My Motivating Truth

• Art is for everybody. Every single person, regardless of circumstance, needs and deserves original, authentic, high quality, accessible art in their life. Art is nourishment for our souls and like other nourishment is an essential, not a luxury.

• The art I create can only be created by me. The same is true of each of us. Our gifts to the world are utterly unique and can only be given by us. If the gifts we each hold within us are not given life, they are lost forever.

• Any community, or society, must honor and celebrate creativity and the role of the arts - in all forms - in our lives to be truly healthy, truly whole.

When I lay down my sword for my final rest, I can only hope that our ancient grandmother, first to dip her hand in red ochre and press it firmly against the cave wall, smiles as she welcomes me home. I'd like to think her proud to claim me in the unbroken chain of artists across time, and to acknowledge my efforts to hold these truths fiercely self evident in both thought and deed.