"If you know what you want to do and you do it, that's the work of a craftsman. If you begin with a question and use it to guide an adventure of discovery, that's the work of the artist." Rick Rubin.
What is this creative journey of exploration? Firstly, I believe that in order to explore, a solid foundation is needed, which is why I completed 4 years of studies to obtain my Diploma in Fine Art in 2014. This foundation is the rich springboard from which I leap when I begin the creative process of seeking to express visually what I see and experience around me. Part of the process is constantly collecting inspiration and ideas which are used in my sketchbooks to create small studies, colour studies, compositional studies, to make notes of what has inspired me, what is working and what is not, I look at colour and colour mixing and sometimes I immerse myself in words and surround myself with inspiration, time with family and friends, time outdoors or talking to Nugget my studio cat. All these things feed my inspiration, and my faith, more than anything else, fuels my work and is at the heart and soul of every painting.
What is quite clear is that I do not begin a painting with a fixed final image in mind. My studies point me in a direction and this exploration is then worked out on the canvas, as I allow the process to emerge and evolve in the decisions and choices I make. I may, for example, choose to go a less conventional route, it may not be what you would choose, or what someone else particularly likes, but as the artist I get to make that decision as I constantly learn and add to my body of knowledge, trying out different techniques, materials and mediums. If I choose to do a more representational work, the parameters are considerably more clear and the constant challenge of "when is it finished" is significantly easier to gauge. But again, this is simply another one of the endless choices that the artist needs to make. As I teach, I try to empower each student to make their own choices and decisions about their work, first learning the basics and then exploring the possibilities! It is a wonderful journey of learning and exploring, but it can only happen when we have brave hearts and a willingness to keep trying.
"To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong." Joseph Chilten Pearce.