Seen

Where do you want to be seen? How does it feel to be seen? Fellow Colorado artist, Courtney Griffin, posed this question on Instagram recently, and it made me pause and reflect. Serendipitously, I had just completed a Monthly Motivation blog that touched on the motivation and energy I received from having in-person interactions at art shows, so the topic was top of mind.

For years, I didn’t want to be seen, or more accurately, I was afraid to be seen. I think this fear was beneficial for a time as it allowed me to create without pressure or external opinions. Now that I have found a foundation for my style and direction, I’m ready to be seen. In these early stages it’s easy to say: I just want to be seen; it doesn’t matter where I’m seen.

As I move through the process of allowing myself to be seen I’ve realized that where I’m seen impacts my motivation and affects my energy differently. Through participating in in-person shows I realized that talking to people, in the moment they discovered my art, creates an authentic connection and interaction that I didn’t know I was craving. Watching someone react to my art in real-time makes me feel the most seen, validated and energized. What strikes me as the most interesting take-away from these interactions is that while they are seeing me, I’m seeing them see a part of themselves or someone they love, in my art.

I walked away from the shows I participated in with lovely stories of how people connected with my art, and unknowingly seeing others through my art was just as impactful as being seen.

The most common interaction involved people who connected with a painting because they or someone they know loves the animal, plant or colors in the painting. One woman commented, “That painting looks like my sister.” The painting, “Poppy Fields A.T. Royal Arches,” is of a royal purple archway intertwining with rolling hills that are dotted with vibrant California poppies. Rather than a portrait that resembles her sibling the colors and subject matter reminded her of her sister and the emotions she feels for her sister.

A man who was immediately drawn to “Sanctuary A.T. Desert Bluffs,” a painting of a desert landscape with a navy blue and pink awning design, said he was pulled in by the colors and shapes. As we continued to talk, I learned that he thought mid-century modern architecture was one of the best eras of architecture. He was excited to find art that uniquely incorporated mid-century modern architectural elements. His joy in finding art that he connected with was contagious and still motivates me to continue creating and allowing my art to be seen.

One of the most surprising reactions I witnessed was a woman exclaiming, “I used to go to the Malibu Sands Hotel!” I painted an interpretation of the Malibu Sands Hotel, “Summer A.T. Malibu Sands,” because my great grandfather was the architect, and I was intrigued by the idea of this spot being a vibrant gathering place for the rich and famous. Unfortunately, this hotel has since been torn down, which added to the specialness of someone not only knowing of it but having gone there. It was amazing to hear her story of swimming in the pool with her sister, and you could tell this one painting brought up so many memories.

My goal for this year is to have more interactions with people where we both feel seen.