What Inspires You?

I am sure that everyone has a different answer to this question. I don't profess to be an expert in the area, so all I can do is theorize about what works for me. Generally speaking, I would have to say that I inspire myself. I have to go searching for images or views in the world, paintings in museums, walk through art galleries and shows.

Some days this requires a good deal of work. You can look out your window and get inspired by a lovely sunset or the rain. But it really begins with your mind set. I have to be willing to BE inspired or it won't happen. If I am blue or funky and grumpy and I don't feel like exerting myself...inspiration does not arrive in my home.

This image was inspired out of necessity. I was doing a lesson for one of my classes, happily making marks and not thinking of any particular direction to take the painting. Suddenly I realized that I had a total mess on my hands and I had to get creative quickly in order to complete the lesson for my students. The image below is what it looked like initially.

Nothing about this piece inspired me in the slightest. I was embarrassed by the mess that I had created. After a little quick thinking, I began searching online, had a Bright Idea, and then I was able to video the process of my thoughts as I revamped the mess and made it into an Eggplant Still Life. Whew! I pulled that one out of my hat!

Aluminum Foil Tape

This stuff is very cool and I have continued to use it in other mixed media projects over the years. You can buy it at Home Depot and Lowe's for a few dollars and it lasts a looooong time. One of my Small Faces pieces was made last year using this same stuff and it looks superb!!

Another Older Still Life

I have an obsession with Still Life pieces that has been with me for many, many years. Sometimes I feel withdrawal pangs if I haven't made one for a few months.

This one is done with water soluble oil pastels on a canvas panel that was coated with self-leveling clear gel. This made it similar to working on Yupo paper or using watercolors. Once my pen and ink drawing was completed, I added the oil pastels in several thick layers, mixing my colors and experimenting.

I was not pleased with the initial results, so I continued building layers and adding various colors. Finally, I took a very wet cloth and washed away most of the layers of colors and the stains remained. I like this grungy look!

The Story of a Painting

Many artists add stories to their work, or tell stories with their work. This is something that has never preoccupied me when I work. Some years ago I decided to make up a story about one of my abstract/pop art paintings...it was completely off the cuff and done after the creativity.

I was somewhat surprised to discover that there was a good deal of story in this piece. During its creation, I was completely oblivious to this story and I'm not making this up. What I am making up...is the story that I added in this video. Enjoy!



On the painting below, I very definitely had a story in mind while I made it. This abstract is part of the series that I did at that time: