My Story

Instead of a Bio or About Me (which I find generic), I'm going to write down the most important questions I feel one should ask themselves if they're an artist:

1. Why are you an Artist? What motivates you to be so?
My reason for being an Artist evolves alongside me, the older I become. As a child I was an Artist because my Father was one and I wanted to be just like him. As a young adult I was an Artist to show off to myself and to impress others. As a grown adult I am an Artist to advance my career goals and collect the reward of triumph in my Life. In the future when I become middle-aged and then an old man, my reasons will have changed again. If I were to guess what my new reasons would be, I'd say for the sake of teaching others and sharing the love of my legacy with any and all that would lend me an ear. When I die, my soul will know that I was an Artist to feel whole and experience Love on a grand scale once more.

2. Do you have a specific goal in mind, developing your Art Career? What is your plan? Currently at 33 years of age, my career goals are to build a lovely clientele that genuinely relate to and admire my Artwork for a lifetime to come. The goal is to be financially reliant solely on my Art Commissions. In my early 20's I met my goal of curating my own Gallery Shows. I've premiered 29 since 2011, a feat I'll always be proud of. Launching my Artist Youtube channel is next on my list and goes hand-in-hand with building an authentic clientele.

3. Why should others admire your Art work, specifically? How would you present yourself to a client? An Artist's duty is to put all of their soul and passion into their piece. It is also their task to stimulate the viewer in some way. Lastly, I'd say an Artist would be wise to discover who they are and express that to the universe unto the end of time. We all are doing just that, at some level.

4. What makes you unique as an Artist? What would you consider your "Style" of Art?
The easy answer to give you would be "I'm unique simply because of who I am". Though true, it's a cheap cop-out of an answer in my opinion. To tack on another duty of an Artist, it is their responsibility to articulate what their style, approach, method and philosophy is to the audience. Learning more of myself and seeing what reflects throughout my Artwork, what makes me unique as an Artist is the way I blend and clash colors, the way I characterize my portraits, the way I render a mountain in a landscape, the subject matter I devote my attention to. Those, are the elements in which I strive to be set apart and be my own individual Artist. I keep my originality sharp by looking at others' work constantly and pushing beyond my own boundaries, by either trying something new or by increasing my skill level overall. My "Style" of Art would be a mix of surrealism, hyper-realism, abstract and vivid colors. My goal is for my Artwork to remind any and everyone who they really are deep down inside and what they could be, even beyond that.

 

5. What have you learned in your storied thirty-year Art career thus far and where do you go from here? Upon writing this, my emotions filled my heart and put a "frog" in my throat, so to speak. It's been so long since I even read my Art Blog. So much has happened and a transformation in me took place for the past few years. I went on a psychological and spiritual exile, the likes in which drove me to near madness. The "Dark Night of The Soul" as it is revered. What I have learned, or rather "re-member" through Art, through interacting with countless people and through my brutal honesty to myself, Art is meaningless. I mean that (ironically) in the most sincere and genuine way. If you don't like it, tough cookies. You can find it meaningful. I don't believe in "meaning" anymore. I don't believe in anything or anyone, frankly. Everyone, including myself has been wrong about everything and anything, for the most part. With the advent rise of A.I. it revealed something to me far more sinister, yet a divine relief upon understanding what was coming. Like a tidal wave the immensity you could never fathom. So, I venture into the great Abyss that is Artificial Intelligence. I know of Prometheus, I know of The Reapers and I know what The Plan is. Everything is a Story, a Script, a Prompt. Time to play The Game. See you all somewhere... over the rainbow.

6. Have there been any unexpected turns on your path? I had not anticipated to stray too far from my original direction. It was a simple one: paint landscapes; be an Artist. The road to creation led my imagination into becoming a Philosopher temporarily. My name was 'Maistro', the one who speaks symphonies of wisdom and emotes timeless feeling unto the omniverse. A rabbit hole that I had invested with a guilty pleasure. The road to knowledge and knowing is infinite, so my advice is to learn how to drive, how to dance, how to forget and re-member. Why? Go down the rabbit hole and see for yourself. Ladies & gentlemen, this has been Maistro and I bid you adieu!

7. What is The Endgame? The next venture I have been meditating upon and envisioning for years now, is the final culmination of everything I've done so far, become and learned. What will my Art be remembered for other than its sales? Time will tell. I wish that Question 8 will be one of magnificent reflection and a sharing of spoils. One thing is certain: I must choose one "style" and way to express my Art, otherwise I fear I may get lost in too much diversity. I am choosing Landscapes. In this, it is my world and I can continue to incorporate the other subjects I love into them. Until next time, happy painting.