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AE: We have talked about your subjects and the various media that you use, now I'd like to ask why? Why do you paint? What drives you to continue after so many years of painting?

MB: I ask myself that question, often. Most think that artists just sit around waiting for inspiration while we do, who knows what. It's work, it's the kind of work where you don't have a boss saying you did a good job, not much feedback on a regular basis. You have to be willing to work alone, only your own desire to keep you going. It can be frustrating as hell, but it can be a high too. Those high times, they may come sporadically, not often, but they are worth it when things work right and others get it, when they see what you are trying to do.

AE: So what keeps you going?

MB: Insanity mostly. A desire to create, to share. I have ideas, thoughts, goals when painting that I'd like others to feel as well. But I know it is near impossible to get a viewer to feel and see what I felt and saw when working, but if they walk away with their own feelings, good or bad, hopefully good, then I've acomplished something. I see the visual arts as a team effort in that I have to create the best work I can, but the viewer can't be passive, they need to bring something too, if they are empty, they see, feel nothing.

AE: What would like the viewer to see or feel from your painting?

MB: Whatever they want. Like I said I have a goal for each painting, something I need to express. My life and history shapes what I do, the viewers life and history shapes how they perceive my work. Viewing art cannot be a spectator sport to be affective, it needs the viewer to participate. I guess if I can get someone looking at my paintings to join in and participate then I have succeeded. Of course if they buy one of my paintings, something I do not take lightly, then I know I succeeded.

AE: Do you have an artistic philosophy?

MB: Not sure other then what I have already stated. I guess it's just do the work, put what mood or emotions I have into the work. One over riding feeling that I try to instill in each of my paintings is the feeling of a moment, not a moment stopped, that split second where something happens then moves on. A stillness in the work, of sound. There are lots of dead ends, false starts and failures, but you just have to keep going. My only real philosophy is if my paintings touch someone, can't get better then that.

AE: What do you plan for the future with your paintings?

MB: To be rich and famous. :)

* This is the conclusion of my self interview. As I stated before self interviewing helps the artist better understand themselves and makes explaining why and what you do to others easier. If you hadn't guessed the initials MB are me, and the initials AE is still me but under the name of Alter Ego.