What Does it Mean?

Art communicates.

Visually, emotionally, intellectually.

What is being communicated depends on both my intentions as an artist and your experiences as the viewer.

I can intend one Meaning and you might receive a different meaning because you are you and everything that has happened in your life influences how you experience your world.

So the answer to “what does it mean” depends.

And that is one of the coolest things about Artwork. When artwork is appreciated it is not a one sided statement. It is a conversation between maker and viewer.

What is my Intention?

This does not mean I abdicate the job of trying to understand what I am communicating.

I could. I could say to my viewers – “it’s up to you to decide” when asked what it means.

Many artists do this.

Nothing wrong with that approach. Although I prefer a conversation.

So I think about what I’m saying with my artwork.

No easy task given it is abstract.

There are no recognizable pictures that make it obvious what it means.

So I have to pay attention.

I journal and observe and sit quietly and read and talk. And I repeat. I make more art.

And eventually it all starts to make sense.

What do my Marks Mean?

What I know at this point is my marks are about travel. About movement. It’s a work in progress learning and understanding what I am communicating and what I want to communicate in my work.

A couple of examples:

Seeing the simple circles and rectangles in a row create pathways. They are getting me somewhere.

I make these sorts of marks frequently.

I’m beginning to consider if the different types of paths have different meanings. I’m not sure. I’ll let you know as I learn more.

Another mark that is appearing quite frequently in my work is a square with shapes inside. These are emerging as a mark for identity.

As I said – it’s a work in progress. One of the joys of creating a body of work is going deeper into what the work is about. And why it matters to me.

As I learn more, I’ll share more.

PS – Artists – if you would like to explore a body of work in depth – I’m currently enrolling for my year long program Create a Body of Work. Part of the course includes specific exercises to help you uncover and understand the meaning of your own work. Learn more about the course here.