Art Is Alive: The Ever-Changing Nature of Meaning
A painting is never just one thing. It exists in layers—of color, of intention, of time. What I see in a piece the day I finish it may not be what I see a year later. And once it’s out in the world, its meaning expands even further.
When I paint, I follow an impulse, responding to color relationships and the way forms emerge. At the time, it may feel like I understand what’s happening. But later, I notice something new—an emotion I hadn’t realized was present, a structure that seems to hold a different energy than I intended. The work has shifted, or maybe I have.
Once a piece leaves my hands, it’s no longer just mine. Someone else might see something I never did. Their perspective adds another layer. I’ve had collectors describe the feeling a painting gives them, and it’s often something I hadn’t put into words but recognize instantly.
Art is alive in this way. It continues to evolve, shaped by time and by the people who experience it.
What is something in your life that has taken on new meaning over time?