUS lo's on this site and in mags. and I think "What is WRONG with me??" But then I just try and remember than in 20 yrs from now my family isn't really going to care what patterned paper or embellies I used on a page...just that the memory is preserved and that I cared enough to do this for them. Chin up!! And if you want to throw a few joint pity parties...toss me an IM.

I took a look at your gallery and your LO's look GREAT!

I think scrapbooking gets frustrating when you start comparing your work to other people and try a style that is not your own. I am in a bit of a rut right now because I was trying to hard to get my LOs to look like those in the mags. I realize now that my style is simpler and if I am getting frustrated, I am probably doing something that is too difficult for me or not my style...so stop doing that and try something else!

I hope you feel better!

ps there is nothing wrong with a good pitty party every now and again!

You're right...there's nothing wrong with a good pity party occasionally. This one has certainly been useful because all of the comments and feedback has been incredibly helpful. This board is just filled with insightful individuals, and I hope anyone else who feels awkward or clumsy gets to read this thread. You guys are just so right and true, if you know what I mean.

Just because it falls under a broad umbrella of art and I'm art at heart doesn't mean that I get to run before I learn how to crawl. It's a different race than I'm used to running, so to speak (pardon the metaphors if you are a metaphor-disliker! *grin*) After all, jewelry-smithing is art and I certainly have no idea how to do that!

P.S. I've really enjoyed looking at all your galleries. Nice stuff! And also very encouraging, because you you all seem like naturals, even if you say otherwise!