ARTIST STATEMENT (About Photography and Art)
Kent Gordon enjoys expression, from sculpture, to photography and fine art. (Interest in different forms of expression intrigue any creative person.) His creativity must be expressed or depression, restlessness, and a feeling of being lost, sets in. Frustration is not the ideal motivator, but it happens to be a fact that when he is not expressing himself, there is something wrong with priorities and a sense of self is misplaced. He expresses himself in different media from time to time as inspiration comes from a variety of places, and it comes in different ways at different times. A few examples follow.
“I like this spot. Got my camera and the light is great. Now where is that damn picture? I know it’s here somewhere. The hunt is on!”
“I like that painting. It’s free and loose! Let’s see if I can do something similar, or better.” Can a photographer turn off that “concrete part” of his mind (the part that has been trained and shaped for dozens of years), and learn to see and be, or paint, in the abstract?
“What is this canvas telling me and how can I respond? Can I take my work to the next level?”
Most everything I weld, paint, or shoot has one or two elements that work especially well. It may be the quality of light captured, a shape that is correct, or a composition or color that has impact and holds the eye. I may have captured a moment, or suggested a mood.
In general, a finished work represents what I see in my minds eye and/or it has the impact I think a work of art should have. I may find that the colors play against each other, and with the eye, in a way that is marvelous (at least to me).
Sometimes I am satisfied if a piece is technically well done. Artist’s who manipulate various mediums understand the joy of making the substrate, surface, material, or the various components, work together well. That is an observation, experience, and joy most people cannot make, understand, or have .
I am happiest when a photograph, sculpture, or painting, turns out the way I wanted it to. I am pleased when you like it too, but, if I was overly concerned about selling or impressing others then I don’t think it would be as much fun. If you like my shots, sculpture, and paintings, your sensibilities are similar to mine, not necessarily right or wrong, just similar.