Artist: Cindy Owens

Flights of Fancy

Oil on linen

56" x 52"

NFS

Artist Bio

While exhibitions are important, know that my creative output has not been limited to fine arts. For me, creativity is a life-long exploration. I have worked not only as a visual artist though painting and mixed media work but also in the fields of graphic design, art education, and theatre as a set painter, scenic designer, costume designer and creator.

As I edge closer to my mid-seventies, it is also important to acknowledge my roles as a mother and a grandmother, as wife and a sister, and more recently, a writer. These roles bring me immense pleasure and demand that creative spirit as well.

Artist Statement

Picasso has been quoted as saying: 'If you know exactly what you are going to do, what is the point of doing it?" Those words spoke to me as soon as I discovered them. I have
always approached my work with that same mindset.

While personal expression is the driving force of my work, I also delight in the exploration of materials. The combination of expression and exploration has led me into the realm of mixed media where I can experiment to my heart's content. When beginning a piece, I may have an inkling of where the work is headed. Inevitably, however, the materials alter my direction. I savor the element of surprise and am energized by the courage required to change course.

As I age, my work has lent itself more to the telling of stories. In some cases, the story involves whatever I may be experiencing privately. In others, I supply clues to the story through the title and the elements used in the design. It matters little what narrative I may have been contemplating as long as the viewer is intrigued enough to question, wonder, and speculate, perhaps creating his own story.

Flights of Fancy

Flights of Fancy is simply another name for pipe dreams. And every artist of any medium lives with a legacy of pipe dreams. It matters little if those dreams are for recognition or for merely the opportunity to explore their art. At the age of, well, old, I still hold onto those dreams, pipe or otherwise. Art has been my life's work in-between all those other tasks that one must balance. The embellishments in this piece are deliberate and purposeful but their meaning may still be up for debate. Nonetheless, I still dream. I still hope. I still have goals. And I still love the adventure of putting pen to paper or paint to canvas. Creating remains always the one part of me that never changes.