“At what point does an artist make a conscious decision to be artistic? Is it enough to merely replicate what I see or should I strive to convey my feeling about my subject with a strong and unique visual statement? Do I really have something to say about the subject or am I just trying to paint an attractive piece of art?

Considering that everything I see is a symphony of shapes, colors, and values I have endless possibilities at my disposal with which to make a strong visual statement. Whether I choose to orchestrate them as a total abstraction, a stylized interpretation, or a representational rendering will depend on the subject and my feeling at the time of the painting. I may choose to distort shapes, rearrange elements, or exaggerate colors in my attempt to speak to the viewer. Art is about expression and translation. It’s important that I always remember that.

Is the end result of this journey an attractive piece of art? Maybe yes or no depending on who has taken the time to view it. An interpretive piece of art does not necessarily have to be attractive; it just has to be true as visualized by the artist.”

Sterling Edwards