Page 10 - Essay Awakenings Reloaded by Paul McCloskey

Collected Writings 1965-1999’ (1999, p11). To these painters this spiritual
awareness, this openness to the divine inspiration, plays an integral part and is

an indispensable component in the process and expression of their artistic
vision.

So the painter must be ever vigilant, open and alert to this sensitive

primary area. Thus the burden or struggle for the artist is to assess the level to
which he is open and alert when new work is being created. Though the duty is
surely on the artist to be open to these influences and honest in expressing them

in his work I believe the circle is not complete until that connection is
communicated to the viewer. Therefore the audience also plays a vital role, not
merely as dormant observers of the painting being viewed, but as an active

participant in completing the spiritual experience. Karen Stone makes reference
to this in ‘Image and Spirit’ (2003, p13) when she says, ‘Viewers bear
considerable responsibility for the artwork’s interpretation. Those who expect to
sit passively by while the art does something to them are missing the point. It

cannot be stated too strongly or too often that the viewer is a full partner in the
transaction. Mark Rothko made reference to this when he said, ‘The instant a

picture is completed, the artist becomes an outsider who must experience the
work, like any other viewer, as revelation’. ‘Twentieth Century Artists on Art’
(1996, p248)

Each of my paintings have their place in my evolution as a
painter, but it seems inevitable as each new work is produced to experience this
latest one as more special, this one satisfies my soul or hunger to create more

than the previous work, perhaps this is because the latest work naturally reflects
that moment of expression of where I’m at now. But this paradox of
exhilaration and torment of each new work overshadowing the previous one is a

constant recurrence for me as a painter, until time and distance is given,
sometimes weeks or even years, I, the painter struggle to be truly impartial
when reviewing the success of a series of works. Often it is only when
reviewing or revaluating works with retrospection that I as the artist, have then

become the viewer and am now more fully aware of the strengths and
weaknesses within the series. Painting for me is an intuitive and instinctive act
allowing me to enter that place of no mind, this place of no mind or alert

awareness is a connection to the divine. But ultimately the success of the
painting can only be truly judged by the painter himself, as only the painter can
truly know the level of honesty given to its creation and therefore how more