Why do you create art?
Why do we feel the need to create? Why do we hang pieces on our walls? Easy, art=memory. Every piece hanging in our home is memory. You buy a piece because it speaks to you. It connects you with a memory, a dream you’ve had, your childhood, a favorite place.
Each piece I have in my home tells a story. I know where I got it, I remember where I was travelling. And each of those pieces tells a story about the artist as well.
That’s why I create art; to tell my story. My colorful acrylic paintings allow me to tell my story without words. They speak to my memories, my passion for color. I find it cathartic to work on a painting. It’s like at home therapy for anxiety; especially during this year!
Whenever I tell people what I do, I get interest but mostly blank stares. There are several stigmas surrounding a career in art. You won’t make any money, that’s not a real job, you’re not going to work everyday. Also, because my style isn’t traditional, I am bombarded with negative thoughts about my own work. But you keep on keeping on. Don’t let those negative thoughts creep in on you. You do what you do, and that’s what makes you unique. You don’t want to be like everyone else.
Okay, so I’m not classically trained. So along with the stigmata and self doubt, I have this hanging over my head. Of course, I have an inferiority complex when comparing myself to other painters. But I’ve been drawing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I did study the greats on my own. I try to push this dread out of my head when it creeps in.
Anyone that says being an artist is not real work is insane. No, I’m not going somewhere and clocking in for eight hours. I work more than eight hours a day, and I’m not getting paid unless I sell a painting. It’s mentally and emotionally stressful. I have to get my brain into the zone. Sometimes I will stare at a blank piece of paper or canvas, willing inspiration to come. I scrap half of the work I create. I keep all my sketchbooks and discarded paintings to revisit later. You never know when inspiration will strike, right? I will go back and look at these from time to time. I scrapped them for a reason, but sometimes there’s one square inch of brilliance hidden in them. Thank you to my sketchbooks when I’m going through a creative slump.
The series of paintings I’ve been working on recently are a study of brushwork and still life. This is a huge change of pace for me. They are not my usual colorful Clarissa Keener paintings. Those are more abstract. This new series is me getting back to basics, to continue to improve my skill set. We all need a refresher every now and then. As a Detroit painter, I am surrounded by amazing artists with a clear voices. I’m finding my voice. I’m finding what I want the world to see and hear through my work. I’m pushing myself to be better, to challenge my comfort levels. And I urge you, my reader, to do the same. If you do not step out of your comfort zone, you will never learn and grow. Do what you’re passionate about. Do what you need to do to challenge yourself, and also keep the negativity away. This applies to any field. Until next time, please stay safe in this crazy world of ours!
