The experience of creativity – including the object itself, the artwork – is mysterious to the artist. From where does it come? It is often a marvel to me. At some point in the creation of almost every work, it seems to take on a life of its own. Even more mysterious to me is when someone else sees it and hears the same inner voice that guided my hands – and takes it home.
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent Van Gogh
Almost as compelling as making art, to me, is teaching. In truth it is not teaching, but mentoring…guiding someone to find their own direction, to let go and trust their inner voice. Often it is simply reassuring the student that – despite what their fifth grade teacher said, they CAN do it!
Living in midcoast Maine most of the year, I am inspired by the many “voices” of this state – ocean, mountains, high barrens, marshes, lakes, islands – so many wild places and small towns. When I travel to Florida, I gravitate to the Everglades and other wild places, where the voices of nature are still heard. These voices echo in all my work, paintings, clay and journals.
Hannah Ineson Fine Art 