Mouse Town, Age 7
As far back as I can remember, I have always identified with being an artist. I don't know the exact age I was when I started drawing with great frequency, but I do remember that I drew on such a regular basis that it caused some problems for me in school. I have memories of drawing large scenes with animals and trees, and was rather obsessive about it. I actually possess some of these drawings today, as my sweet grandmother managed to save them for me. What a great surprise it was a few years ago, when my mother pulled some of these drawings out of a box in her basement.
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.~ Pablo Picasso
When people ask, "when did you become an artist?", I am puzzled by this question, but somehow manage to convey that this has been part of who I am since my early childhood. It would be like asking, "when did you start breathing air"? However, I have heard some artists talk about when they first "became" an artist, which is quite normal for them, as I know some find their passion to create art later in life. Sometimes we are born with capabilities we do not know we have until something shakes it out of us, and always a wondrous thing when it happens. I think for me as a child it was a form of escape.
I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart. ~ Vincent van Gogh
I believe we are all creators, and that it is human nature to do so. We are driven to create something, and often feel that this drive comes from somewhere else… through us. I think we co-create with the "Great Creator", termed honorably by Native Americans, which makes perfect sense. For some it is God, or the Universe, or however one might view that which is "all knowing" or "the creator of all things". "Great Creator" simply does fulfill the question of where life came from, but for me it also explains why we are so driven to create.
The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel. ~ Piet Mondrian
A few nights ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to go out with a couple of my artist friends to some art openings. It is always a pleasure to see what other artists are doing. It doesn't matter what kind of art really, it is just the act of viewing, absorbing and/or reacting in some way, connecting with others through their creations. Often, for me, it leads to inspiration. Maybe it challenges us, or touches us deeply, or perhaps it upsets our beliefs or our sensibilities, opening our eyes and stretching our ability to see truth.
Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. ~ Twyla Tharp
Seeing what other artists create often helps me to further understand my own efforts to communicate through my art. How my art is seen or felt is up to the viewer, and once I put it out there to share with others, the "cause and effect" takes place. This is a perfect transfer of energy and a beautiful way to communicate.
In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
As we stood in the last gallery we planned to visit for the evening, we ran into a couple of women, one of which my friends knew. I shook her hand, and told her she looked familiar. I told her my name, and she told me hers, and she said that she knew who I was. "Oh", I said, a bit surprised. She introduced my friends to her sister, stating that each was an artist, and then she introduced me, and said, "she used to be an artist". Yikes… what?! Holy Crap… when did that happen?!
Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~ Pablo Picasso
Needless to say, I felt that wild, chimpanzee smile sweep across my face - that kind of expression that indicates a defensive gesture. I couldn't help it, it was such a surprise! How could she know me well enough to say such a crazy thing? My inner child thought, "I am the one who has been an artist all of my life!" It is so deeply entrenched into my very persona, my heart and my soul.
One of my dear friends standing next to me blurted out, "she is an artist! She has a show at Lawndale!" The woman backed up about a foot and then promptly turned to me and said "Is your opening tonight?", her sarcastic tone apparent, and I replied "yes, but I decided to leave anyway to go look at other art", and after an anxious pause with brief laugh, I said, " I will have a show there in August... yeah, I am very much actively pursuing my art". The whole thing was a bit humorous, me trying not to make anything of it, and her probably feeling awkward and not responding in any way, least of all with an apology. We all moved along, yet still, her statement did linger under my skin a bit.
Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing. ~ Georgia O’Keeffe
I began to process this event. Just why am I giving this any thought at all? The woman clearly did not know much about me, and somehow in her ignorance or innocence - maybe both, thought that I was no longer a practicing artist, I guess? But on this subject, I have known artists who have retired, and I still think of them as artists. Most of us do. Once an artist… a true creative spirit, is always an artist!
I am an artist because the knot is so powerful l just can not, nor want to be, anything else or do anything else. ~ Elizabeth Ross
When anything pushes me, even just a bit, I look at it from a different perspective to see what the message is for me. Am I too attached to a title? Do I waiver so carelessly about who I am simply by the off comment from someone else? Is this a little reminder that my current situation needs to be addressed - namely that the same unfinished piece still sitting on my easel? Or perhaps a more gentle reminder to reclaim, again to myself, who I am and what my intentions are as an artist and as a human being? This never hurts to do, but no… I feel comfortable about who I am, of course, well aware that there is always room for growth... always.
For me, painting is a way to forget life. It is a cry in the night, a strangled laugh. ~ Georges Rouault
I am glad for this occurrence… it brightens and clarifies my intentions. I don't need a title to complete who I am or define what I am creating. It is not about the title at all, but about the essence of who I am and what I do, what I feel and how I express this. I have always been an artist, and will always be an artist. It is engrained into my genetic makeup.
The moment you cheat for the sake of beauty, you know you're an artist. ~ David Hockney
Being an artist is a state of mind, not a job. It is about making a life, not a living. Of course, it is nice to make an income by what one loves to do, and yes, it takes consistent work to be an artist. One must go through the actions necessary to achieve the intended results. It is interesting that this so well coincides with the series I am now working on. I am portraying other artists in their studios. It feels so right to do this, as it not only serves my creative output, it also serves to expose a few local artists ( there will be 15 paintings ) in the Houston area, and perhaps speaks to a wider sector of artists in general. The subject is about artists and the valuable part they play in our society. And yes, this series will be shown at Lawndale Art Center from August 21st - September 26th, 2015.
- Painting is a means of self-enlightenment. ~ John Olsen
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