Victoria Selbach
What's the best piece of advice anyone has even given you? Many forms of advice and spoken inspirations from all aspects of my life flow into my work. “Be fully present” is big. But I think “If your heart must break, let it break open” is my all time number one. All my favorite advice from an art world guru has come from Frank Bernarducci, whom I adore. Including, “Do yourself a favor. Keep painting attractive people”.
What are you working on right now? I have just started ‘The Miraculous Conception' paintings. A series that reflects on virgins throughout history believed to have conceived a god-child through a miraculous conception. The paintings themselves are not overtly mythological. The symbolism is subtle and the imagery is stripped bare of historical context. The color impact is a bit of a departure for me. It feels fuller, almost ecclesiastical. I look forward to hearing what others see in the images. 'The Miraculous Conception' paintings will each be housed in a heavy rustic wood frame with hand carved details that introduce a symbol of the faith in which the virgin is adored. The paintings, whether depicting ancient Persian, Greek, Druid, Mexican, Hindu, Buddhist, or Judeo-Christian-Muslim virgins, are all in the end more similar than different.
The shared physical appearance and solid modern sensibility draw into question our predilection to accept the myths of our own culture as truths worth fighting for, while finding heretical the similar beliefs of other peoples.
As an artist, how would you define success? Success comes during three stages; the act of creating, the finished work, and it’s recognition. An artist who recognizes that the importance of the three stages may actually decrease as you move through them is an artist after my own heart.
To achieve the third and lose touch of the first must either feel like living purgatory, a charade or time to find a new designation for your vocation. The glorification of that 1% and the drive to achieve such recognition plays a toll on so many frustrated artist's hearts and minds. Likewise to put the focus too heavily on the second stage is to miss the point completely. Without the heart we are craftsman not artists.
So for me, to feel the brush move across the canvas, to lose yourself in the process is success. For a realist painter to feel the canvas suddenly breath or to feel muscle tension actually shift the expression of the body and you read that in your own musculature as
well...success. Does it really get any better than that?
That piece ‘becomes’ in the only way it can, perfect. Success. You let it go, just as one would exhale and return to build on a new surface. The process begins again just as you draw in a fresh breath. One painting at a time. And then you look back and you have assembled a collection of your best
work...success.
You put it out there with an open heart and it connects with individuals. Recently a truly radiant women approached me as she was leaving a Heckscher Museum opening. She felt compelled to tell me how much my painting in the show meant to her, how she could barely drag herself away from it. The way she shared that connection with me was a gift I cherish. Can we recognize that our gift to her, is our success? The realization of her response isn’t bad either and can’t help but tickle the ego.
Now an artist has to eat and if you want to know how to be a success in todays art world that is a very different question.
Finish this sentence. People should support art because. People should support art because bringing all forms of art initiatives into community settings, including primary and secondary education, not just high profile landmark establishments, has the power to change the face of America and the world.
www.poetsandartists.com
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