Art has been part of my life for a long time now and I’ve seen many changes both in my life and my work. I remember when I was younger looking at the work of great artists and having no concept of the process that gave rise to any of it. It all just seemed to come right out of their head, perfect and in final form.
It took many years for me to realize, that not only is most art not “perfect,” it rarely can be considered finished or in “final form.” Is there even such a thing as “final form?” Now, I have seen people viewing art say this piece or that body of work is perfect, or the other one there is in final form because there is nothing more for the artist to discover. But have you ever heard artists say that about their work? Most think the same way I do. After finishing a piece I think, “Wow, this is great, how can I top this.” Then after a few short days I look at it and only see what could have been done better, that the concept stinks, the color palette is atrocious, the execution is an absolute embarrassment.
Somehow we always go back and try again…and again. And as life goes on there is so much of what we experience and learn, often seemingly unrelated to art, that creeps into what we do. And somehow the work is never finished.
After all, art is a Journey.