Artist Proof

Why are you an artist? Do You believe the artist has a job? 

If you’re an artist, you’re a storyteller by default. It really doesn’t matter if you relate to that title at all. If you are creating work and showing it to others, you are communicating some story in the best way you know how. Your way. 

I created my very first painting in 2016. It was a two color black and white painting, a 16x20 inch black background, with curvy white shapes that resembled cells under a microscope. It wasn’t much, but I spent all night listening to Anderson Paak and forming this amateur piece of art. It was 6am by the time I was done and I felt accomplished. From there I wanted to delve deeper into painting. I had no knowledge of what I was doing whatsoever, but as I learned more and strengthened my skill, I was able to create visually appealing art. How did I know I was creating visually appealing art? Of course I thought everything I produced was excellent, which obviously wasn’t the case. It was the response from the public that let me know I’d created something that looked “good”. Then I had a moment and a bright idea emerged, Voila! I should just make what people like because that’s what creating artwork is all about right? Wrong! That was my truth for the next two years until I recognized how underwhelming the act of painting had become. On the upside I had spent dozens of hours perfecting a process that would help me create visually appealing art quickly, so making art for other people’s taste wasn’t 100% soul sucking. I learned my style and process. I’d become burned out on making paintings that I didn’t really care about, and I had a burning desire to do something different. I needed to find the root of why I even bothered to make paintings. Again, a bright idea emerged and lit my path. This time it was crystal clear. I needed to create work that was personal and share my story. 

I’d become so versatile and efficient with the tools I’d used to make paintings, I could create anything. So I began to tell my story painting by painting. Not only did interest increase in my work, but I was able to connect with so many people. They could relate to my story. I found that the power of honesty and genuinely sharing my life gave my work so much more substance. Taking snippets of my life’s story and turning those moments of time into paintings. It’s truly a vulnerable thing to do, yet it creates a sense of empowerment, acceptance and connectivity to my audience.

Why Am I an Artist?

I was born an artist. I wish I could drain every ounce of cliche from that statement, but it’s true. I can help but to create. I believe this is the same for many others and when we are young we create off of the strength of our adolescent or childlike nature. We create with our emotions and imaginations. As we grow older we begin to experience the fullness of our lives. We travel the emotional spectrum from bliss to misery stopping at acceptance and refusal before working our way back. When we arrive, we continue to create but now off of the strength of our complicated nature and certain reality. 

What Is My Job As an Artist?

Artists are vessels used to communicate our human experience.

Because I can create paintings, I believe that I am responsible for prompting change in whatever area I am called to at a given time. In my opinion, all artists have the gift of being able to articulate emotions through whatever medium they create in. This is so powerful because the complexity of issues like race, religion, politics and sexuality can be articulated in ways that allude misunderstanding creating clear definitions to complicated ideas.

To all of the artists, art lovers and communicators,

I hope this brief writing inspires you. I hope you are inspired to use your voice, press your issues and activate those around you to join your cause to effect positive change. Your gift is a powerful tool to continue to prove your points and validate the popular or unpopular opinions of your initiatives.

-Von