Thoughts About My Painting Process
Whatever
happens at the beginning of a painting
determines the progression of the painting's destiny. It's a
kind of
karma: seeds sown predict the outcome.
Aware
of this, it takes a while for me to apply the first strokes to the
painting. I do not know the outcome. I cannot imagine the
finished painting.
It reminds me of the birth of a child: the moment a child is
conceived,
his/her genetic makeup determines the person that child will become:
male,
female, gay, straight, tall, short, blond, brunette and much
more.
To
enable that child to become the person he or she was born to be rather
than to
brainwash this little human into becoming what the parents would prefer
or what
social structure demands is a juggling act that becomes the
responsibility of those
parents -- a daunting task.
Those
of us born to be artists have the thrill of conceiving a new idea and
guiding
it to fruition. Everything we are translates into what we see
and how we
see it. Our preparation -- the skills we've mastered --
determines how we
express what we perceive. Our imaginations enhance our
interpretations and
every new painting that emerges reflects a process not unlike the
conception,
birth and becoming of a person.
Now,
isn't that a miracle within itself!