The Life of an Artist: Finding My Voice

Like so many other artists, when I am in the studio my inner child is in full control.  I am throwing paint, splashing water and allowing my inner voice to flow through me like a raging river after a winter storm.  There is always music, glorious music to take me to far away places in my mind and to the far reaches of my childhood memories.  I listen to just about every genre of music from classical to 70's rock, or some sort of funky blues or jazz.  The music fits my mood and not necessarily the work.  I learned many years back that music doesn't influence the content of my work or the pace in which I create.  It's just there, keeping me company in a space that sometimes is very isolating.  

I've been fortunate to have had studios located in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Parkland, Los Angeles and now the magical Ojai Valley California.  I have spent the years since earning my BFA in Fine Art working toward finding my voice.  It has been one of my biggest challenges.  It excites me and frustrates and challenges me and has alluded me...or so I thought it alluded me.  I've come to realize in this stage of my career as a studio artist that not every artist has A voice...meaning one.  I think that all of us know this and many of us have long ago worked through the need to live up to all the rules of the game.  It is a game.  Games are suppose to be fun!

I have a close artist friend back East, Tedd Davis.  For one year we had studio galleries side by side.  During that year, he put the game and the fun and the laughter back in my work. We literally had a blast just like children. Recently, he was checking out my latest studio work online.  Many of the pieces are subdued colors, some tonal dark.  He commented, "Hey! Where is Lesley's giant box of colors?!!!!"  It made me laugh.  I am an artist who loves to get crazy with the colors.  To that I can and will attest. 

HEY!!!! Maybe that IS my voice! My Box of Color?!!!  Ya, sure. That's it, for now. <insert chuckle> So, off to the studio I go to throw paint and remember that it is after all a game. 

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