My own views about my art are somewhat influenced by other people. I don’t always like everything I produce. I question the work, and I question myself. When someone with no expectation of the piece sees it, they may love it. Or I’ll post images online and be surprised by the comments. I’m not objective about what I do. I am influenced by what it looked like in my head.

When I do a photo shoot, I don’t like to look at the pictures right away. The experience is too fresh in my mind to see the images for what they are.

My dad called me the other day and asked if he could use an old drawing of mine on a holiday greeting. He described it to me, and told me that he really loved the picture.

His comment meant a lot to me. My dad really loved my drawing.

Sometimes I’m influenced by negative comments. I try not to listen to those. Not all criticism is negative. It can be constructive. It gives me a different perspective, and that is valuable. What I do with it is up to me.

The culture in my town definitely influences my creativity. The community is supportive and generous, and makes it possible for me to be an artist.

So many life events contribute to my art. I never really know which ones are significant. I think they are all significant. We tend to label certain ones as our life story and reject or minimize others. We edit our experience in order to make it manageable, I guess. That doesn’t change anything. All of the information is still in us. It has influenced us, and could come to the surface at any time.

In the same way, we can’t pick and choose our ancestors.

Their DNA is in us, and without any one of them, we wouldn’t be who we are.

We each have 512 7th great grandparents. 256 great great great great great great great grandfathers. One of my 7th great grandfathers is famous for the Salem witch trials. His name was Rev. Samuel Parrish, and I wouldn’t have chosen him to be in my lineage.

This is not something I get to choose, and it doesn’t change anything. What I do with it is up to me.