It's a real honour to be an artist. much more a really big honour to be able to make an entire living from the proceeds of art. Not just any art, but my very own. Many artists have to resort to teaching, opening galleries with other artists, or taking on part time jobs to make ends meet. I get to paint for the love of painting and my time is divided only by my obligations as a father and husband, and that is just fine.
In the process of making a living, schmoozing, networking, marketing, etc, etc, it is very easy to get off the rails when it comes to the very reason I do what I do. I paint paintings, you see. That means I am presenting ideas on canvas. Say what? what does that mean? Why don't I just sit by nice littles brooks and paint cute little streams babbling over rocks like so many artists do? Why don't I do lots of simple sunsets and beachy paintings, like so many artists do? Why? Here is why:
Conviction, challenge and drama.
I cannot just bang off a boring sunset scene just to make a quick buck. Neither can I feel comfortable splashing off a silly beach scene to satisfy the publishers demands for commercial appeal. As well I cannot do Brown or Green or Red because someone said it would sell more.
I have a heart. I feel. I am moved. The things that move me are what I want to paint and I feel that by following that inner voice I am being utterly honest with those who follow my work. Because of that honesty it is highly unlikely that everyone will like everything I do. In fact, most will not like most of what I do.
But for certain someone will like one in particular. That one painting in particular will call out to them, speak to their soul and we, the viewer and the artist will in that moment be one soul. We will have touched hearts in a way no other experience can bring to pass.
I paint to reach my hearts desire, to transport myself in that moment to that place on my canvas. I paint to allow you to go there too.
The role of this artist is to offer you a porthole to my place of peace or drama or tranquility. In the case of my paintings about political issues, such as the massively shameful treatment of Aboriginal children in the Residential schools, I hope somehow to bring you to the place where I am with my head bowed down and heart broken for each of the little lives our Country has abused.
I just cannot be satisfied with mundane mediocre paintings.
Have to reach deeper.
Thats the role of an artist.
In the process of making a living, schmoozing, networking, marketing, etc, etc, it is very easy to get off the rails when it comes to the very reason I do what I do. I paint paintings, you see. That means I am presenting ideas on canvas. Say what? what does that mean? Why don't I just sit by nice littles brooks and paint cute little streams babbling over rocks like so many artists do? Why don't I do lots of simple sunsets and beachy paintings, like so many artists do? Why? Here is why:
Conviction, challenge and drama.
I cannot just bang off a boring sunset scene just to make a quick buck. Neither can I feel comfortable splashing off a silly beach scene to satisfy the publishers demands for commercial appeal. As well I cannot do Brown or Green or Red because someone said it would sell more.
I have a heart. I feel. I am moved. The things that move me are what I want to paint and I feel that by following that inner voice I am being utterly honest with those who follow my work. Because of that honesty it is highly unlikely that everyone will like everything I do. In fact, most will not like most of what I do.
But for certain someone will like one in particular. That one painting in particular will call out to them, speak to their soul and we, the viewer and the artist will in that moment be one soul. We will have touched hearts in a way no other experience can bring to pass.
I paint to reach my hearts desire, to transport myself in that moment to that place on my canvas. I paint to allow you to go there too.
The role of this artist is to offer you a porthole to my place of peace or drama or tranquility. In the case of my paintings about political issues, such as the massively shameful treatment of Aboriginal children in the Residential schools, I hope somehow to bring you to the place where I am with my head bowed down and heart broken for each of the little lives our Country has abused.
I just cannot be satisfied with mundane mediocre paintings.
Have to reach deeper.
Thats the role of an artist.
Back woods
5"x7" oil on an old piece of masonite.
5"x7" oil on an old piece of masonite.
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