I was wondering recently whether what I do with patterns can be called art. I don’t know how else to call it but art is a big word in Poland. To be an artist one needs to be really devoted and probably also starving. There is this expression though,’amateur artist’ that can be used for someone who does art in their spare time or someone without formal training. However, even full time artists, when interviewed, say they don’t consider themselves to be an artists and this is used as expression of modesty.

I read an interview with Martin Sati recently, an amazing artist who creates beautiful digital paintings made of lines. I especially love his colorful birds. He’s Spanish and says the same thing: he’s not an artist. He’s an illustrator. How confusing is that? What does he illustrate, if he’s an illustrator? If he illustrates books for a client, then yes, he’s an illustrator. If he creates to fulfill his own vision, he’s an artist. I really wish people stop having such difficulties with this word as it only makes it more difficult for me to make sense of things.

So am I an artist or a pattern maker? But then, who is a pattern maker, people may ask? They may think it’s someone who makes something that can be cut out, like a sewing pattern for example. If I tell them I’m a digital artist they’ll moreless know what I do and can just ask for details.

I have almost no food in the house. I need to buy some long shelf life food before I go away to my live in care job.