Thank you for giving me the space to share my art with you. In May 2022, I decided to shift my priorities and immerse myself in creating again. It has been a grueling journey learning and relearning how to create a genuine artwork that speaks true to what I want to share, and I appreciate every event that has brought me here.
In this moment, I would like to reference this quote by Vincent van Gogh:
"I’m doing my very best to put all my energy into it, for I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort — and disappointment and perseverance."
- Letter #261, to Theo van Gogh 09/09/1882.
This thought resonates with me. It is accurate and true to my experience and it serves as a helpful reminder through the ever-present failures and missteps. It helps me reflect deeply on the process and effort it takes to be an artist sharing with the world, and find genuine appreciation for this journey.
The processing that takes place before beginning an artwork is incredibly demanding. My journey feels like it begins deep in my subconscious and after the feelings take hold, I can begin identifying my instincts and translating them to conscious thoughts and emotions. Then the personally challenging part: finding an outlet to accurately express what's in my mind and heart knowing that different people will take it differently.
M