....and then

I hope I'm true to the vision in my mind. That's the essence of a true artist, isn't it? We have a vision and hope to communicate that to the outside world. I don't look at other artists for inspiration. My inspiration comes from within. That said, I do work based on photographs of the local landscape. I want viewers to have the same experience I have in viewing such magnificent places. Nature is really astounding. But this other side of me is third order. Yeah, I love nature but there's a more abstract side to me that needs expression. My thinking plus the world around me equals....(fill in the blank).

Here's a good place to start...

Over the years I have taken many life drawing classes. I asked a professor once why we study the figure in the 21st century. He couldn't answer. The stock answer is..."if you can draw the figure, you can draw anything" Hogwash. I do appreciate all the training. I think it has lead me to search for a reason for the figure in today's art. That work is forthcoming. As a very young child I created a world in which I could be safe and free. My internal self became very well developed and I found it second nature to express the reality within myself. Consequently the attention I received because of my talent was appreciated. Unfortunately, as a result of many years of poverty and trying to provide for my family I was kept from growing as a professional. Moving forward now I am excited to bring to reality the many things that have been perculating in my head and heart. I used to hate anything abstract until I visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I saw many things there that I had only seen pictures of from my art history books. It was such an amazing experience and changed me forever. I realized that many times an artist truely tries to create something new like musicians who make jazz try to create new music. Unfortunately an unsophisticated audience might now be able to tell the difference between crap and what's good. I want to create something new and good.