Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to P.T. Parker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
P.T., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Yes, I feel this way a lot. Looking at all of the topics, the topic of misunderstood speaks to me the most, but I do not have a specific story to share about my work being misunderstood, as misunderstood has been a common theme throughout my existence. From when I was a child up until now, my ability to communicate what I hold internally has been an uphill battle. Most of the time, I’m not convinced who I am in communication with has actually received or interpreted the communication as intended. I think about the skewed perceptions of who I am as a person based off of those interactions, and what label I ended up with. What bucket am I in now? For the time being, I’ve concluded that there’s only a few people that truly get me at my core. Fortunately or unfortunately, we don’t get to choose who those people are, and some of them exist in your life for only a brief moment. I think about how much of that is me, as a unique individual, and how much of that is human nature. Is it human nature only to be truly understood by a select few that have the “vibe” oneself, at their core, naturally vibes with best? Do we ignore those “vibes” for the ones we want to love, or out of respect for others we care about? What a tough existence when you have to make choices. Even so, with the people that get me at my core, there’s still misunderstanding that exists. So even with the people I’m closest with, misunderstanding still lingers.
When I’m creating, I get a break from misunderstandings and the anxieties that accompany. Whether that be music or visual art, what I’m creating becomes so clear, and makes the most sense. I live in that space, sometimes for long periods of time, A place of no misunderstood. Once a piece is finished, I can revisit that space while experiencing that piece of art, and everything continues to feel clear and free of misunderstanding. It’s when the piece goes public, the instances of misunderstanding return, with the outside forces and I have felt that from a majority of my pieces. I think a lot about who I am as an artist is where a large amount of misunderstanding is felt. It’s hard to talk to other artists sometimes as it has felt that success is primarily based on financial gain and conforming to the modern capitalist norms set fourth by art show predecessors to maximize profits and sell out one print at a time.
No shade, we are all who we are, for me, it would be selling out. I would rather have a full time job and create for the fulfillment of living in the space of a work, and leaving bits of myself there and sell nothing, than to create a few quick pieces, print some copies and spend all my time at markets trying to sell sell sell. My work is intimate, and that intimacy is important when a piece finds it’s new home. There are a lot of levels of misunderstood, and it can be tough at times, but, at least I’m not like everyone else.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an artist of many mediums, mainly focusing in visual arts. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have been an artist my whole life, exploring a variety of paths along the way. Here are the highlights; organized musical groups, took a fancy to the theater, a long stint with photography, still doing music, burn a bridge, organized music ends, photography is the focus, now lets do photography and dabble with some solo music adventures, music try to play nice with others, burn a bridge, cant do solo music, NOW GROW UP, no more art. Frosted Leaf on the ground, instagram picture, MUST HAVE ART! Theater is looking good again, here’s a loan, expensive camera, so much improv, take my headshot, capture live performances, I refuse to alter appearances of individuals in portraits, close friend, oh we’re playing music again, acting, close friend, now distant, so much blind support, does genuine exist?, PANDEMIC! burn bridge, paintbrush, more paint, photography, paint, shapes, lines, all out, paint, paint, studio, paint, move, paint, Paint a lot, installment, new home, less paint, no paint. Nothing. Nothing. Seattle, Olympia, Love me or leave, Washington won’t work. What will?Northern Michigan, Canvas Rebel.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?
Hands down, It’s living in that space while the creation is coming to fruition. Decisions are happening, perspectives are being challenged and pieces of thy soul are integrating themselves into the work. The feelings that are brought back after not hearing or seeing a piece for a long time. It is something that no amount of money or recognition can replace or buy.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
A few that I think of often;
We are any- and every- thing. So is art.
I am, therefore, I can be.
Art is, and can be, anything.
I will not compromise the integrity of my art and self, for monetary gain, or the desire of others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram:@ptparkerfineart
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
All images by P.T. Parker