Myra Branch

Artist’s Statement

My dream is to be with other artists who inspire, support and create an energetic environment by creating. When you work among other active artists, you’ll hear artists sharing ides, supporting other artists and quiet noises that are synonymous with creating. You’ll be inspired by the art created. The energy in an active environment far surpasses what an artist working in isolated can create. I became a part of such an environment when I moved my studio to the Contemporary Art Center. A level of energy is created by the commitment that artist’s have to creating; it is a part of our make up; this is what I do to feel fulfilled in my life; it is what I was intended to do.

I am a painter now. I paint common experiences of people. My paintings are abstract because experiences are mostly about emotions. Experiences aren’t things to be copied from reality. I paint to answer the question, “If emotions and our feelings were solid objects, how would they look?" My paintings are my impressions of how the invisible might look.

I paint with vibrant colors that are not normally placed together, but life is vibrant and unexpected. I incorporate digital imaged that I have captured and distorted. My paintings emerge during a process of trial and error; enhancing, creating and deleting. The first image totally is different that the end result. I enjoy the unexpected parts that emerge as I paint. I see many faces in my digital images; consequently, I enhance the distorted faces in many of my paintings. “Monsters in my Closet”, in particular, shows all the entitles I imagined that lived in my closet as a child. My love of art is in the journey; I often linger on a particular painting because the moments I am creating are my priority. I rely on my skills and intuition to know when to stop; then, I title the painting. Each painting is for you to imagine what you are perceiving in this confusion of color and shapes. Do you see the faces, all shapes, sizes and colors?

Working on a piece is all encompassing. It’s hard to stop working; there’s always something to be improved or changed. Then, one reaches a point that they know they are finished. The work you create is part of you and it’s extremely difficult to put a price on it. It’s like having a baby and someone asking how much money you want for he or she. The artist thinks, “How can I sell my work? They are my children, my creation, a part of me? As I try to help artists price their work, it involves materials used, hours involved, and of course, their expertise. It’s a difficult decision. One artist that worked in a studio space at the same time I was there, would not sell his work. He chose to give it away to friends; people that he knew would appreciate and value his artwork care for his work. The exception to this attachment is when artists have their work mass-produced. Somehow in that process their attachment to their work is less personal.

A career changed to the arts is a jump of faith. You will be your happiest doing what you were intended to do. The lack of other things will not bother you because you love creating. Think about the baby bird taking her first flight out of the safety of his nest. Does he have the thoughts about to fly or not to fly. No. He does not have a choice; God created him to fly. But God gives individuals choices about everything. And the artist has to walk a fine line between easier money and struggling to be an artist. If art is your intent, you too were meant to fly. The first step is a giant leap of faith. If you take that leap of faith, you will know your are headed in the direction for you. You will anticipate each day with excitement; plan each day’s activities, ideas come from unusual sources and you love doing what you are doing. I love to create!!!!!