To Make Art Is To Respond

To make art is to respond 

Artmaking for me is about creating a response. To observe, to reflect, to cope, to resolve, that’s meaningful and purposeful to me with my own art process. My life consists of what I observe, feel, and sense into something concrete and real. 

Art creates what is felt in the tangible sense. The process can repeat in multiple ways and still yield different results. My mark-making is not the same from one moment to another. 

I build from what was in the present moment. I don’t need to be certain of the future, because I’m creating it with every mark and brushstroke.

Art making can be devotional in some ways; in other instances, it’s more technical mastery. The less I contend with control, the more likely I can engage more deeply and with clarity in the work. 

I am continually rebuilding and seeing anew. To return to this process means I’m living and engaging in the world. It’s an act of surrender and serenity, even if the process is anything but. Many artists can relate to the dismissive and frustrating parts of their own processes. Not every piece is a polished one, nor is every sketch a groundbreaking revelation. 

I make art and will continue to make art. All the doubts, redos, mistakes, and finery are worthwhile.