I think abstraction is key for my work because I am asking the viewer to look beyond what is on the "canvas". These images promote a meditative emotion and reflect the idea of literal light within the image and symbolic light within oneself.

So much beauty in minimalism!

 

Taking a more minimalist approach to images that evoke a heightened sense of spiritual awareness. I feel that the use of light along with a more minimal and less objective subject matter is a more successful approach to reflecting the idea of transcendence. I want the viewer to step away from what is individual and conscious and to step toward the universal and the unconscious. I really want these images to read as very meditative, as that is the purpose that they serve for me. When I look at the top image I think of harmony tranquility, a feeling that I get during meditation.

I think these images would be most successful if they could evoke in the viewer a sense of spirituality and oneness with the universe.

I am currently exploring two different ideas of portraying the idea of the interconnection of everything and the transcendence into a higher spiritual being. 

One idea is including the human figure in the image; the other is including human characteristics in the image, such as finger prints, eyes, etc. 

Can both be viewed as one entity? Maybe so, and maybe this can be achieved with technical aspects such as the use of color palette...

We are every drop of water and every grain of sand.

Just as we live on the earth, the earth lives within us.

Here and Now

Has anyone ever told you that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, or that everything that happens is supposed to happen?


Every little detail of every moment that has occurred is an important stepping stone in leading up to the now. There is nowhere we are "supposed to be" other than right here, right now. The reason for this is because there is a perfect order to the nature of our universe. Have you ever noticed that there are similarities all over our natural world? From the uncurling of a fern, to the inside of a nautilus shell, to the beginning spiral of the hair growth on a man's head, there is order present within all of nature. This visual order is a guide to awakening us to the truth: that everything is connected. There is a divine spirit inside each and every being on this earth, and it is up to us to spiritually awaken ourselves to see its presence.

This body of work is meant to act as a reflection of this truth. The connection among all forms of nature, along with the connection of mind, body, and spirit to nature, is important to both personal and universal growth. Through these images, I hope to evoke the idea of spiritual transcendence.

Blog #27...FULL artist statement

I figured that since I have to hand this in to my Senior Seminar class...I may as well share my full artist statement with you too!

Living in a culture where technology has become a staple in many aspects of life, it is no surprise that the art of photography has driven away from film and is steering toward digital imaging. It is a wonder the things we can do with the resources offered to us today. Being an artist influenced by all aspects of photography, I believe it is important to not only respect and practice the art of film, but to also appreciate the advances of our times by testing the waters in the digital world.

Through the art of photography, I enjoy creating images that deal with my own personal style of abstraction, thinking of art as being the projection of the thoughts in my mind. I find the process within the creation of an image to be the most important characteristic of the outcome of the work. That being said, I find my art to be most successful when I begin with an idea, start shooting, and then follow my instincts in order to determine where to go next.

This particular process adheres to my most current work, where the importance of the art lies in finding order within a seemingly disordered image. By using one single photograph, four images can be created through ordered orientations, resulting in a redefinition of the subject matter. From this, intricate patterns arise and aesthetic symmetry is accomplished due to the arrangement of the image. The purpose of this process is to convey two ideas: the first being that the subject can translate into different behaviors while still maintaining its original qualities; the second being that there are different aspects to every one thing. Upon experiencing these images, I hope for the viewer to embrace the idea that from one object can come differently redefined objects, full of excitement and exploration for the eye’s mind.