Member Story-Jillian Guarco

Jillian Guarco has shared her story!

What kind of art/craft do you do?

I work mostly with Polaroids, making collaged images. It's all about experimenting, manipulating, and playing with the film. I use the images as prints and most recently window ornaments and earrings. I also do tons of mixed media and some digital photo stuff. My past work includes 4x5 film and a digital series called "the bug collection" where i made dioramas and used real insects. My website is: www.jillianguarco.com

How did you get interested in it?

I loved photography in high school, it was the only thing that made me keep showing up. I'd skip classes to use the darkroom. I eventually went to college for it, initially to study documentary and photo journalism. I wanted to change the world. I still want to change the world, but I do so with art instead with social documentary. The concept still seeps in though at times. Maybe now it's more social commentary. ;)
It was easy for me to get hooked on Polaroid’s. They were instant, and this was during the times when digital was just coming out, and I was very much a film snob. I still love Polaroid for the same reasons- its instant gratification. I get impatient. I work with them "hands on". Many times they are mistaken for Photoshop, but I can't bare sitting in front of the computer for long periods of time. I only use Photoshop for printing the Polaroid images. Sometimes I go as far as color correction. But most don't need anything at all.

How long have you been crafting?

I guess my whole life, but I didn’t take it seriously until a few years ago. I always made art, but crafting is a little different. It's more therapeutic. I get crazy in the head when I make the "art"- the actual images, but when I’m making the crafts (like the window ornaments), I relax. Listen to music, breathe, think clearly. It saves me from being nutso all the time.

What was your day job and what happened?

I had moved from San Francisco to Athens, GA and it took me forever to find a job. I finally found one screen-printing and worked there for about 1 1/2 years. Then business slowed and eventually came to a halt. I was laid off. I collected a small unemployment check and worked odd jobs. I tried to do things I never had time for- read, make stuff, hang out with friends. But it all made me feel guilty, and I tried to find work, but nothing was working out. I took a deep breathe and started making stuff full time. What else was I going to do? I was a stress ball. I had always participated in craft shows during the holidays, so I started seeking out ones that happened during the rest of the year.

How did you turn a negative to a positive?

I took the unemployment as a sign that I should follow my passion and heart. It isn’t easy- when the phrase "starving artist" is thrown around all the time. No one thinks it's possible, sometimes it's hard for me to think it's possible. But the world is changing. People like handmade things. There is more appreciation, people are starting to see it as a career and job and not just a hobby. But I guess it's easier to go full force into it, when you are actually starving! It puts more intensity behind it all. Instead of being afraid of failure, there is just no failure option. You make it work because you HAVE to. But it gets tricky. You don’t want to sacrifice your artistic integrity. You have to keep being yourself and stay honest and true to your unique creativity. I make things that I like to have in my house. Not what I think other people want to have in their house. It can be confusing and daunting, but I believe people can tell when you ardent sincere. And when art isn’t sincere and from the heart, well then buyers might as well go to Wal-Mart to buy stuff to hang in their house.

What affect has it had on you and your art/craft?

At first I was creating depressed and worried. I even began hating my own images. But I worked on my insides and my frame of mind. Then I began to play again. Experiment, embrace mess ups and accidents, thought more about what I could offer the world. I began to believe that it was all going to work out. I couldn’t stop creating if I tried, so why not have fun with it. Not many people have the guts to wake up everyday and be themselves, and then put it out there for everyone to see. That is an art in itself. I'm so proud to be an artist, even if that means I’m poor. I can sit and work alone for hours and I’m comfortable in my own skin. That's a huge challenge for some people. I'm happy more and more people are doing it. It makes the world a better place.

What would you like to tell others who are going through the same things?

Deep breathe. Everything happens for a reason. We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we need. Believe that, and it will be true. And then keep creating. Don't be hard on yourself, but work hard. Cut yourself some slack, but don't slack off. When you're struggling, make contact with another artist so you don't feel alone. We all feel it. We can all use some encouragement and reassurance. And we will all get through it. You have enough guts to live a life creating, even when it doesn’t pay. See the courage in that! Some people were meant to be doctors, others were meant to be artists. Be an artist! Action.

Visit her Etsy shop: Jillian Guarco