While studying at Clark University I had the opportunity to take an amazing art history class. Prior to this time I had never studied any art history (almost no history of any kind honestly) and I found the experience to be invaluable. One of my favorite artists is Georgia O'Keeffe, and so naturally when it came time for me to write a paper for my final project, I chose to focus on O'Keeffe. What I admire about O'Keeffe is her courage. I admire her willingness to be bold and controversial, she uses bold colors, bold strokes and abstraction when abstraction was still very new.
I think as a woman it is especially important to embrace courage and to pursue avenues that might be considered unconventional or new. One of Georgia O'Keeffe's quotes that I like to keep close to my heart is this:
"Alone, singularly free, working into my own unknown with no one to satisfy but myself"
Having no one to satisfy but yourself is the heart of the matter when it comes to art. In truth the greatest aspect of making art should be the joy found in the making - that joy may translate into what you decide is success or failure - but the primary focus should be to follow you own heart, your own vision and your own truth.
