I'm not terribly good at writing artist statements - I really worry about coming across sounding presumptuous or stuffy ... so, i prefer to think of this more as a continuous thought process instead of a definitive statement.
Anyone familiar with web comics more than likely is aware of xkcd. a while back I came across a particular phrase that has resonated strongly with me ever since: 'we are the adults now, and it's our turn to decide what that means'. This quote pretty much has defined and informed my decisions since then, in particular my decision to leave my comfortable 'career' job as a paralegal to further my studies in art: it was quite the revelation to discover that I didn't have to be the type of 'adult' that i thought I did - that there really was no good reason to get a grown-up job and toil away in an office if I didn't want to ... and I make a point to try and remember this quote whenever I start feeling too mature!
Art is such an intuitive experience for me that I often feel I'm merely an explorer on a journey rather than some brilliant and profound artist creating deep and insightful works. (this is close ... but i feel like need a better analogy ...) I'm not always immediately sure exactly why I'm working on a certain project or what is attracting me to certain subjects, but it's a great adventure to sort through and discover. Art is basically my play and my relaxation, and often, my sanity. (maybe this makes me sound unintelligent or too 'accidental' in my approach? ... the point is that art doesn't have to be this high and lofty ideal, for me it's life and expression and a different way to think about things.)
My explorations this year have focused on the idea of deciding what sort of adult I want to be and attempting to re-experience some of the better memories and moments of childhood by working directly with materials associated with play and youth. ('a general refusal to grow up': this is my un-official title for the direction my work has been going ... i like it, it really seems to fit)