Why Do I Create Art?

This is a question we need to ask ourselves often, because the answer may not be obvious at first, and it may change as we change and evolve.

In the beginning, I painted from the outside in, emulating the styles of other artists who spoke to me. I would see a painting, something would move inside me, and I would want to recreate the feeling it evoked in me. This was exactly the right way to paint at that stage of my career as an artist. Look at a lot of art, take note of what moved me, and try to emulate it.

But at some point an artist needs to start looking inward, find her own voice, go deeper – and ultimately be able to answer the question, “Why do I create art?”

For me, the answer has been fairly surface-level up to this point: find beauty in the world, tap into my spiritual side, get away from the mundane, practical, soulless everyday. Look beyond. See who I am on a deeper level. Find the courage to be vulnerable. Show my soft side, my naive, childish side. Admit that I have feelings – sadness from loss, fear of losing loved ones, a naive admiration of the beauty of this world. These thoughts are still scattered, but this is why I’ve been painting so far.

Why do I paint women? Ultimately, my women are self-portraits – a representation of me, or of the woman who connects to my art. They don’t represent all of me, just a certain part, and the representation is symbolic. There is no likeness the way there is in a portrait. I want to feel beautiful and full of vitality, gentle, soft, feminine, loved. I want to spread that soft energy around me, because in softness and love there lies an immense power.

It’s a power that warms hearts, lowers guards, relieves pain. It’s a power much stronger than any force, physical force aimed at controlling someone. I’m tapping into the power of Mother Nature.

A few closeups of a large floral painting I’m working on: