Art is, at its core, about perception. It’s not just about how you see the world, but about how you feel it, how you interpret it, and how you transform it into something tangible. Art allows us to express what we can’t always put into words, to convey emotions and ideas that go beyond the literal and venture into the abstract. Every artist, regardless of their medium, draws from their own personal perception. It’s through this lens that they create, pushing the boundaries of what we define as art.
When we talk about perception, we’re talking about the unique filter through which each individual sees the world. Two people can look at the same object, but what they see will always be different. That’s the magic of perception—it’s entirely subjective. In art, this subjectivity is both the challenge and the reward. We’re constantly navigating how to communicate our inner worlds in ways that might resonate with others while still staying true to ourselves.
For me, that inner world is what I lovingly refer to as a pleasant insanity. It’s a strange, colorful landscape where reality and fantasy blend together seamlessly. In my work, you’ll find that rules don’t always apply. Colors aren’t bound by logic, and forms take on a life of their own. I’ve embraced the chaos because I believe that art, like life, isn’t meant to be confined by rigid structure. It’s in that freedom, that departure from the expected, where I find the most joy.
My perception is influenced heavily by my experiences with mental health, but instead of viewing these experiences as limiting or something to overcome, I choose to see them as a source of inspiration. My mind operates differently, but I find beauty in that difference. It allows me to tap into a part of myself that others might shy away from, to delve into the chaos and pull out something extraordinary. This pleasant insanity isn’t just a coping mechanism; it’s a creative force that drives my art.
In many ways, I believe that the best art comes from these moments of breaking free from the conventional. It’s about allowing yourself to let go of what you think art should be and embracing what it could be. When we talk about finding your personal perception, it’s really about discovering what makes you feel alive when you create. For some, it’s the precision of a perfectly straight line or the blending of realistic colors. For me, it’s the exact opposite. I thrive on the unexpected, the jarring contrasts, and the strange beauty of things that don’t seem to fit together, yet somehow, they do.
That’s what I want to encourage others to do—find their own pleasant insanity, or whatever it is that makes their perception unique. Because once you tap into that, art becomes so much more than a visual experience. It becomes an emotional one. It becomes personal. It becomes a conversation between you and the viewer, where you’re not just showing them a picture, but inviting them into your world.
Your perception is your most valuable tool as an artist. It’s what sets you apart from every other creator out there. It’s what makes your work yours. And it’s what allows you to bring something entirely new into the world, even if it’s just a shift in how someone else sees it. Art isn’t about fitting in; it’s about standing out. It’s about taking your experiences, your thoughts, your emotions, and transforming them into something that can be shared.
If I could offer any advice to fellow artists, it would be this: trust your perception. Even if it feels strange, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Trust it. That’s where your voice lives. That’s where your power lies. Because in the end, art isn’t about getting it right. It’s about getting it real. And your perception—whatever it may be—is as real as it gets.
So, I encourage you to explore what your personal perception is. What makes your experience of the world different from everyone else’s? How can you bring that into your art? And how can you challenge yourself to break the rules of what you think art should be in order to discover what it can become?
For me, that journey has led to a style that embraces the wildness of the mind, a pleasant insanity that I’ve grown to love. But for you, it might be something else entirely. And that’s the beauty of it.
Explore my art, my world of pleasant insanity, and let’s create together. Find your perception. Shape your style.
Join me at danjoyceart.com—let’s continue the conversation.
by Dan and Bonkers
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