Finally I have found the words. Here is my artist's statement.
Artist Statement
I paint because I am in love with the creative process. The final product may indeed teach me something about myself, about how I view the world, or about what I care deeply about, and as such each painting stands as a statement intended for me, and, I hope, one that will resonate with others. But the great satisfaction, the great fascination for me, is the “getting there,” going from a blank canvas to the finished product. Although I am always present in the doing, I am still surprised by the way a painting ends.
I especially like the experience of starting with just a few things—three tubes of paint and a thought or some music for inspiration—and seeing what can come of it. I put paint down and lift it off, I scrape, I carve text into it, I spray it with water and rubbing alcohol, add more paint, I make marks with my fingers, with paper towels and with just about anything interesting I can get my hands on. In other words, I get into the painting. This is my “start” and from the chaos that results I “find” the painting by adding layers and by lifting layers, by adding lines and by subtracting lines. It is this repetitive, intuitive, give-and-take process that thrills me, in part because it is so much fun and in part because ultimately it results in a painting. I know that a work is done when I realize that if I add or subtract one more thing it will be the start of a new painting. That’s when I sign it.
Various themes and imagery tend to run throughout my work: the theatre, dance, spirituality, and family. My 12 years of parochial school education, my background in dance, my studies of the theatre and my career as a theatre teacher, my practice of Cosmos Qigong, and my deep love for my family all inform that imagery. I paint to explore and to celebrate these things that matter to me. It is my hope that I paint them in a way that reminds the viewers of something that matters deeply to them.
what a truly lovely process. i enjoyed reading this!
ReplyDeleteHi Jim
ReplyDeleteI totally understand your creative process. You have so beautifully expressed it here. What a joy to see your creations and read your words!
Steven
The joy and reverence you speak of is apparent in your work. Well done!
ReplyDelete