Summative Reflection Project

The Golden Road
Acrylic on Canvas
24x36"

I originally started out with the concept of painting a pumpkin in a representational way.  The pumpkin itself might symbolize the container that we create by laying down the guidelines for VTS students, and also the bounty of ideas that are present within the discussion itself.  After visiting the Daum Contemporary Museum of Art in Sedalia a few weekends ago, I became very inspired by what I saw, and decided to change my approach to painting the pumpkin representationally.  I am an abstract painter, and although this style may seem like a logical approach for me to take, I was hesitant towards summing up my experience in VTS-I in this regard. 

I am usually cautious to share this way of painting because of my perception of its lack of welcome in most contemporary painting circles.  Although I have been met with some resistance as to how I paint, I also know that some people really enjoy my work.  VTS has encouraged me to see that there is no one correct approach in regards to a piece of art.  In fact there are often times multiple viewpoints, some contradictory, but all subjective to the viewer.

I feel that, “what more can we find in this picture,” has been a metaphor for me that I have enjoyed “chewing” on this throughout semester.  I was not expecting to be effected as an artist by facilitating and learning about VTS, but I have.  This simple question has allowed me to see my way of painting “a-fresh”.  What more can we find has become my mantra as I paint layer upon layer.  What I feel like I am trying to say is that I am more comfortable with myself as an artist because of working with VTS.  Within the discussion, everyone is welcome and accepted.  I feel more confident as an artist because of this!  This is really exciting to me.  Art making is what has always fueled my art teaching.  Through VTS, teaching art is giving back to my artist self.  Yet another reason why I will keep practicing VTS!