Artist Statement

I have been a professional artist for more than 35 years. In that time I have observed much, experienced much and only really began having something worth “saying” through my art in the last 10-15 years. Having something worth saying only comes with age and experience. My favorite phrase is to say, “I understand the generation gap much better, now that I am on the other side of it”.

While today’s budding artists generally seem to respond to earning a buck, I have the luxury of age. I no longer care if my art earns a buck…or if anyone likes it for that matter. I have fully emerged as a “purist”, making art for art’s sake.

I never have kept to trends and fads. My hair is worn in a unique cut with stripes of platinum and bright red mixed into my own dishwater brown laced heavily with silver. I wear what is comfortable and durable. If allowed my preference, I meet the public barefoot.

I speak my mind when I feel like doing so. I came of age in the era of the “flower child” and remain somewhat with counter culture thinking. In all the current seriousness of the corporate world and status careers, I find myself taking a humorous and critical view regarding the foibles of our American culture.

We live with a current trend of the American concept of “what is an artist” and “what is art”? Presently we are taught “anyone can be an artist”. We suffer an over abundance of well executed technique with no depth of communication or interaction between artist and observer. We have come to revere only nationally established names because a publisher mass produces their images and saturates the “market” with them. Their images fit well with the colors of our home and office décor, quickly eliminated when we change that décor. This is not art and can only be defined as a repetitive “same song, different verse” by those who possess enough technical skill (and a marketing plan) to pull it off.

Art in the best sense of definition moves humanity forward. It is a product of deep personal thought and individual observational concepts, filled with passion, intelligence and talent. It is about the artist’s personal growth, paired with strong commentary that has a potential of calling attention to and perhaps changing public opinion regarding current issues in an aesthetic way.

The real artist is driven to produce regardless of income and earns the privilege of the title “artist”. Through a lifetime of acute exploration into mind, thoughts and ideas, communicating the observance of issues within contemporary culture, an artist, worthy of the title produces works that reveal change, insights, depth and growth in their own works. It takes time and genius to develop that achievement which never comes to an end.

Becoming as “seasoned” as I am, I have earned the privilege of the title of artist. My works are very different now than my works of the past. That will continue to occur for the rest of my life as I experience increasing depth of thought and experience. When I need money, I can and do produce “bread and butter art” that appeals to the masses. I am the first to say that these efforts show off my technical abilities very well…but it is NOT art.

My real art is reserved for my own private experimentation, exploration and commentary. I know how to make a living without producing real art. However, by the nature of being a real artist, I am driven to it and by it.

If the public figures what I am about, it is of no matter to me, not anymore. Such is what I am and what pleases me to have become. And to my great pleasure, I find there are still observers of my art that “get it” and “want it”. These works do not end up in a garage sale when décor is changed. This is the highest compliment I can ever receive.

Sara L. Hanlon