July 2008

All too often the question comes to mind “Why do I do it? Why am I an artist?” And this question is clothed in fear and is the enemy of my work. If I built houses for a living, the purpose of my work would be obvious… if I were a nurse or even a cook, I would know why I was doing it. I was thinking about cooking the other day, and it gave me reason #501 why art is important for everybody (enough to continue painting until the fear hits again tomorrow). We don’t just eat to survive… we go after the flavors that make eating a pleasure. Such a huge thriving industry is built around the various ways we enjoy food. Art is the celebration of sight. Why would any less attention be given to our sense of sight than our taste buds? Nobody wants to live in a blank grey world, or live a strictly utilitarian existence.

So this Depeche Mode song came on the radio this morning and reminded me that if I have the right to exist in this world, I have the right to share my celebration of sight… and that is reason enough (#502) to get back to the easel today.

I had a friend say she didn’t like the word “blog.” It feels like barfing to say it. I agree, although I’m excited to present my artwork in this new format– allowing for the interplay of words and images. It’s difficult to find where they intertwine. I’ve been writing and painting for years, but the two have always run parallel, or fought for their own weight on the creative see-saw. I’ve always wanted to find a way to braid them together, and now I’m finally getting with the times (somehow I always like to linger a few steps behind, deciding if “the times” is really a thing I want to get with). We’ll see how it goes….