"My work is my passion" - An oft used phrase sometimes used to describe an artist's daily affair with their work. Most of us who "do" or "make" have it and it defines or at least explains a great amount of our personalities. But in how an artist defines that passionate work is left to many judges: the critic, the audience, the maker. After this critical roundtable, I believe a person should be left to define themselves. To be sure, my intent here is not to essay on a perspective of aesthetics or to elevate mere humans to demi-gods, but to share in what I have come to in the closest approximate definition of what I am and what the majority of my work is intended for.

I am a craftsman of imagery - if you will, an Imagist: one who delights in the creation of imagery across a broad range of mediums in both digital and organic worlds. What matters is the finished image itself and, for me, what emotions it elicits from the viewer.

Although I revolve and flotate lovingly with artists, artistans, designers and creative professionals daily, I am subtly reminded of my appreciation for the difference between art and craft. In my experience, art has become something that is difficult to define exactly perhaps because our habit of compartmentalizing the marketing of artistic expression and therefore has led us to a rather large cache of terms: designer, decorator, artist, artisan, craftsperson, technician, material-expressionist - even visual poet. When I analyzed my intentions for the work I have created it occurred to me that some of my colleagues did not appreciate that I was, to quote one individual, "selling to the country's living rooms." To me it made perfect sense. I cannot define that which is art, but I can define much of my work as being crafted for the purpose enjoyment and inspiration.

It still makes perfect sense and I am very proud to offer my imagery as an accent or backdrop to your life and living spaces and this is why: I was raised and taught "functional aesthetics" first and foremost by a designer - my Mother. To this day we enjoy our trips to either the thrift store or the high-end design show relishing the world of decor. She showed me first hand growing up what imagery could do for the elements in a living space. It can enliven a mood, stir up conversation, set a stage for internal roaming or coax the reflective senses as in the flooding sunrise tones of a Sunday morning. Finally, my appreciation for the spirit of William Morris' philosophies of hand-crafted value and decorative art are just too strong in me to ignore: ornamental beauty and functionality harmoniously intertwined.

It is my wish that my work provide a function for you. To excite, calm, or even bore you - as long as that is what you hope to achieve. By every means enjoy it, and your decorating!

B. Mason Gardenhire

Imagist

"If I were asked to say what is at once the most important production of Art and the thing most to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful house; and if I were further asked to name the production next in importance and the thing next to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful book. To enjoy good houses and good books in self-respect and decent comfort, seems to me to be the pleasurable end towards which all societies of human beings ought now to struggle." ~William Morris

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