I usually work in series, creating enough work to fill a room for an exhibition. So I might create 10 to 20 pieces that fall under a common theme. I do that two to three times a year, but at other times, I’m just creating work that allows me to experiment, to play with ideas, materials, and to explore new ways to tell a story with my art.
I’m currently exploring the idea of using recycled materials to create art. I recently saw a documentary that cited just how much our landfills are crowded with discarded clothing. I had no idea that the clothing industry was a leading polluter. I am playing with other ideas too. I am turning my shredded business documents into plaster of Paris, collage, and assembling sculptures with found objects. Again, I realize that others have done this very well before me, but I’m fascinated to see what I will bring to the experiment.
I was recently was speaking with a friend, who commented that he always finds my work to be positive, happy. I can’t say that I have ever created art with that in mind, but it is obvious that whatever emotions we are feeling come through our work. I found that particularly funny, because in an effort to find some gallery representation, I recently wrote to a gallery owner in Latvia. Most of those introductory letters go unanswered, but this gallerist wrote me a full page of comments. He told me categorically that he did NOT like my artwork, because it was too decorative.
I never really know how to respond to the “decorative” criticism. I assume that most people buy art because they find it pleasant, or inspiring, even uplifting. I can’t imagine many people purchase a piece because it is upsetting, ugly, or frightening. So what does “too decorative” mean? I know that I have never created a piece of art because I was trying to match a couch, or to try to sell in a department store.
The gallery owner went on to say that it was obvious that my art does not reflect enough pain and suffering. I laughed out loud, because it seems like such a stereotypical response from an East European. He continued to say that his fervent wish for me is that I would suffer a great deal of pain, as that would be the only way for me to improve the quality of my work. I’m not sure if that qualifies as a wish or a curse.
Let me hasten to say that I truly appreciate the fact that he not only answered, but spent the time to give me advice and guidance. He also made a very helpful observation that, with so many artists creating nonrepresentational abstract expressionist works, it makes it difficult for artists to distinguish themselves one from another. I get that. He’s right.
What I don’t understand is why feelings of sadness, pain, worry, or fear somehow carry more artistic value than joy, happiness, peace or contentment. If we artists should paint what comes from within, how could we deny the good feelings for the bad ones?
It’s funny, particularly at my age, I often wonder if part of why I want to paint is because I’m afraid of dying? I don’t have children, and there will be no one to visit my grave after I’m gone. And while I guess there may be an element of that in my brain, I don’t believe that is the driving force behind my art. I paint for myself. Painting allows me to communicate in a way that written language can’t. That’s what I am exploring, that’s what I hope my art will achieve. Having said that, becoming rich and famous would be wonderful, but mostly I just want to paint, and achieve enough success that I can actually live off of my art. To make enough money to allow me to continue creating for the rest of my days.
