Re: A question of artistry and experience

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: : I have a question for all of you... how do you feel about the : general : : level of artistry and cultural understanding among people who do : : henna/mehndi professionally? : : Here's my take on it... I am not myself an artist. I do my own : henna : : sometimes, and sometimes I have it done by a friend of mine who has : : been doing it professionally for something like 10 years. She's an : : exceptional artist and has lived in africa and traveled extensively : in : : areas where henna is traditionally used. However at the other end : of : : the spectrum, I've seen "professionals" (and I use that term : loosely) : : who seem to think that a decent recipie for henna paste is the only : : thing required to set themselves up as henna artists. I've seen : some : : people who have either low artistic standards or very little : : understanding of the traditional cultures or both! In my mind at a : : minimum an artist who considers herself/himself a professional : should : : have a basic understanding of both middle eastern and indian styles : : and have the basic draftmans skills to be able to create a piece in : : those traditional styles... if they want to start offering celtic, : : fantasy, tattoo ect... styles then that's great, but I guess I've : seen : : WAY to many sloppy, poorly executed designs or portfolios of work : that : : show almost no traditional work. Now I know that information about : : traditional henna work is hard to find, but it seems like some : people : : are not even making an effort... they just make up a good paste : then : : set up a table on Venice beach or a sign in their nail salon saying : : they know what they're doing. : : Now I'm not talking here about henna art done by amatures by : themselve : : or for a friend. That's the way it's always been done in : traditional : : cultures and hell... it's FUN! But if I go to a professional I : expect : : them to have a greater library of incredible designs in their head, : to : : be able to accomodate a clients request (I personally usually ask : for : : tradtional designs) and I expect them to be able to execute them : WAY : : better than I could on my own. So what do the people on this board : : think? : : -jj

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