Connie Kleinjans, contemporary artist

I paint my best when I respond to my inner impulses or desires. And I find similarities between my impluses and the qualities I'm drawn to in others' work. The common undercurrent is this: I like paintings with resolve, with mastery, paintings from the gut (there's a reason they talk about "fire in the belly"). I don't like paintings intended to shock or to tug on my heartstrings; they're not about the artist, but about the audience. What I want to see is that sure connection between the artist's desire and its expression.

Right now I'm painting abstracts. What do I love about them? Part of it is the process of creating them, the sense of the unknown when I start that then resolves almost like a dialogue between me and the painting. I love the composition decisions that can change in an instant because the painting tells me that's what's right. I love the impulse to experiment, to break a rule just because, to throw in the kitchen sink if I'm so moved.

After the process I love the product: When I can show the integrity and masterful qualities I talked about. I'm currently drawn to the organic mark, to shapes and lines that have some soul, that don't look over-manipulated by the brush or ruler or template. That come, like I said, from the gut.