What is art for? A Reflection

This self-portrait marks my first exploration of identity through painting. In creating it, I realized that I define myself foremost as a mother, and that my children are my ultimate masterpieces. The title, “Je suis chanceux car ma mère est une artiste” is borrowed from a school project my son Armen brought home. A printed paper shamrock with the prompt “Je suis chanceux…” to which he added “Car ma mère est une artiste”. Revealing the childhood perceptions that art is something to be grateful for.  This also connects my thoughts and ideas of how motherhood and art are interwoven. I aim to emphasize that all mothers are fundamentally artists through the act of creation. Questioning a woman’s ability to be both mother and artist felt nonsensical, and I endeavour to challenge this notion.

In the work, I am absorbed in painting, unaware of being observed, while my children meet the viewer's gaze. Their presence, embracing me, asserts that they are not interruptions but integral to my creative practice. The painting within this piece, Becoming Mother, depicts the moment I became a mother, and is the second painting I hoped to finish for this class. The piece depicts waiting for my daughter Grace to arrive, while my sister braids my hair. The braids serve to symbolize the interweaving of lives, a symbolic thread linking lives and generations, an intimate ritual of care and continuity. This work reflects a personal emergence: me stepping into the light, embracing my identity as both mother and artist, and overcoming the self-doubt and reticence that once constrained me.

A nurse in a hospital room comforting a patient lying in bed. The patient has long braided hair and is covered with a blue blanket.

Time constraints meant the paintings remained in progress, with one progressing faster than the other.  However, this became part of the learning experience. I realize art is not finite; it is made to be lived and experienced, both by the artist and the viewer. Even my children, whom I consider my greatest masterpieces, did not arrive precisely on time. Grace was late, Armen early, underscoring the unpredictable nature of life and creation. The work has begun, and beginning is itself an achievement. This class became my launch: a chance taken, a first step, and a commitment to continue creating.

A woman with brown hair, wearing a green dress, holding a young boy dressed in white with blue shorts, against a textured blue wall. A young girl with long brown hair and a blue dress stands in front, next to the woman.

At the beginning of this class, I contemplated the question what is art for? While I understood that there could not be one single answer to this question. Every individual will have their own resolution, and yet I learned that even this declaration can transform over time. In my initial reflection for this course, I state, “fundamentally about connection, particularly connection to my children.” This led me toward the paintings I began to create, and yet as I write these words, my answer has evolved. What is art for? Well… in this moment, art, for me, is for the discovery of self.

I will end with a quote by Homer (and the title of one of my earlier paintings), “I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” Through this process, I have discovered the profound and vital connection between making and academic work. I learned that I cannot neglect my artistic practice in favour of research and academia. I know now that my identity breathes through my experiences of motherhood and artistry. Through this course, I have come to realize that as long as I can come back to my practice, with kindness and sincerity in my heart, I will find myself.

A painting of a woman with brown hair, wearing a teal dress, taking a selfie. Behind her, a young boy with black hair in a white shirt and blue shorts is resting his head on her shoulder with a thoughtful expression. To her left, a girl with long brown hair in a blue dress looks at the camera with a calm expression.

This work reflects a personal emergence: me stepping into the light, embracing my identity as both mother and artist, and overcoming the self-doubt and reticence that once constrained me.

The title, “Je suis chanceux car ma mère est une artiste” is borrowed from a school project my son Armen brought home.

A woman and two children in an art studio. The woman is painting on a canvas, and a girl and boy stand nearby. The boy is resting his head on the woman's shoulder and looking at the camera. There is a framed sign on the wall with French text, and a wooden art supply cart is in front of the canvas.
A paper cutout of a leprechaun with a green shamrock-shaped speech bubble that says 'Je suis chanceux,' and a handwritten note on a shamrock-shaped paper that says 'Ma mère est une artiste.'
Sketch of a woman and a girl in a room with writing on the walls. The woman is pointing at the wall with a tong, while the girl stands beside her. There is a lamp and a screen on the wall behind them.

Trusting the process, Committing the time.