Musing Correspondence - 1/13/2026

Hello My Dear Friend,

I’m writing today with a topic of inspiration I stumbled across yesterday but due to a full schedule I was not able to spill my thoughts on the matter until now. I’m hoping the delay has not caused my thoughts on the matter to go stale so forgive me if the passion does not flow as strong from my pen this morning. It all started with one word, decorative. 

The woman said it in reference to fine art and it triggered the emergency break on my reading. I sunk into a ponder first about what that meant and second about whether that could be attributed to my art. I knew what she was inferring, at least I believe so. I've seen it and felt it plenty of times, it’s a piece that is nothing more than an accent on a wall, there’s no soul or greater meaning to it other than being made because someone will buy it to fit an aesthetic. It was made through an artistic practice but its title might as well be “Live Laugh Love”. On the contrary I’ve seen plenty of fine artwork that I could never imagine being displayed in a home but at the same time understand that does not have to be the final resting place for a fine art piece. But that is where I want mine to end up. 

So the question became, is my work decorative? The answer I came up with was yes, but. Yes, I want my work to be something that looks good on the wall of a home, I want it to be inviting enough that it will find a prominent, permanent place to live. But, that is not all it is intended to do. I want my photographs hung in the home so they can continue to work for the buyer. I want them to be the peace they rest their heads below, the sponge after a stressful day, that fabled wardrobe portal on a wall. The work is meant to go home and it is meant to be displayed so that it can continue its slow drip of emotion. 

Someone once characterized my work as quiet and I think that’s what keeps it out of the decorative box. Decorative work is surface level enjoyment coupled with aesthetic coherence and that’s not an apt description of my work. The ability my work has to evolve over time is special, its impact is evergreen not autumnal. At least those are my thoughts, you are free and encouraged to set me straight. 

I know subjectivity is always at play in the art world so what’s decorative to me could be profound to another and vice versa. That being said, I feel deeply that there is a part of my soul residing in the images I produce. I know with great certainty that they are not surface level decorations. I may not know the underlying truth with each one but I am gaining understanding each and every day and I believe this was an encounter designed to drag me deeper into the unknown intent that caused me to first pick up a camera all those years ago. 

It’s interesting how a single word can cause you to reevaluate everything you’ve created but coming across that word, decorative, was not happenstance I imagine. In fact, my decision to pick up that book was the result of a micro epiphany the other day altogether. I’ve long noticed a guardian angel through the rear view but I’m sensing his agenda has hastened as of late. I wish I didn’t have to be so patient for this revelation to take form but I trust that this is all part of the plan. 

More soon,

Justin