Shelby B Page | Artist Statement

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Artwork tends to take on its own life as it is worked on and the basic composition is set up. With each piece, it is a compromise between the life of the piece that has been created and what has been intended for the piece. The metal sculpture Iron Horse, for example, took on a life of its own as the end result was completed through the piece’s specific needs. Like any work, each medium, composition, idea, and so forth, need different ways of being handled. With Iron Horse, the material was something that required a bit of practice to work with and pre-planning ahead of time. The composition of the piece—like the decision to have it balance on one point—was decided on later but greatly impacted one’s view of the piece. It would be much different if it was to sit on the entire base of the neck.

When setting out to work on a piece, there is usually a new challenge to face, whether it be a new medium or a different way of approaching a familiar style of artwork. It is a push to try something new so the piece does not lose the sense of a natural quality as it becomes routine.  Creating challenges makes the piece more interesting to create. It becomes much more about the process and becomes a great learning experience, as well as makes the piece that more interesting in the end. A challenge that was faced in the painting of Sitting Woman, was the use of two non-traditional paint colors that were used for the base layer. Working around this challenge allowed for the painting to have a more loose and natural quality that was achieved by breaking the initial tension of making a mistake. Having a challenge to overcome when creating a piece helps to break through minor concerns that can get in the way of the creative process. In this way, having a challenge can actually work as a way of focus and although it is an obstacle that one may face, it is an obstacle that allows the maker to overcome the smaller challenges and worries that can stop the creative process dead in its tracks.