JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Visual Arts and Photography Forum Lithium is Meaningless

Hi Randy,

Perhaps now I better understand your sad smiley on the other thread...

That said, while you know I respect your opinion, I would like to challenge it some. One of the definitions of "pretense" is make-believe....and in that sense, paint with pretense CREATES art -- because you're making your audience believe what you've created is real. Whether it's too real for comfort is another matter.

Regardless of your intentions or topic, the very process of creation in fact validates your work. And the translation of what's in your mind's eye to something outside yourself (be it sheet music or canvas) is the very essence of art.

I believe you were quite brave to even attempt the series you describe. And while it's certainly intriguing to me from a psychoanalytical standpoint, I'm sure it presented a challenging "look in the mirror" -- how much is me, how much is the patient? I don't suggest the ratio of one to the other is out of "proper proportion" -- I just wonder if the two halves worked together so well artistically you felt it reflected poorly on you somehow...

You are a talented and intuitive artist Randy. This particular piece is very provocative, and from a selfish standpoint, I'm sorry you discarded the others from the series. While perhaps they were not meant for the rest of the world to see....I suspect you got more out of them than you realize.

Thank you so much for sharing this....and I hope you don't take my words the wrong way. I'm not casting judgements.... just offering my 38 cents in an effort to encourage you.

A big fan,
Beth