01 / Let me grab my Thesaurus.

In Oscar Wilde’s essay The Decay of Lying they reference the notion that Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life. Naturally, I did not read the entire essay, but what I understand is that Life is the mirror and Art is the reality. Whether I believe that or not, it is a very interesting topic. How often have you experienced a moment in life, through nature, that has reminded you of a specific piece of art? Feeling very familiar, like déjà vu, but you’ve never been there before. For example, while boating on Georgian Bay, you will notice wind-swept pine trees atop rock islands that resonate with multiple paintings by a member of The Group of Seven. In a sense, the viewer lives vicariously through these paintings, which paint a reality so perfect and pure, that once you see the actual scenery in real life, it feels like an imitation. It’s not as you had expected, it’s not perfect. Is Wilde’s quote actually just an old school version of Instagram vs. Reality?

Originally I sought out this quote because I thought it was the opposite: that Art imitates Life. And, I would use this quote as an introduction for my first journal entry on artists who inspire me; why myself, among mostly all artists, look to other art, nature, etc. to inspire their own work. I learned this practice from an art teacher in Highschool who kept magazine clippings of animals, people, fashion, and other artwork in a filling cabinet. Mind you, this was a time when Google images was not at your fingertips, I do not think there was even a computer in our classroom. But this style of gathering a sort of “photo log” to help inspire your own art has become standard practice. Again, to think about Georgian Bay as an example, I have used different coloured moss on a rock bed to inspire an abstract painting. Or even to just use those colours found as an inspiration for an unrelated work. But, once I realized I had remembered the quote incorrectly, it sparked the below rant. This will serve as an introduction to the format of Bitter Lemon.

Keeping the above in mind, Art History and Theories can be so long-winded, and pretentious. During lectures in University this was a common theme — my classmates and professors explaining art or deducing theories on art from history with such elaborate interpretations. I could not understand why Art had to be made so difficult. Art is for everybody, but this dialogue is only for those who have a built in thesaurus. I am not that type of artist, and thumbs up if you are, but here I am smiling, nodding, and thinking WHAT. ARE. YOU. SAYING?!??!?! Because of this I had always dreaded the thought of creating an artists’ statement for my work, or biography. What does this artwork mean to me? I do not know, I just went with the flow, thought it looked neat, and called it art.

I am here for art for arts sake, celebrating visual aesthetics and wit. Who said that art, a forum, or business has to be so professional? I do not speak that way in my day-to-day, so it is so cringe to express my company as such. This site is a personal display of my art, process, and practice so I will display it in such a way that welcomes all — like one friend talking to another.

With that being said — Welcome, friends!

Big gulps, huh? Welp, see ya later!