All too often, I get the question "what does it mean?". This question generally doesn't come from people who follow me on Instagram, or people who are familiar with my work. It often comes from viewers that are seeing one of my abstract pieces for the first time. More frequently than not, it's when a reel goes viral and reaches a broad new audience.
Many seem to ask the question out of spite, or to taunt me because they don't see something representational or familiar to them. Some just have a distaste for abstract art overall, and feel the need to express it. For those that are asking the question out of genuine curiosity, the following is my answer.
First, there's intended meaning before I begin a painting. There's the concept, story, or feeling that I intend to convey. Secondly, there's the meaning in my heart and hands while I'm actually making a painting. The thoughts I have while I'm painting, where the painting goes, what I wrestle with internally and on the substrate, and how those thoughts change as the piece moves to completion. And third, there's the meaning of the painting when I stand back and look at it complete, what I think of it, and what it means to me as an object I've created. This usually evolves as time passes and I view the piece in my home, or consider it in a collection.
Often those three points in time can create a very different meaning for a piece. The meaning can also change while editing a film for Instagram, putting an audio track on it, and when I view the completed film. Sometimes I have an idea in my head of what the song should be and what it should communicate to help further the intended idea of the piece. Other times the song may inform the meaning. I may have been listening to a song while I was painting and it's imbued some meaning, whether that meaning is inherent in the lyrics, or a feeling created as a result of that piece of music or that album. And then there's also the meaning that others imbue upon the peace when they see it as a still image, or see it edited in a film in a reel, and then decide they want to put it into a comment. Their comment may even alter what the piece means to me.
I love hearing what a painting means to people that have seen viewed it -- people I've never met or had a conversation with. The only thing they've seen is the painting in a reel and the process of creating the piece, and they've been moved by it enough to share their interpretation in a comment. I don't look at these comments and think they're wrong. People interpret what they see and what they feel, and bring their own meaning to art. These are some of the best comments I get. I'm not saying I want everyone to look at my work, make a comment and tell me what they think it means. It's not my goal, and I don't necessarily enjoy taking dictation about things that are so personal. I do feel quite gratified when people see a piece of mine, and it means something to them in that moment. No matter how abstract or geometric, or cold it may feel to some people or easy it may feel to others, there are those that are affected in a some way, and legitimately feel something. They feel enough that they are compelled to tell a complete stranger (me) how it affected them.
For the people that look at a painting and say it's trash or use the “throw up” emoji or just say "my three year old could do that"... For each one of those people, there's another hundred people that, and I don't mean this to be arrogant, but that my paintings are affecting in a way that's overwhelmingly positive. This is what good art should do. To each one of those people, these paintings are clearly art. And they’re functioning at the high level of how a work of art should function. It's evoking a response... an emotion. A comment. At times it's creating conflict between people who love it and so desperately despise it. Ha! Isn't that what art should do?
When we go back to the question of meaning, my simple response would be "What's the meaning… when?" And for me to answer that question, it's multiple answers that follow different paths and reflect different feelings along different timelines. Which is essentially the concept, and in a way, the foundational idea and executional approach of what I'm doing in my work.
I guess my answer is a bit of a non answer. But it's also all of the answers combined. If it's a reel, watch the reel with the audio ON. Look at the painting in stills and swipe through the closeups and different angles. Read and contemplate the title in the caption. I might provide other clues in the caption as well. What does any one of these things, or the combination of these things mean to you? That is the answer. That is what it means. Don’t ask me. Ask yourself. If the answer is nothing, then the painting is not for you. Move on.
If you'd like to read more about each individual collection, I also tend to add details about my approach and intention on the collection pages of my site. The vessels collection is here.
Below is more information about the paintings in the photo, from top left to right and bottom left to right. Click on the "available" link to view the work in detail or inquire if it's not available yet on the site.
1. Through it All | Vessels Collection | Available | Acrylic on cradled panel | 11 x 14 x 1.5 inches \ 12 x 15 x 2 inches framed with ebonized walnut float frame
2. Remembrance | Vessels Collection | Available | Acrylic on cradled panel | 11 x 14 x 1.5 inches \ 12 x 15 x 2 inches framed with ebonized walnut float frame
3. Title TBD | Vessels Collection | Available via email | Acrylic on cradled panel | 11 x 14 x 1.5 inches \ 12 x 15 x 2 inches framed with gray wash cherry float frame
4. Together Away | Vessels Collection | Available | Acrylic on cradled panel | 11 x 14 x 1.5 inches \ 12 x 15 x 2 inches framed with ebonized walnut floater frame
5. Title TBD | Vessels Collection | Available via email | Acrylic on cradled panel | 11 x 14 x 1.5 inches \ 12 x 15 x 2 inches framed with gray wash cherry float frame
6. At Long Last | Vessels Collection | Available | Acrylic on cradled panel | 11 x 14 x 1.5 inches \ 12 x 15 x 2 inches framed with ebonized walnut float frame