little update

Expressing ideas about art in a theoretical or systematic fashion is a quick way to either, set yourself up for a failure or a tired and clichéd success. I don't want either of those. Art is such a great outlet to ask questions you don't need an absolute answer to. I think there are too many currents in the art world focused on creating these neatly packaged systems to engage with art. The academic world has put a lot of energy into celebrating and championing a dry formulaic way of experiencing and creating art. I'm more interested in allowing for diverse ways of interacting with the art. I don't want to tell people what to think about what I create, rather I expect a willing viewer to intersect and interact with something I have made. I don't want anyone to walk away with feeling of 'oh I get it', and then that's it.

I'm definitely not going to worry about what a work of art will do in 100 years, that's nearly impossible to predict. I'm more worried about the here and now with what concerns me today. I do strive to make pieces that can touch on something specific and personal, something of the times, as well as something more universal & constant--- by doing so I hope that what I make today will still hold some value 100 years from now.

I love that tension between something being beautiful and grotesque at the same time. It creates a dance between the viewer and the work of art where they're being pulled in and pushed away at the same time. I think the painting, 'Confrontation'. At a glance it does command your attention on colors alone-it was an alluring painting to me. I'm very conscious of the colors I use and tend to create my palate out of colors that give me pleasure. Often they're pulled from skin tones and fashion magazines. Colors are great seducers.