there is no magic but what you make

and when you understand this, real creativity commences in the repetition of movement and the seeing of things. 

there is no magic
but what you make

and when you understand this, real creativity commences in the repetition of movement and the seeing of things. 

art as vision

It's been said that art is the window to the soul. If this is true, then my art is a window to a fairly varied place.

Someone once used the term "renaissance man" to describe my artistic scope. I'm the artistic equivalent of a multi-instrumentalist. I paint, I draw, I work digitally and traditionally, I sculpt, I work in leather and music.

My art has a fairly varied scope in these regards, and I once was asked, "Is there anything you cannot do?"

Honestly, the only things I cannot do are things I have not yet attempted. While this may sound somewhat conceited, it's part of my philosophy towards art. There are no artistic gifts outside of vision. Creation is a series of technical gestures that can be repeated and perfected. The only "gift" there is to be had, is that of seeing what one wants to create.

The rest is a matter of apply technical skills to that vision. 

art as voice

I see my art as an opportunity to create something worth viewing. As an artist, you always need to remember that your work isn't about seeing what you see and what you see alone. It's about communicating to someone what you see, and then allowing them the free space to interpret it. 

From florals to strange faces, from functional pieces of leatherwork or hand-crafted jewelry, my art is about stating something and hoping someone will see this statement and find a part of themselves that resonates within that statement. 

Humans have always desired to get out of themselves and into something else according to psychologist James Hillman. This is represented in no greater a way than someone viewing a piece of art. 

Even when all the viewer is seeing is a movie on a screen for the purpose of entertainment, some of the best films will create spaces for the viewer to explore their relationship with the film in a complex and revealing way. 

For me, a flower is never just a flower.

art as vocation

I've spent the greater part of my life creating art of one form or another. From the practical application of design in a newspaper design team, to my time spent in a press room printing those pieces on a daily basis, to time spent sketching in the field or just doodling. 

Sharpening tools allows me to more accurately express what needs to be said with regards to the viewers I present my work in front of. 

In the end, it all comes down to practicality. That someone could potentially support themselves creating, communicating and challenging those around them to consider things broader than the concrete is a tremendous gift. 

Seeing someone go from the concrete to the abstract in exploration of meaning is in itself a reward. However, occasionally one enjoys eating, so there's that.