I enjoy looking at reactions to my work. Some people laugh, some are confused and some are blown away, but mostly confused. Without fail, I’m always surprised when someone actually really likes a painting (it’s always just one). So, when someone takes an interest in a painting or my work in general, (which doesn’t necessarily mean they like anything) we end up talking about art (ugh...).

Don’t get me wrong, conversations about art can be very enlightening and intriguing, and everyone always has something to learn. But, what I usually run into is the famous, “So, what does this one mean?”, or “What is it?” This drives me crazy. If your looking at a painting and you see some eyes, a nose and any number of teeth , chances are it’s a face. As to what it means, I don’t know? What does your face mean?

This line of questioning will get you nothing but rhetorical explanations I just make up off the top of my head, and will generally bum me out.

OK, some of my paintings have concepts behind them, but most are just...there. Like my rendition of Atlas. I tried to symbolize the unforgiving machine of capitalism being oiled with the blood of the workers. Can you see it?

Anyway, moving right along. It is fairly obvious if any painting has a concept behind it, for instance, there will be stuff going on in the painting. People doing things. And I like explaining those things. But, if it’s just a face or a body or a projector, then it is just that. Call me crazy. All of my paintings are open to interpretation. I forfeit the right to confine any of my paintings to just one concept.

Also, there are a lot of misconceptions about abstract art. Some think any painting that doesn’t look
realistic or is out of proportion is abstract. This belief is wrong. A truly abstract work of art will not represent or resemble anything, any thing. A stick figure is not an abstract work of art because it both represents and resembles the figure of a person, a thing. On the other hand, a jumble of paint splatters or a swirl of colors is an abstract work of art. My paintings are not abstract, because you can see things in them.

So, what I really like hearing is, “This painting makes me feel ___.”, or “It looks like ___is happening in this one.” Insert anything, good, bad, ugly, anything. As long as it makes you feel something. That is the point or goal of my paintings. To evoke a genuine emotion.

Is it important that you feel the same emotion or have the same thoughts in mind that I possessed
when I created the painting? I don’t know.

It’s a good feeling to make any sort of emotional connection. Painting allows me to express myself with colors and lines. I take what I “feel” and put it into the painting, which sort of makes it real or more real. It is a very personal thing when it happens. Only you can see inside your mind.

Conveying anything as abstract as an emotion through something physical is a small miracle. Images can be very powerful in they’re ability to arouse emotion and incite people to action.

Visit Larry Burnett's website at larryburnett.netfirms.com
or email him at DrJimboTreeFrog@yahoo.com