Communication

I spend quite a lot of time thinking about relationships. It is a major theme in my art, and I believe relationships are one of the most significant forces in our lives. In particular, I think our relationships with other people can be life changing. As an artist, my life tends to be filled with solitude, and I often find myself closing people out so that I can paint. Lately, however, I have begun to realize that I need other people. It is time to carve out a bit more space in my life and my heart for people: face to face, quality time with people I am fond of. Even if it means one less painting is born.

I know that there is risk involved. When we open our hearts to another, there is always the chance we will be hurt by them. In fact, it seems inevitable that we will eventually hurt someone we love, unintentionally or purposefully. But that is no reason to close ourselves off. There is much more to be gained by taking the risk to love and be loved, and this is what we must remember. This is what I say to myself.

We all know that communication is essential to any relationship, and just like anything else worth doing, it must be practiced. Non artists might not realize that one of the reasons an artist creates art is because it is how we are most comfortable communicating. It is a form of self-discovery, but art is also how artists say things that seem impossible to convey any other way.

"Revealing Light." Monotype, 5 x 7 inches.

 Do we spend so much time afraid of saying the wrong thing that we end up saying nothing at all?