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What influences you?
(more detail)
In many
of the decisions I have made, there is rarely just one answer to why I do
things. It is a combination of many points.
A person's Long Hair
In experiencing many confinements, I began to form a
foundation of seeing long hair as a beauty and attraction for what was wild
and free, untamed, and an exotic being, such as a mermaid, or horse's long
mane. I found this form also a way to create abstract art. Ever notice that
many artists make the same thing in every picture? A similar style should be
found, yes, and there shouldn't be so much variety you don't know who the
artist is, but where every piece is the same thing, same colors, or same
shapes, there's less appeal. With hair and the right perspective, there's
infinite creations.
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Beauty of the
Human Figure
In my growing up
within a religious atmosphere, the figure was looked down upon,
and something to cover. I spent many years after leaving home,
rebuilding my self esteem, learning to resist shame for being a
certain gender, that there really is nothing wrong with me, and
that I am actually ok. I have seen so many negative experiences
revolving around women and how they present themselves even in
the real world, that I sought to see and express what beauties I
"could" find in women, whether through art, photography,
modeling, or finding beauties within. Self acceptance
undoubtedly is at the core of real beauty, regardless of
external circumstances that may blow tormentuous winds of
adversity upon an individual. |
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Balance
Throughout this site, I will be explaining the ideas of
balance. There is a centering and stability as well as peace that results
from having learned from the harmful effects of extremes, whether observing
or experienced them. There's also a "balance" of balance, meaning when to be
neutral and when to take a stand. There's more to art than just making a
picture not look lopsided, but an underlying lifestyle that emanates a
growth and understanding.
Home Designs
I found it hard to
have a home I could be proud of, growing up with recycled junk laying
around; and if I had a home at all, from my constant moving after leaving
home, I could only dream, and be happy for others that flaunted their
ability. Much conflict has risen in being kept from getting to express my
designs, even having a relationship where partner wanted a place to make a
profit off of and live standardly, where I wanted a place that represents
me, or us to live in... a home, not just a house. Much of my cleaning nature
has resulted from wanting to dwell and work in a place I'm proud to
represent me, and Constance Smith reinforces this value so well in her Art Marketing 101 book where she states: "A fresh, organized office space
creates a mental attitude for success." So frequent trips to the Beverly
Hills architecture where refinement and dreams are at it's best, inspire to
great delight. All the crap melts away when I can have hope I can be part of
such beauty some day. There is an art to structure, not just paintings.
Garden Settings
Not just a home, but
a garden of peaceful setting, inspires me to create my own escape from all
the nonsense that the world would impose upon me. Nature always provides a
beauty, escape, harmony and acceptance that people often don't. I have created a
Dream House Idea Book of many magazine clippings, photos, and
internet pictures that spell out design, uniqueness, solitude, fun,
excitement, adventure, hideaways, breakfast nooks, reading spots, sharing
places, alone time, secret doors, and glass shelters. With infiltration of
ideas, there's no room to not have any idea of how to decorate. My first
figure designs had no backgrounds. I believe garden settings have had a
great deal of influence on my paintings now.
Blank Walls & Canvas
Plain white walls
resemble a richness of space, found among the wealthy. Ever notice how
bargain clothing stores have racks of stuff hitting you as you squeeze
through the isles, and designer stores present a wide open atmosphere where
style, quality, and fabric are the value... with a couch in-between? Ever
notice someone breathing down your neck in line for discount grocery
shopping, that won't get any closer to the checker than having given you
decent respect of personable space and standing room in a more pricey
grocery mart area? Ever notice yellow
stoplights are much slower to turn red in cities of the wealthy, where
attention is given to the value of long term living, than in cities where
there's less education, graffiti, and shorter amounts of personal attention
span?
Space is a luxury, & the atmosphere gladly
paid for. Ever notice the noise level in lower-end restaurants compared to a
dinner where you can actually hear the conversation of your company across
from you, without all the out-of-key "Happy-Birthday" singings interrupting
you 3-times-a-party during your dinner? Space & quietness have become
respectfully something more special. If you're thinking about refinement,
you're thinking about personal space. And space
is luxury in putting fine objects of value in front of
plain blank walls that are uncluttered with pictures so jammed together,
they lose their importance in presentation (not in content)... a value I have, that opposition
has found me for. But seeking the higher quality way inspires me.
Blank canvas is also a relief that brings temporary peace
from just another idea that torments me to get out of my head and into form.
I think that many wishing for this kind of pain rather than intimidation, would
find the same, upon flooding their minds with reference material of the
things that inspire them, taking a class involving deep critiquing and
search for creative answers, and one's own dive into self discovery to see
what things matter to them, will spur ideas to expression.
Upholding a Standard
There are those that inspire you what NOT to be, and
those that continually gnaw away at getting you to live in the sludge just
like them. There "is" a way to not look down on others, yet put toxic
actions and attitudes far away from you, whether they be your own or
others'. The value of integrity where you don't "have" to put forth effort
to do right, but "choose" to, has a wealth far richer than any short term
gain. Instead of wronging someone back, choosing to "not" be like them, is a life
worth living. It's standing for what you believe in regardless of outside
circumstances. It's a life of honor that makes a difference and provides an
out from the endless circle of hate. When I sign my name to my art, photos,
speech, writings, presence... I recognize my faults but aim to strive for
excellence.
Freedom
As a salmon swimming against the current, there are many
forces of life that enslave... addictions, debt, alcohol, peer pressures,
parental wishes, one's own entrapments, societal holidays and events, even
child-raising causing much sacrifice. Many choose this or fall into it. I do
not. The best decisions are informed decisions. There is a balance of
freedom from controlling restraints and being able to function in society
around you; and there is a freedom we look for in nature that I try to capture
in my art.
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Individuality
In a cookie-cutter world... to stand out, take your own
shape, and resist the mold, takes strength, but there is a peace when one
can find a way to be true to themselves. Respect eventually comes; and for
those who copy you, who are your own, it's only because they are learning. A
child learns by tracing or imitating to start out, and finds their own voice
or style after getting the idea and learning their best profit lies in
understanding who they truly are, which is sometimes different than what
they may want. Uniqueness inspires me in my art, and screams out to be
different. Do something new and exciting whether you find approval or not.
The timid live in fear, and my work aims to help people find their inner
person and an acceptance of that. In my art, my figure-trees stand alone
much of the time. There's a difference between being lonely and standing
alone for
what you believe in. |
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