Series ; The Watchers
Most art pieces have a story behind them. In the beginning I found it very difficult to attach a story to each piece or series. I was trying too hard. I was so busy trying to find a story that I was not paying attention to the fact that the story was already there. So many stories. So many different styles of art.
As an artist you need to find “your thing.” You want to paint in every style. You want to emulate every artist that you admire. One might think that is a good thing. Maybe yes. But more than likely no. You see, art takes practice whether you are born with a God-given talent or not. You still need to learn the how’s. I never cared much for the why’s.
You also have to worry—I mean constantly fear—how your art will be received. What are people going to think of it? Do they love it? Hate it? Think it’s ridiculous? Think it is thought-provoking? It’s mind-numbing when you worry about these things regarding your work. It’s devastating when you worry about these things in every aspect of your life. Making every decision based on keeping people at bay. Every decision made to make people happy. Every decision made on “what one is supposed to do” rather than “what should I do for me?”
“What are people going to think?”
The Watchers is my trilogy. I do art the way I want to do it. I have many artists that inspire me. None more than Jean-Michel Basquiat. Something about the way he painted and what he painted resonates in me. I do not, nor will I ever try to compare myself to him or any other artist. But I can do my best to do what I think is “My Thing.” To me that thing manifests itself when I look and study art that I love.
The Watchers comes from living in the constant fear that you are not going to be accepted. That everyone is looking at you, watching you, waiting for you to fuck up so they can say “I told you so.” In more recent years I have lived in fear of these people—real people, not my crazy mind people. My concern was prevalent in my decision making. Every decision. Even how and what I painted.
I am slowly learning how to not pay attention to it any longer. Painting them as I see them now, as red-eyed vultures, demons and all kinds of different “supernaturally” looking monsters makes me feel better.
I believe that more people than not understand what I mean.