Unknowingness

 I'd like to think I have a considerable amount of curiosity and hopefully, a healthy hint of skepticism.  But most likely my 'need to know' mind set results from an over-arching need for control, a basic insecurity that leaves me feeling vulnerable unless I have things neatly figured out. 

I taught myself how to do video production, back in the day, when video cameras were tethered to  recording decks.  I learned to shoot, edit and produce videos for school, church, and weddings.  I even took a video recording deck apart to figure out what the parts were and how they worked.  

With painting, I read everything I could, practiced with passion, gave away portraits to neighbors who were willing to sit for me, and basically taught myself how to paint.  I attended only two workshops, one on the business aspects of art, the other on incorporating photos into assemblages and mixed media.  Two problems with self-instruction is that you have blind spots where you can't see your own obvious mistakes and "you don't know what you don't know," ya know? Another difficulty that arises from self teaching is a powerful imposter syndrome, weighted by the lack of credentials.

I say all this as a preface to my thoughts on self-expression through abstract art.  I feel wholly inadequate to speak about art in general so I will try to stay confined to MY work.  I teeter on the precipice, hesitant to take the first plunge, but here I go....

How do you describe a color? A taste? A musical note? I think it is only by association, contrasting and comparing to other sensations that we comprehend a sensory impression, impulse, imprint.  My paintings are intended to be perceived by the senses, not by the intellect.  What you might ascribe to an image is a product of your own imagination and not mine, if I have done my job well.  It can be challenging to enter a purely unguided, unfamiliar realm of perception but I urge you to do so!