My Capstone Art Portfolio presentation: Balance Over Perfection!

My Capstone presentation: Balance Over Perfection!

​There were times when I couldn't see where I was going or what I was doing.

​Although I was drawing every day, I felt uneasy inside. And I kept asking myself questions.
​
“Is this the right way to do it?”
“What is art?”

​It was painful because I couldn't find the answer.

​Then, one day, while walking on the beach, I saw a pile of stones that someone had carefully piled up. And I tried following along.

​Looking around, the stones all had different shapes. And it was beautiful. The stones I stacked weren't perfect, but they balanced each other.

​It was the moment when my concerns as an artist were resolved.

​I live my life like the pigeon in my recent watercolor painting, ‘Diversity’.

​Nothing special. I draw every day.

​And I ask myself that question every day. “Am I stacking my stones well?”

​I once asked my mentor and artist Diana Brian a question.

" What made you start doing art?

  Can you please let me know if you are happy with your choice at the time? "

​She answered.

  "I loved to draw as a child. I wanted to make greeting cards, and children's books, but I chose graphic design for a financially secure path. Sometimes, I wonder what my career in illustration would have been like if I had the courage back then to take that direction. I do not regret anything, though, and I am grateful for the ability to provide for myself and my family". (in the interview with Diana O'Brien)

 Life and art may probably be very simple things. The more complex and grandiose you think, the more likely it is to fall apart. So, there is a need for balance rather than perfection.

​Since the interview, I've been thinking about balance as an artist on this topic. I think balance as an artist was like catching a lucky fish in the ocean with a view of a large rocky mountain.

​I believe that my artistic philosophy is to find balance rather than perfection. My work will be like a tower that I build every day.

​The same goes for education. Rather than creating grandiose solutions that will surprise the world overnight, we encourage children to discover joy in everyday life and slowly build their own stones one by one. This is my educational philosophy.

​And the stones piled up like this become rocks.

​The rocks come together and become a large mountain.

​And one day, we will be lucky enough to catch a big fish. I hope our students will catch the fish of hope.

​And I believe that art is ‘good luck’ and ‘magic’ that makes visible the invisible energy such as effort, love, passion, and will that we create every day. As an artist, I will spend my entire life drawing and showing this energy to the world.