Understanding the artist’s creative vision helps relate to the artwork you collect. There is a journey behind each piece of collectable art - the art has spoken to you, responds to something within and you want to know ‘the why’’, hopeful to gain insight to the artist, this person now in your life. Your innocent questions are heard “What’s the motivation for this piece? Is there a story?”

As a self-proclaimed, reclusive artist; for me, the simple questions cause pause. The why. Despite its simplicity, the question is exceptionally complex. I began the quest to find a simple, all-encompassing response.

Discussing my latest painting with close family members, the question arose “What motivated you to paint the elk?” I balanced my honesty with an unexpected pressure to produce a Shakespearean reveal. Not wanting to disappoint my supportive audience, I contemplated other artists’ responses. With minimal effort, they somehow flamboyantly describe monumental inspiration via a muse, a spiritual experience, divination, poetry - the list is long and quite curious. I haven’t found anything that spectacular to justify my creative process. Can you understand? Will you? What am I risking by exposing my truth? Can I recover?

Confident in family support, I confessed that “my why” is simple - I become lost in a shape or color; recently, a tube of brown paint and a series of squares. A tube of brown paint? Resting in my hands, the paint requests completion. “What deserves this beautiful brown?” (I guess this is where I could state divine inspiration begins.) My mind settles, my eyes connect to a sequence of squares, everything becomes logically arranged, and all is as it should be. I select my favorite pencil, choose the appropriate sheet of watercolor paper - voila! After the initial sketch, the brown paint appears in an elk’s pelt, contrasting against a foggy mountain morning. The poised elk, alert, pierces the mist with a resounding bellow.

And, friends, sometimes the paintings are perfect, and sometimes, not so much. Perfection is irrelevant, as nature has that covered. For me, my last hour was zen; the world stopped as I was lost in the sounds of a simple pencil and brush effortlessly gliding across rough watercolor paper. Pretty great hour, by my measure.

My unquenchable desire to be lost. That’s my “why” in every piece of art.

I appreciate your support, whether it’s collecting my art, supporting this blog, or connecting with me personally. By doing so, you, too are part of this journey; welcome aboard. I’m thrilled to get lost with you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Peace, love, and light.

Kay

www.happypigstudio.com