Connecting

Writing artist’s statements used to be incredibly challenging for me. I have always been reluctant to tell people what my work is about, preferring instead that people find their own meaning. Sometimes I don’t know what my work is about when I first begin a new series; instead, it is through the process of creating, and becoming familiar with a new subject matter, that I begin to understand what drew me to it initially. I also genuinely love hearing what other people see in the work, because sometimes it is not what I had in mind at all but is a beautiful, powerful interpretation that adds a new layer of meaning for me.

Social media helped me get over my hesitancy to write about my work. I can still be somewhat reticent… After all, I consider myself a visual artist, not a writer! But I am less shy about my process and my thoughts now, thanks to — well, I was going to say the “creation” of social media, but the truth is that it existed for quite a while before I participated in it. I have found it incredibly- and surprisingly - helpful to write small bits about my work and my process along the way, not just when the time comes for an official Artist’s Statement.

Recently, I have found, like many artists, that it is getting increasingly difficult to reach people through social media. And blogging is something that I have considered over the years, but never prioritized. I am finding that it is more and more important to me to try to connect directly with the people who appreciate my work. As any artist will tell you, it is hard to pour heart and soul (not to mention a tremendous amount of time and effort) into your work and then not hear anything about how it lands out there in the world! I treasure my interactions with people about my work, as it has become increasingly clear to me that life, like my art itself, is all about connection.

I would love to hear from you, so please feel free to hit the contact tab and send me a quick hello!

Cheers,

Whitney