Why?

 ​I have a lot of questions in my head lately  - most notably - why have I been painting, and working hard, for four decades in isolation - and how do I 'come out'?
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What makes my art significant? Where in the work lies its distinctive quality that makes it worthy of notice?

When I was teaching I encouraged my students to understand that there is a formula for art, (and I created this idea of using a formula, I didn’t read it anywhere) - artworks need certain ingredients to communicate ideas – if we mix –
Intention + skills + art and design elements (language) + media   --->
out comes ART!
The quality of the result  depends on all the elements working together to communicate the intention.
I taught that there are three parts of the brain, we can react (lizard brain) we can feel (the center) and we can think (the top) - art works on one of these areas or a mix and gets across something felt, reacted to,  or thought - that can change the way we perceive the world. A quick trip through the history of art and we see this is true. Didn’t the impressionist change the world view? What did society acquire when we learned perspective?

a watercolor  from 2007 and 1997

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When I was at Yale, one of the grad students at her critique was asked what she was doing -- "I'm going for God!" She cried out, almost choking on the words - meaning she wanted it all - the whole deal - the meaning of life the universe and everything. I want that, too. But just as she was flustered and emotional when she blurted that statement out, it is hard for me to say, too. Difficult to believe in oneself with the drumbeats pounding in our psyche saying- You are not better than anyone else –who put those ideas in your head? - What makes you think you’re special? – And honestly for a woman of my generation – the message is very mixed with ‘besides, you’re just a girl.’
None the less – I can paint. I simply do it. It’s in me. In essence, I need to work – and part of that work is to get the images ‘out there’ In order to do this I need to also face the fact that the project is daunting and I am fearful. But keeping an eye on the rear-view mirror can help us move forward.
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It is time to believe in the work and see where it can go. It’s time to dream crazy. It’s time for the audacity of aspiration.  It’s about trying as hard as you can to do what you love and believe in. It’s not a hobby, it’s not relaxing, it’s not just expressing your self - it’s a vision of quality.

It is the pursuit of that vision that makes my work worthy of being seen.