An acquaintance recently asked what purpose I believe art serves in society. I replied that I don’t think it serves a particular purpose, though I do believe that art of high quality does affect one’s awareness and perception of his or her surroundings. Also, it should seem as though the artist arrived at the finishing point quite naturally, i.e. the work should be free of artificially contrived intent.
It is ironic, then, that my compositions tend to be plainly structural. One reason for that is that I hope to connect with the viewer on a common-sense, “this looks correct” level. The structure is visual and intellectual, compositional and conceptual. There is a definite sense that my work has been “built”, with all the connotations that word carries.
Like most committed artists, I continually search for additions to the vocabulary with which I work. I do this by observing my surroundings, by reading, and by following current affairs. I feel compelled to stress how much one can see when he or she actively pursues these influences, not simply passively absorbs them. Being active (not passive) is essential to my process.
Another concept I wholeheartedly believe in is that I must take advantage of the essential characteristics of my artmaking materials. I am much better at working harmoniously with materials than I am at trying to bend ill-chosen materials to my purpose. Paper, ink, paint, etc. must all be chosen with care; if they are not, life can be quite frustrating. The process goes much more smoothly when the materials pull a lot of the weight.
I have primarily been using ink on paper to produce my pieces for a time, focusing on building up images using halftone and pixellation techniques. The exploration of these concepts with acrylic and oil paints on canvas has become central to my most recent efforts. Whatever medium I use, though, it is incumbent upon me to use whatever best reproduces my artistic vision. Eloquently conveying my imagery is my ultimate goal in making art.