HIATUS INSPIRATION

Taking the time to reflect and refine.

I took some time off. I guess I can’t really call it time off because I didn’t exactly stop working. I made a series of paintings, spent some time traveling and selling some older paintings that I had in my inventory. It was a slow time, intentionally. I needed to refocus, stop creating so much just to create and consider how I was shaping my future with what I was creating. I was feeling a little burn out, plus the work I was making was no longer interesting to me. Usually I would try harder to psych myself out or “get” myself back into the work, but I let it go and took it slow.

The Slow Burn

My work became uninteresting seemingly out of the blue. In 2023 we have unlimited access to information at our fingertips. I’m not one to purposely watch Netflix or scroll instagram for inspiration. The majority of my inspo comes from within.

Although I’ve always had the motivated and inspired spirit to create, I was missing the understanding of how to connect with others through my work.

Time and time again I would create a piece or a series and it seemed as if it would go right over everyone’s head. It left me feeling crazy and ultimately led me to seeking approval. I studied and learned what “everyone” liked to see an artist create. I lost my way and fell into the trap. I found what would get me the likes, comments and the reaction I was looking for. I became comfortable in that and started to feel like I was connecting with my audience. I wasn’t aware that this would completely kill my creativity and desire to create work that would help me connect with the world around me. I hated that. 

The Geographical 

I knew the best thing that I could do was to get out of my head and out of my space immediately. I booked a one way flight to Michigan, Moms house. There is something about relocating that always helps me recalibrate, especially at home. An environment where I first discovered that I needed to create. My Moms house is tastefully outfitted with some of my best and worst paintings. She knows she can always order a custom painting for free, so she leaves her basement open and available as my workspace whenever I decide to come to town. I spent three weeks in Michigan taking in the slow suburban pace, looking through old photos, watching movies, eating comfort food and cranking out one of 3 polyptychs, a 9 piece painting, that I sold to a new collector I met at the end of my stay. This was the first part of my “geographical”. It gave me some time to be at peace, collect my thoughts, and create with a similar energy I had when I was 15 years old. It’s interesting how much my environment affects what and how I create. When I was creating at home I was confident in my creative choices, I had no interest in outside input and I was sure I would find a buyer at my price by the time I was complete with my work. 

When my mission was complete in the Midwest I booked a one way flight to see my Brother Mose and now Sister in Law Jasmine in Manhattan. This was the catalyst. First off, the energy in Manhattan is insane to me. The way the city looks and moves is incredibly inspiring. I dropped my bags off at my brother's apartment on the East side and took off walking through the city. I walked aimlessly taking the city in through my camera lens. There were a few moments where I felt like I was in a stereotypical movie about New York City. I saw two guys pushing a massive painting across heavy traffic, the sunlight hitting them through the middle of two skyscrapers. I saw a girl in a brown sherpa coat walking 6 fluffy brown dogs, they were practically matching. I was sure I would see someone hoisting a piano up to the 9th floor of an apartment building next. I made my way to the Whitney Museum and took my time combing through the contemporary art wing. I had been in NYC for almost 8 hours and I was already juiced up and ready to create with a new approach.  

I had meaningful conversations with Jasmine and Mose about art, got to look at so many works by master painters and sculptors and learned the stories of many of the contemporary artists I admire. All of this helped me to focus my energy on a fresh and more refined take on my story. 

The Intensifying

When I arrived back in LA I was ready to create with more discipline, focus and energy. I was aware that I needed to use social media to my advantage but I made a choice to not be distracted by it. I now understand it as a tool to progress the visibility of my work. Before I left for Michigan I found a lot of joy in creating abstract paintings and patterns. I enjoy the feeling of painting unplanned. I had the idea to take that abstract style of painting and combine it with a basic figurative style. I had a clear vision of how this work would look and I knew that it would help me to articulate my narrative. At the moment the focus of my work is life painting. I am sharing my life, the people I surround myself with, my experiences and thoughts. I’ve found value in the specificity of a personal story and I no longer make artwork for anyone but me. My inspiration still comes from within, However now the goal of each work is rooted in how I can connect with each person's experience rather than their need to buy.   

-Von