-Where Can I Find My Steeze?-

What works for me, may not for you.

      Steeze is a term used in skateboarding referring to style + ease.  It can't be taught, but only be improved by practice.  Skateboarders all have a certain way of skating and landing tricks, and there isn't too much concern for copying anyone else style.  It's all derived from experience, body type and how you like to skateboard.
         The same perspective isn't true of the art world.  It's rather easy to fall under the spell of another artist.  I fell under the spell of many artists and formed artistic crushes that taught me a large amount, while hindering me at the same time.  This unfinished portrait to the left is a picture I took of my self portrait from 2011 as it was in progress.  I would say this painting was full of my own steeze, which is why I love it to this day.  I didn't particularly care about what colors I was using or technique.  I was trying to paint a self portrait, plain and simple.  
        I learned a great amount about techniques, mediums, and colors since I painted this when I was 19, but it is now time to hone my own steeze.   I have been tip-toeing the line between imitation and finding my own path and it's impacting my work.  I firmly believe that I will only create paintings that satisfy me when I walk my own way.  But the hardest person to be often times is yourself.

"It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the true test of greatness."- Herman Melville

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