Lana Wilkens

Inspiration during my creative process comes from art history, seeing the perfectly contrasted photograph, looking at travel books, coming across a lovely shadow outside and dreaming at night. I find a sense of accomplishment through the actual process of creating and dreaming up new ways to highlight an idea.

As I layer latex and acrylic paints, screen prints, and varnish, I come to enjoy the fact that each layer is separately cataloged in my mind for my pleasure alone. The finished product gives a sense of depth either in technique or in emotion. I find that decorative art combined with photographs taken at the proper moment can combine to make a striking, emotive and mysterious statement.

The layers produce the antiquity and mystery that some of the works possess. It is capturing this sense of mystery for others to enjoy that drives me to develop and create my work. Knowing when a piece is complete comes naturally as I move through despising the painting and eventually coming to adore it. Any work of art that I create cannot become finished without passing through these two channels.

Many artists work from a deep sense of sadness, hurt, raw anger or other negative emotions. I find that I do my best work when my mind is at ease and I am free from any of the burdens typically associated with making art. Coming to this state of mind requires a sort of mental transformation from the things of the world to those from above.

There are no political or deeply social undertones within my work. And although I possess strong convictions in both arenas, my artwork is pure, aesthetically pleasing and innocent. It can, however, be the catalyst for positive change in the minds of the viewers. It represents the world in its ideal form, as we have never seen it; sort of a glimpse of the heavens on earth.