In my twenties I decided I wanted to know exactly what I, personally, love about art and I thought of three key ingredients which I value. The three key ingredients I called ‘The Eyes,’ ‘The Arena’ and ‘The River’.

‘The Eyes’ – The Eyes represent talent, the sheer joy of seeing something that somebody has created with personal ability. To translate reality in such a personal way, that I cannot see such artistry anywhere else in the world. The better the talent is the more I want to look at it. This is the most human aspect of art, the one we most relate to, as though we are touching the art ourselves.

‘The Arena’ – The Arena represents imagination, this is the subject matter of the art, what the art is and what it is about. I call it the arena because it includes the spectators as well as the art, it includes the whole experience. The better the imagination the more room we have to manoeuvre. It is the soul of the art in old speak.

‘The River’ – The River represents animation, it is the quality that art has to come alive and to breathe life. To let us move about, around and in and out of the art. To let us meditate and be animate. To let our thoughts fly and stir the mechanics of our minds. This is the spirit of art and is the most beautiful and compelling aspect of them all.

These are the three ingredients I use to create and appreciate art. I may not necessarily use them all the time but it’s good for me to be aware of them.