Keith Leitner

Keith Leitner during his exhibition at Cerulean Arts A former instructor, Neysa Grassi, gave me a copy of John Cage’s 10 Rules for Artists and Teachers. Two points have always stayed with me. First, the important thing is the work….people who work find things. Along with the finding is the satisfaction which comes from the making. Secondly, Cage suggests you find a place you trust and then try trusting it for awhile. My trust lies in the program and components of a painting. The support and the paint, along with the maker, combine to create a work that is a statement of partnership. Materials lead me through my painting. I like to see where they can take me. Much of the color, texture and surface I seek in my work I find in the world around me. As the work progresses, it creates its own logic. What does the work want or need? What happens when you put two or three colors together? From the initial move, I don’t know how each work will evolve; the struggle is getting to the end.