Art or craft?
Maggie had never given that question much thought, she says.
“It’s always been a craft for me, but it’s art when it’s on the wall.”
She’s a natural at melding her craftsmanship and her artistic flare, which she credits to her dad.
“I inherited my artistic side from my father,” she says. “He loved to draw. But I didn’t have any formal art training. I just picked it up myself.”
That was back in Scotland in the 1950s. The family lived across the road from the shipyards in Greenoch where her father worked before she and her mom moved to Quebec in 1970. Soon after, Maggie was introduced to the paper tole craft by a niece.
“I would watch her do it. She showed me how to shape pieces,” Maggie says, stressing how important shaping, or sculpting is. “If you don’t develop the technique, you won’t master the craft.”
Maggie “picked it up” quickly, and was soon creating paper tole art without kits and instructions.
“I like to put my own touches to it, like the cat’s whiskers in (the picture above),” she says. “It makes it more life-like.”
And therein lies some of the artistic part of Maggie’s craft. Her sculpting, extra layers and detail work along with her special touches make for unique art pieces that draw the viewer in for a closer look. She brings a vision to her work that lifts them into the realm of emotions and feelings.
It has always been a hobby for Maggie, though she did a commissioned piece once for a woman who saw some of her work in a friend’s home. Maggie’s works are hanging in at least a dozen homes — in Quebec, Florida and who knows where. She has gifted them to people over the years, each one signed by her.
And, of course, there are several on the walls of our home, and more in progress.
Maggie’s also into other arts and crafts, including cross stitch, needlework, knitting and crochet. And, oh yes, she draws, too. And does artistic woodwork. We’ll show some of her other creations in a post somewhere along the way, to add some variety here.
So, nobody reading this should be surprised that one of Maggie’s favourite stores is arts and crafts retailer Michaels. But she is a familiar face in the tool department of the local hardware store, too. And in the paint and stain section.
She even sanded the kitchen cabinets in our home and refinished them.
Yes, this writer is amazed by Maggie’s creativity and talent. (And proud of her, too, ya gotta know.) I first saw her paper tole works on the walls of her mom’s apartment. There was never a question in my mind: it was art. I was drawn into it. I marvelled at its intricacies — and I still do.
When I watch Maggie at work on her creations, I see both a craftsperson and an artist.
And I think some in the art world might agree with me.
“After decades of rejection, craft has been embraced by the contemporary art establishment,” according to a piece on artsy.net, How the Art World is Embracing Craft.
I hadn’t realized that the art community had “put craftspeople on the sidelines.”
It probably explains why I’ve never seen a paper tole work for sale in any shop, even though I’ve seen plenty of prints and paintings for sale in my travels.
It’s a shame, because I might have bought some framed paper tole works for my own home (before I met Maggie) as well as for gifts at Christmastime.
I’m glad the art community is finally giving paper tole its due now.
Thanks for reading. See you soon.
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All the best for 2021.