Expressing Inner States

       Throughout time and across cultures, artists have been using their talents to give face to the unseen. Toward the end of the 18^th century the Romantic dissociation caused artists to further explore their role as depicters of inner truths gone unnoticed by society. I think Kandinsky phrased it best when he said, “The form is the outer expression of the inner content.” Since art is typically created to be viewed, public attempts at interpretation are to be expected. How is the artist using line/color/shape to tell us about what is going through his mind? In the early 20^th century, artists began to intentionally combine social and cultural conventions into their renderings of inner states. To this day, this sort of expressionist art is often a very political endeavor, though individual and personal consciousness remains the driving force.
      Art is an incredibly powerful means of communication. I believe that, as artists, we owe it to ourselves and to the world around us to be as expressive and honest as possible in our work. For me, giving tangible form to my own unseen thoughts and feelings through my art is the perfect excuse to speak my mind to the world. However, it is also a valuable opportunity for personal exploration and meditation. Though many people prefer to hide what goes on behind the curtains, the artist’s fire is fueled by such things. If there is anything that ordinary folks are hesitant to discuss with words, you can bet that subject will make for one juicy visual experience.