A Matter of Style

Finding your “own” style as an artist can be an elusive pursuit, a bit like capturing mist in a jar and defining its shape.  In the jar, it’s shaped like a jar, but set free to see its true shape it evaporates into the world surrounding it, becoming an indistinguishable part of it.

I am always greatly influenced by other artwork I see.  I love the colors of one piece, the design elements of another and the composition or theme of yet another.  Those all enter my mind and swirl together until they emerge in a piece of my “own”.  But none of my artwork comes about from nothing.  I am influenced by my every encounter with the world around me.  That is why it is so important to choose what books, movies, artwork, poetry and musings I expose myself to.  As Austin Kleon says, “You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.” (from his book “Steal Like an Artist”) His answer to those who object that an artist should not “steal” ideas is to quote Salvador Dali who said “Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.”

The reality is that everything we see and do becomes a part of who we are and therefore will be expressed in some way in our work.  My pieces are unique and original, but the ideas and inspiration come from the world God created as well as the art created by so many others.  So, thank you to all creators of masterpieces out there, big and small, for the inspiration of my style which is constantly changing and evolving and something I am constantly experimenting with.  I don’t think I will ever arrive at a set style and technique, in fact, I hope I do not because the journey, the growth, the development are the real joy.

Elements of my “style”:

Whimsy

Words

Mystery

A hint of grunge

Borders

Inspiration

Happiness

Layers of meaning

Black and white

Pattern

Altered images

Repurposed materials

Bold color

Meaning