Tim Lefens

I attended a lecture at SUNY New Paltz by Tim Lefens, the author of Flying Colors and the creator of the Art Realization Technology. I expected the lecture to be about his work with his disabled subjects using the Art Realization Technology, however, it was more about what he thinks art is and what art isn't.

He opened with the question "If you were on your death bed and were about to die in four hours, what painting would you want starring back at you?". This question opened up his disposition of art. He believes the only way to make truly meaningful ("high") art is to lose yourself in it. You must let go of yourself in order to find ourself. I agree with this statement, because if you are aware of every little mark you make, it is no longer a naturally flowing process. You begin to censor your intuitions about how you would go about creating. It is no longer your original work, but your work censored by what you think it should be. I feel that you should be surprised by what you turn out, rather than planning everything.

Another statement he made was "It's not what people think of you, it's what you think of them". He was encouraging artists to be bold. Do not censor your self to suit others. I think this is a great message to give artists, as well as students in art classes. I've noticed within myself (as a developing artist in high school) this phenomena of censoring myself in fear that it would turn out inadequate, or I wouldn't want to show anybody my work, or that I would be so afraid of others judgements I would stop making art all together. The fear of critics' opinions is  HUGELY contributed to stifling creativity. As an art educator, I would encourage the same message to my students- don't be timid about your art making.