“I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart.”
Vincent van Gogh
Like van Gogh, I’m a seeker and a striver. I’ve been like that my whole life and, not surprisingly, I’m much the same in my art practice. In my unenlightened early years I strove to be make ‘perfect’ art, impress others, become successful and make money, and I freely admit it was exhausting! If I was my own friend, I would have suggested that I lighten up a little, or a lot!
These days, the striving hasn’t gone away. It’s just morphed from chasing external goals to seeking inner states – things like self-expression, fulfillment, surrender and connection – all of which result from being fully present to the creative process, rather than focusing on the outcome.
For me, making art is fundamentally about acknowledging that I am a natural born creative (as I believe we all are) and honouring that impulse. It’s about exploring the ‘edges’ and shadows as they inevitably turn up, allowing me to become more real. It’s not necessarily an easy path artistically but, as van Gogh eloquently put it, “I am in it with all my heart”.
If you’re interested in reading about my art process and inspiration, you’ll find it here.