Modigliani's "Caryatid"

This painting of Amedeo Modigliani's must be the 'Rome's feverish sweetness', that he speaks of here, in this quote from him:

"Rome is not outside me, but inside me. Her feverish sweetness, her tragic countryside, her own beauty and harmony, all these are mine, for my thought and my work."

-Amedeo Modigliani (1884 -1920)

Caryatid, Modigliani, 1913- 14.

I like this quote because it speaks to me and my creative process. Whether it is writing my prose/poetry (which I won't offend you with by sharing my poems here) or drawing and painting; my environment and thoughts about it influence my work. Even with deliberate attempts to not create anything and not to represent life or a specific thing; my experiences, thoughts, and emotions of my current state or of the past few weeks or whatever, comes through in the work. That is also related to part of my goals in creating work, that is to deliberately reach for something deep inside my mind and the human psyche and bring it forth into expression.

Art Expressing the Unconscious

This quote is so true for me and my method of expression and creating art:

"What I am seeking is not the real and not the unreal but rather the unconscious, the mystery of the instinctive in the human race."

- Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (1884 - 1920)

We as humans are individuals and also inter-connected in different ways and levels. My art and my methods pursue the same things Modigliani was after, to reveal the inner nature of the human mind and spirit through one's art. It's not a matter of physical reality or surreality but a matter of honest and true expression on a deeper level. This is where I feel people who discard subjective art so easily really miss the point. Anyone can re-create reality with technical skill in painting, but a true artist as the power to express that individuality that is them; while also striking a deep chord with people who view the work.