November 2020 October 2020
Self-Portrait Venice
Acrylic Acrylic
18" x 24" 18" x 24"
January 2, 2021 January 10, 2021
Do you think of me? Enby
Mixed media Mixed media
8.5" x 11" 8.5" x 8.5"
January 11, 2021 January 23, 2021
What I look like now Growing
Mixed media Mixed media
8.5" x 11" 8.5" x 11"
February 25, 2021
Leftovers of retrograde
Mixed media
8.5" x 11"
November 2020
The Lovers
Mixed media
6" x 4"
October 3, 2020
Nova
Mixed media
8.5" x 8.5"
January 14, 2021
Oatmilk
Procreate
2142px x 2142px (8" x 8")
I think to explain my desire to be an artist, it’s necessary to define what an artist is, along with what art is itself. Anyone who has enrolled in an art-related class has had to endure the discussion surrounding the question “what is art?” By the end of the class, the definition is still very much in the air, and one might even leave the classroom with a new philosophical crisis to add to their list of what keeps them up at night. Art can be extremely relative. Especially within modern and contemporary art.
Art can be an expression, which I think is a very common interpretation, but some argue that placing that definition on art, limits it to being related solely to feelings/thoughts (though one could probably also argue that placing any definition in general on the concept of art is choking it out.) Art can be an experience. Possibly an intangible one. Or possibly art is the physical manifestation of said experience(s) whether visual or performative. Art can also be a form of communication, for one human being to socialize with another. Which if art is a physical manifestation of a human experience, then it can also be used to non-verbally communicate and relate to another person simultaneously. Looking at art history, some items have been deemed art by historians and other authorities, when in the context of their original environment, the item might have simply been a tool, something that served a specific function. This then leads to the debate whether art can even serve a practical function and also brings up the role of beauty in art - which could be an entirely different conversation since “beauty” also has a rather loose definition.
Therefore, I don’t think “art” can ever have a universal definition, at least not a solid one. Art is defined by the individual, whether others agree with the individual or not isn’t necessarily an issue. I believe that art can honestly be anything (yes I am one of those people) as long as the person who created it deems it so. That doesn’t necessarily make it good art, however, but it’s a start. I think that if there is an intention behind a creation, from an extremely well-researched commentary on society or simply because it “looks cool,” it can qualify as art if the artist chooses to call it that. Therefore an artist is simply a person who creates something with an intention. Reflecting on one’s intentions is, therefore, a requirement to be an artist.
Based on that definition, despite what people around me have told me since I was little, I don’t think I’ve been an artist for that long. I certainly agree that I have at least a bit of talent and skill in creating visually aesthetic things. I think I’ve had my brief moments of fulfilling my criteria to be an artist, but I don’t think I’ve made a point of constantly checking in on my intentions when creating until fairly recently. I’m still exploring what it is I actually want to do with what I produce, but I do think it’s important that whatever I create has a positive impact on its audience. Even if it’s visually unappealing, or maybe politically/culturally incorrect, if something I make can cause someone else to reflect on their own thoughts, feelings, or beliefs, and allow them to expand in some way forward, that would be cool.
I’m also still not sure where I specifically would like to take my work in terms of media. I would like to experiment with many different areas rather than focusing solely on painting or drawing for example. Right now, I would just like to put in an effort in exploring and developing my personal style, whether I remain a traditional visual artist or move on to different media such as music, writing, or performance, though I doubt my social anxiety would ever allow me to go into performance art.
Overall, at this stage in my life, I think I’m just starting to grasp what it is I believe, in general as well as in art, so similar to art’s own definition, things are still very much in the air for me. What I do know is that right now I would simply like to continue my research on other artists and to continue my own self-reflections so that I can reach a point where I am creating a positive impact on others through what I produce artistically.
