Deana Novak "Jack of All" in Gallery I

“Jack of all trades, master of none.”

“That phrase has always felt familiar to me. As an artist, I enjoy floating from medium to medium and exploring my style in those mediums. It is often hard to commit to one medium and style for me. I enjoy the challenge of trying new techniques and stretching my artistic talents. Mastery has always seemed unattainable and not all that important to me, but by continuing to try, experiment, and create I am advancing not only my artistic skills, but creating new and interesting pieces of art. Dropping the “master of none” portion of the saying seemed to fit my methods and mission with this series of artworks. While not reaching for mastery, I hope to create pieces that are thought provoking, inspiring, and as enjoyable to look at as they are to create. While being a “Jack of all” can sometimes seem chaotic and disjointed, I have found a common style among my pieces in all mediums. No matter how different each medium is my talent and personality manage to shine through. The viewer can clearly see there is a theme or style inherit in each piece I create. I have managed to put who I am into each piece regardless of the medium. As humans we have layers, feelings, and fickleness. Allowing myself to shift from medium to medium, piece to piece, encourages self-discovery of each distinct part of my personality. So, while I may not master a specific medium or style, this journey is allowing for deep personal discovery and forming unique talents along the way. I'm happy just being a Jack.” - Deana Novak