Dianna Cates Dunn » Blog

Can you hear me humming that old Frank Sinatra standard now as I hear him belt out the familiar song (I did it) My Way? You can’t? Good thing, as my humming is rarely on key. But, never the less, I would hope that at some point in your life, you’ve sung/hummed/lip-synced- a few bars of that song when working on something that’s been important to you.  

Saying “I did my way” is usually good in most endeavors……not always, but usually. However, it is especially important for me, as an artist, to create from a completely original and personally authentic perspective that is free from the desire to imitate someone else’s work. This can be a battle sometimes, not only from within my own mind (because I greatly admire or see the success of other artists) but from galleries who - sometime not so subtly -push one to do a ‘certain look’ that may be in vogue at the moment….meaning that’s what they believe will sell easily. There have been times that listening to either that little inner voice, or the words of those galleries, has been very tempting as it makes me momentarily think that my way is the wrong way. In other words, I begin to doubt myself and the reasons behind my efforts.

And that brings me to my why. The why of my painting is truly what is important – and I daresay it should be for all artists. Why do I paint? First of all, I truly think I was born a creative. My left brain lives in the shadow of my right brain not because of nurturing, but because of nature. Secondly, I seem to plug into a tremendous energy source when I am creating. I do not find my thinking depleted at the end of a day at work, but rather I find I am mentally charged up and eager for the next task or project. In fact, I find that my work is my why! It is what excites me, energizes me and CONNECTS me with life and all its glory.