Thursday, June 17, 2010

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….

15 comments:

  1. I love the result of the "Untitled I", it´s really beautiful.

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  2. I adore this painting...beautiful work, keep pondering and painting...

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  3. Oh I love your 'untitled' painting! To me it's like a glowing pearl of inspiration being tossed about in a sea of ideas. Beautiful!

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  4. There comes a time when you stop thinking about it and worrying - then it'll just be there. (i have to tell myself this!)

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  5. Just beautiful I love Untitled I. x

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  6. Wonderful post Kelly. Untitled 1 is beautiful. Keep doing what you are doing, I know you will get there.
    xo

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  7. maybe it is valuable to consider the painting experience and the painting product separately. Perhaps you have had a great time while making a particular painting or learned a lot through the process and yet the product can be valued differently by different audiences. One person may call it brilliant another so-so.
    'true inspiration' sounds like when your painting experience is "in the zone" or "flowing". there is actually some interesting research about this often associated with peak performance eg. in sports stars. a bit of hypnosis may also help get you there on demand ;-)

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  8. Kylie I think that you may benefit from keeping an art journal, if you don't already. Use it everyday to draw, watercolour and just glue in interesting little bits and pieces that you collect throughout your day. Write down your thoughts, ideas and concepts as well. Hopefully when you look back through it, it will help you find inspiration. Just an idea.

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  9. Inspiration is a funny thing isn't it. I certainly don't think you are nutty. I have thought like these all the time. I think its probably part of the creative journey. Keep on pondering and processing I say. Its working!

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  10. wow it's a gorgeous piece Kylie, your inspiration really shines through it! :)

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  11. Thank you for sharing your creative process, I know what you mean about the true inspiration experience Mine happened as I was just laying down paint and seemed to just form itself it was a wonderful experience you can see the results here http://oneredfox.blogspot.com/2009/10/art.html. I find it's connected to a deep emotional response to something, what about you?

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  12. For me, it's all about the calm. If my mind is open and my eyes are wide and there is not a skerrick of panic around or about, then sometimes an idea POPS! right there, out of the blue. Exhilarating stuff.

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  13. I think anybody who creates gets to ask these questions, out loud or in the back of their mind. And I think the answers are crucial to a creative journey, no matter its nature.
    It was nice having the chance to "listen" to your thoughts.

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  14. Woops sorry the link didnt work you can try finding it in the archives under 'Art' October 2009. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

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  15. I completely relate to the finding inspiration in parts of landscape or colours etc...except I'm too chicken to actually pick up that brush in case I fail.

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