WHERE DOES MY PERSONAL

AESTHETIC COME FROM?

The question of my personal aesthetics on the most general level are broken down to that which is beautiful and eye catching and that which has a personal or social message. Often objects with smooth lines or curves with absolutely no flaws are appealing to me as are objects of structure, such as the work of Frank Ghery. I believe this comes from my attraction to construction and architecture since I was a child. Other types of objects that will catch my eye are objects having elements of optical illusion. I love the duality of a beautiful work of art which can incorporate a tasteful sense of humor. This type of concept in art makes me think of the way someone like Mark Twain was to literature, poignant, moving, witty, and humorous.

Another aspect of art I am drawn to is that which has some sort of personal or political or social message. This is certainly not to say that I like all art of this type. It is seldom pulled off effectively due to sensationalists and those who are trying to shock or simply anger people. I believe the best way to create meaningful art is to create directly form the heart. No part of the piece can be made merely in order to elicit a response from the viewer; rather it should make a statement from the artist as personal truth. Not only must it fall along this difficult balance, it must also be interesting and matching in it’s form and texture. When done correctly, however, it is extremely moving. An excellent example of this is one of my favorite sculptures The Vietnam Memorial.