As an artist too, it is necessary to stand out. To dare to stand out. The hell with whether what you get made is nice, polished and perfect. In fact, only cool if it isn't.
My own ambition is to strike an expression that is equal parts raw and authentic; which exudes life lived and time spent on the West Coast. My paintings must not be anywhere near smooth and perfect, because my reality is anything but. Traces of use and patina, rather than purity and perfection. My poems must dare to be simplistic, low-brow, because that's how I think and dream.
To the extent that art works, it may just be the eye opener that can make us see beyond the tip of our own little nose; to see ourselves in each other, and to see others in ourselves.
Is my style still going off in 117 different directions? Does my work not resemble that of trendsetting artists at all?
So much the better.
That'll be my two cents: keep your cool and don't care because there's basically no reason to do what you do or pursue what you strive for, if not precisely to expose your own voice. To refine your very own expression.
My ambition in what I create therefore is fundamentally no different from my ambition in life: to be (more) honest and open; to persevere and make a virtue out of my different approach to many things. That way I can be the best living example for my girls, and at the same time, by acknowledging my many quirks, I can open up the space where we are basically all the same.
To the extent that art works, it may just be the eye opener that can make us see beyond the tip of our own little nose; to see ourselves in each other, and to see others in ourselves.
There are few things the world needs more these days.
