ART - What's it all about, part 1
The next time you walk by a piece of art and scratch you head in confusion and wonder about why "that thing" is called art, stop and ask someone, instead of just walking on.
That gut reaction, be it revulsion, intrigue, curiosity, anger, or desire, is most likely what the artists intended... well, getting some reaction is what most artists want. Many start out hoping that the viewers will understand them and their vision, say something beyond the painful, "That's interesting" , or "My 5 year old can do better than this ****". Maybe they can, maybe they can't. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for sure.
For more than 30 years I've worked at expressing myself through my art, with all the disappointment from unwanted reactions, and elation from welcome ones. And yet, a quote I read decades ago always comes back to me... "I spent most of my life trying to paint like a five year old..." I'm not entirely sure if this is Picasso, Miro, or some other often misunderstood artist, but it seems to ring true in my heart too.
The work I produce that gets the most reactions are the ones where I reach deep into my favourite influences in Aboriginal, Naive, Abstract, Outsider, and Child ART. Why do these pure emotional expressions speak so loudly over the perfection of masters? Well, maybe it is because we feel we could possibly make art just like them; maybe it's because we just feel something in the imperfections that speaks to our own uniqueness. Japanese pottery masters believe that the most valuable art is full of flaws and totally impossible to reproduce. Nature is the greatest artist, because there are endless possibilities for change and happenstance.
I've gradually embraced this philosophy of art and sought to create works that are about exploration, play, and mistakes. Close to 38 years of practicing skills on a regular basis have brought me full circle to letting stuff happen and trusting my hands and materials in the creation process.
So, pick up a brush, a crayon, a lump of clay, a bunch of found junk, and just play with it, get messy, and then ask people what they see, not what they think... beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not the mind.
If you want to see more of my playing around, please visit my site: Arts M.Perron
Dreamers - Moonlight Guitar 48" x 48" Acrylic on Board $999.00
Dreamers - The Horny Night 48" x 48" Acrylic on Board $999.00
