Artist Statement

I could dissect that sentence in so many ways, but I’ll hold my tongue/pen for the most part.

I think art is relative to whomever is looking at, or experiencing, a creation from imagination and effort by someone else. Art can be a different experience for everyone. What one person sees as talent, another may see as scribbles, but it’s still art.

As we breathe in the modern epoch, the overwhelming smell of technology reminds us that oxygen isn’t the only thing most people need to be alive. Pretty much everything we do is dependent upon modern technology, except for art. Artists are today’s Luddites. However, with the advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence, technology is trying to bleed into the art world. In my opinion, whatever A.I. yields is not art. If you agree, like, comment and subscribe below.... See!?

What I try to do with my art is have people think about people, and to hopefully think about yourself. I draw and paint faces of people you may recognize as a celebrity, a friend, an enemy, or a complete stranger. My hope is that, even though most of the profiles I do are expressionless, the audience connects with whomever they see in some way. I believe we all have a story to tell. My goal is to create, or recreate, a familiar or unfamiliar face that has no emphasis or expression, yet you can relate with an understand the person. No judging, no labeling or condemnation.

Take the Mona Lisa. Do you think she’s attractive, ugly, or “normal” looking? Does she feel pretty? Does she feel flattered, exploited, or frustrated to be the person being painted? Does she seem worried, anxious, happy, bored or indifferent? Whatever you think, you’re right. That’s art.

I’m sure there’s a format to follow when doing an artist statement, but I decided I would take some direction and then Wing this. I use charcoal, acrylics, colored pencils, pins and graphite pencils, but I’m not limited to any kind of medium. What I do, I hope people like. There’s no category I want to be put into and I’ve never really liked following rules too much outside of the rules of decency and honesty. I put my feelings into my artwork, which at times can be a bit dark.

My influences change daily. I can be motivated by the artistic minds of Ralph Steadman and Hunter S Thompson, or by professional athletes words in an interview, or even by the woman who broke my heart. Most of what I do is dipped in realism. The challenge I give myself is to show people’s many expressions on their expressionless faces. But, I also like creating colorful images (void of faces) that spark and drive the imagination as well. Some of my favorite pieces are the ones technology and AI couldn’t create regardless of direction in advancements. Like a painted image of a corset tied together by ribbon you can untie yourself, or the colorful silhouette of something, or someone, on its knees looking towards the skies with concern.

I’ve heard people say that if you really care about something, keep it private. I’m glad I finally disagreed.