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Is cross stitch "art"?

#1

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

I've always felt it more of a "craft". Once you learn how to do it, it's just repeated mechanical motion. But it can *produce* art..but I'd argue that the person who created the pattern is the artist, not the person who did the stitching. That's just glorified paint by numbers.

That said, I didn't exactly know where to put this :) Saw this posted on reddit a few days ago:
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Someone asked for the pattern, and I said "Dude, it's cross-stitch. Just open the pic at full size and count the stitches and write them on graph paper." Then, I decided I liked the art, so I decided to follow my own advice. I haven't done cross stitch in maybe 37 years. But picking it back up again was like riding a bike--a little rusty at first, but it's coming back pretty quickly.

1591233912634.png


#2

Dave

Dave

Anything you do that is creative and you enjoy is art.


#3

PatrThom

PatrThom

Anything you do that is creative and you enjoy is art.
Even programming.

--Patrick


#4

Dave

Dave

Even programming.

--Patrick
Shit, programming is probably more art than it is science.


#5

PatrThom

PatrThom

Shit, programming is probably more art than it is science.
As someone with above-average skill at both, there's a reason I enjoy it.

--Patrick


#6

evilmike

evilmike

Art and Crafts are a spectrum and there is nothing wrong with either end.


#7

Squidleybits

Squidleybits

My mother bought me a dirty words cross stitch book years ago. It’s awesome.


#8

Sara_2814

Sara_2814

Is doing freeform embroidery from a pattern art? Is it the grid and relative simplicity that makes cross-stitch “not art”?

Does art only exist in the idea, but not in the execution of the idea? Does that make the Bayeux Tapestry/Embroidery “not art”, only the original design is art? (It was probably not embroidered by its designer).

Speaking of rude cross stitch: Years ago, while I was looking at cross-stitch patterns at the store, my husband complained that most of them were way too sickly sweet, so I made him a cross-stitch of Tom Servo saying “Bite Me!”


#9

Squidleybits

Squidleybits

Awesome! Cross stitch needs more of those.


#10

chris

chris

It's pixelart before computer existed.

I also remember how my father printet out templates for someone on a dot matrix printer.


#11

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

Y'all are reading way too much into my "is cross stitch art?" commentary. It basically was a way to downplay the fact that I was, yet again, showing off ;)


#12

Squidleybits

Squidleybits

It's pixelart before computer existed.

I also remember how my father printet out templates for someone on a dot matrix printer.
And a way to share cat pictures before the internet!


#13

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

When I was a kid, like 8 or 9 years old, my mom got me this book: "How to be a show off and impress your friends" or something like that. It was full of all kinds of little things you could do to show off make the people around you think you were cool. I was surprised she knew me so well, and I just loved the gift. I imagine she was also subtly teasing me a bit. I've always been an incurable show-off, and I've never grown out of it.

Whenever you see a little kid going "mom! Mom! mom! mom! MOM! look! look at what I can do! mom!" That's me. Still. (sigh)


#14

Emrys

Emrys

And you're very adorable while doing it.


#15

HCGLNS

HCGLNS

I made a hook rug once, while watching Dynasty.


#16

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

I did my fair share of latch hook as a kid. I did lots of crafts. My mom was even into making stained glass art for a while, which I really enjoyed.


#17

HCGLNS

HCGLNS

I still have my stained glass supplies!


#18

PatrThom

PatrThom

I still have my stained glass supplies!
Do you want my father's leftovers to add to them? He hasn't made anything new in what, 40 years or so.

--Patrick


#19

PatrThom

PatrThom

Y'all are reading way too much into my "is cross stitch art?" commentary. It basically was a way to downplay the fact that I was, yet again, showing off ;)
We should get you and @GasBandit together on Discord for a "Showoff-off" and have the two of you compete to see who can show off the most.

--Patrick


#20

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

one wing to go.
1592105027976.png


#21

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

all stitching done. Now just need to wash, iron and frame it.
1592190403250.png


#22

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

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