Don's View of Art
My interest in writing was spurred by the parables of Jesus: the power of a story with layers of truth that created an existential moment. However, immediate needs limited most of my writing to informational topics. I came to appreciate that illustrations were undervalued: illustrations stuck in memory and created existential moments.
Being analytical by nature, my weekly sermons were strong on exegesis, argument, and application but weak on emotional content. I started writing free verse poetry to add emotional content, the poem becoming a fleshed-out skeleton of the sermon (or article). Many poems were thus inspired by a passage of scripture. Perhaps writing free verse is, as Robert Frost remarked, like "playing tennis without a net," but free verse served my purpose. Now I'm imposing the results on those of you who have nothing better to do.
I always possessed a secret desire to paint, but time and opportunity never merged. A good camera and walks created photos visualized as paintings. Digital painting fulfills my original desire to paint.
An unknown author wrote this cliche:
Two men gazed through prison bars:
one saw mud,
and one saw stars.
The mud and the stars are equally real, but I prefer the stars. Having my share of mud, when I pick up a camera something beautiful inspires me. Much of what I egotistically call my art is an act of worship. Serious art I'll leave to the artist
So, in this day of technology I have succumbed the human need to share my work (such as it is) with others.
Hope that in your life many stars shine brightly and that you will take the time to look at them.
Don Mize
