Day 2

I know it’s a cliché for an artist to say this, but I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t make art. I started with the same kinds of drawings that every other kid does, but became more focused as I got older. I think it’s one of those things where a person is kinda good at something, so they do it more and more, thus making themselves even better. In the culture that is elementary school, there’s always the kid who is the fastest runner, one who’s the best reader (kids care about strange things sometimes!), and there’s always the best artist or two. This is a place where I was able to shine, and it continued as I grew older.

Music is and always has been a major part of my life. In fact, I had big plans to pursue a career in music – hell, let’s be honest: I wanted to be a rock star! Those plans came to a grinding halt when I suffered the unfortunate realization that I have little to no musical ability! Therefore, I make visual art, but I continue to have a great deal of musical influence on my subject matter. I find loads of inspiration from song lyrics that paint amazing pictures in the mind. My favorites are well-known song writers such as Tom Petty and Jackson Browne, but I find myself even more drawn to fringe artists such as the Avett Brothers, Jeff Black, and Butch Walker.

Regarding the visual arts, I am influenced first and foremost by the art of Rene Magritte, although I cannot overlook the influence of Salvador Dali. I am also influenced greatly by many of the so-called low-brow artists of today such as Mark Ryden, David Stoupakis, Shepard Fairey, and on and on.

Most of my art is left open to interpretation by the viewer as I rarely provide meanings behind what I do. I would much rather the viewer decided what my work means to them instead of force-feeding an interpretation to them.

I undertook this project as a means to continue my exploration of the self-portrait in a more focused manner. To paraphrase Magritte: “Life obliges me to do something, so I make art.”

#2 October 22, 2010, Pen on paper

Sounds: Allison Moorer, Crows