Inspiration

I’ve been pondering inspiration and where it comes from, I’ve been a bit funny about sharing these thoughts in case it led to any of you thinking I was a nutter (or perhaps just nuttier than you thought!).

I feel like I am inspired on different levels, sometimes it will be a colour scheme in nature, a texture or line that catches my eye and leads me off on a path to create something. These pieces are often good, but never my best work. They flow quite easily and are appealing and engaging, but something is missing.

Then there are pieces that I want to paint, a particular landscape or other image, generally from one of my experiences/photos. These paintings can be hard work and stretch out to months of meticulous work and as one gallery dealer once said to me. “What makes them more than a pretty photograph?” They are paintings, some of them are beautiful, but they don’t speak to me.

Then there is what I am starting to think of as “true inspiration”, this has only happened for me a few times. After the first time it was years before it happened again and I started to believe it was a one off occurrence. While sitting quietly trusting that inspiration would come, the idea arrived in my head almost fully formed. The painting was just about effortless, I never wondered what to do next and it just flowed. Both the experience and the end result filled me with joy. This piece “Untitled I” is the first piece created with the assistance “true inspiration”.

"Untitled I"

oil on canvas

101 x 76cm

1999

not for sale

I know this true inspiration is what I should be aiming for, I feel like both Adrift and Namaste have come from that place lately and they are making everything I have created since feel really flat. So I am going to have to trust and be quiet and wait. Just because I have time to paint doesn’t mean inspiration is going to come calling. I plan to be ready with the skills and materials on hand when it calls……..

That’s it for My Creative Space this week, lots of pondering, but nothing new and exciting to share. I have finished crocheting the new wash cloth that is part of my giveaway. I realised I didn’t put a draw date on it, so how about tomorrow? So if you haven’t put your name in the hat you still have a moment to pop over and do it!

I’m off to check out other creative spaces, to see what the productive creative folk have been up to while I have been trashing beautiful canvas's and pondering! More pondering on “Why?” soon….