Seth A. Crayton

I'm not interested in finishing art, I prefer abandonment. I can pick it up later, often far later, in a different time, a different place, and with new energy. I prefer old, salvaged paper, reclaimed wood, sprinkled with dirt and debris from the ground. A clean surface has too many possibilities. I'd rather sift through existing visual rubble, creating balance and coaxing natural beauty from the chaos. If a piece begins to look too intentional, or planned, I will break it with a carefree mark, or an uncontrolled splash of liquid. Mistakes are authentic and part of my process. Integrating them into my aesthetic drives me to keep working.

In 2008, I went to Japan to study materials and techniques. I wanted to hone my craft, to gain discipline, clarity, and focus. That is not what happened; I got lost. Restlessness and distraction followed me. I wandered: the mountains, the forests, the temples, the towns, and the cities.  I followed irrigation channels through rural areas and past neglected houses. I traveled by foot, train, and bicycle. My eyes and head hurt from stimulation in the city. I valued and learned a lot from my teachers, but got away with things that only a gaijin could get away with.