All About Trading - ArtTrader Magazine

Art TRADER
m a g a z i n e
Did you study art?
Yes. I graduated from a Liberal Arts college. I was actually the
first person in the college history to graduate with a 4.0 grade
average and major in the Department of Fine Arts. This doesn’t
necessarily mean I’m some outstanding artist, it simply means I
was very competitive in academics. I loved it all--from Chemistry
to English Lit to 3D Design. I see it all as important to my artistic
development. One thing that I discovered was that the more I
learned--I realized the less I knew. And I wanted to know more;
I wanted to understand more. I didn’t simply want to graduate
with the knowledge of how to stretch a canvas and compose a
still life. I wanted to be able to hear the music of Chopin, to read
the visual language of Kandinsky, and experience the sound
and movement of Nijinsky and Diaghilev. And I was fortunate
to have amazing art professors--ones who forced me to work.
And by “work” I don’t mean simply “make pictures;” I had to
defend my work.
I had to learn how to verbalize my direction and goals. It deepened the experience. Because, so many
times, even today, I have NO idea what in the world I’m doing. And sometimes, an artist has to go with
her gut. And after the work is finished, the artist can step away, look back, and then the reason, the
awakening, the enlightening is evident!
Are there any artists who particularly inspire you?
There is no way I could list who all have inspired me, guided
me, or taught me. Every day I find new inspiration. And I
believe that there is something to learn in any experience,
whether the experience is positive or negative. The entire
world inspires me. And this doesn’t mean I am always
inspired! Far from it. Most days I can’t think of any direction.
I can sit and sit for a long time and not come up with one
thing I want to do. The fact is, having too many influences
can be confusing. Because if one can’t limit something, then
instead of having direction, there’s confusion! That’s where I
am most the time--right in the middle of my big pot of boiling
bewilderment.
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