As 2011 gets on her way, I want you to ask yourself how you can impact someone with your art this year.  How can your message get through to your fans and make them smile or cry or maybe get a little bit angry.  Is everyone getting too comfortable with what they are viewing, or is it time to change things up (just a little) and get them to take a second look this time.  Sometimes fans do not like too much change in their favorite artists work, but at the same time, they want a to feel that inner "BANG" when they first lay eyes on your new art.  Be brave and change something up.  When your viewers' are removed from their comfortable zone, they will continue to look until they find what they have always loved about your work. 

This year I will finish my Portrait of the Passion collection.  History is full of artwork telling the story of Jesus and his last days.  I feel that the world has become too comfortable in these paintings.  So this year I plan on changing things up.  I want the world to see and view a new perspective on the Passion of Christ.  I broke down our comfort wall between us and the king that walked on earth 2000 years ago, and replaced him with animals you see on a daily bases.  I want my viewers to see my work and relate the pain and emotions to birds in my paintings to the birds that they have grown to love as they feed in their front lawns.  Through extreme contrasts of darks and lights, through colors that influence our emotions and through a mixture of smooth and rough textures, I want the entire world to take notice of my Portrait of the Passion and listen to what their hearts feel about it.  At first, some will not be comfortable but I think everyone will continue to look closely until they understand my interpretation of the Passion and find their security in my work.

So what are your plans for 2011.  As I celebrated the new year with my family, it was obvious that it was a rough year on all of us.  But not everyone has given up hope for a better year in 2011.  Everyone is thirsty for something new and glorious for their lives and for the lives around them.  Everyone is thirsty for something different.  How can your art relate to someone you may not know and give them closure and understanding to something in their past or hope for the future? 

2011 will be the year of Works and Wonders.  What will you do? 

Todd Fox - www.tfoxart.com