The series of works is called Dear Theo, and it is based on a book. The book includes an assortment of letters that Van Gogh, the artist, sent to his brother Theo during the course of his career. Artists are often perceived as passionate and emotional, and Van Gogh is particularly disliked because of his previous suicide attempt and unfounded rumours about his soul. But after reading these letters, I recognised that he was not insane as many believed, but rather highly intelligent and literate. He would frequently share with his brother the beginnings of his drafts, and although while his works have an ethereal, dreamlike quality, his language makes it obvious that his thoughts and style are quite nuanced and well-reasoned.

 

I came to understand from these letters that Van Gogh was not the genius who was able to create anything on canvas. He went through the same stages that all artists go through: he battled to start a piece, pondered if he had painted it "right," and at the end was worried about what to do next. I selected the three paintings to illustrate this process, which is universal to all artists, after realising, to my astonishment, that this was almost exactly what I was thinking when I created my work.

​

These three pieces depict, in turn, the following: the uncertainty surrounding the beginning process; the methodical advancement of the creative process following confirmation of the subject and path; and the serenity and assurance following the completion of the finished product.

​

It's important to note that, despite the fact that the final piece was first rejected throughout my creative process, I also regard it as my first attempt at change. "Interacting with the viewer" was my first audacious endeavour; I left the rest to others after deciding on the overall form of the piece.