inspiration in unlikely places.

People gather inspirations from just about everywhere. I gather a lot of mine up and stick them on my tumblr, just a bunch of images and ideas I love. I’ve shared a lot of inspirations here on my blog as well. There have been many artists that have inspired me. Since I’ve been back to school I’ve really enjoyed my art history classes and gaining knowledge of the “greats” like Henri Matisse. Of course there is the artist who inspired me to do photography in the first place, Jerry Uelsmann. There is one unlikely artist that keeps me going on a regular basis, my daughter.



I’m so glad she enjoys coloring, painting and crafting so much. She doesn’t like coloring books that much either. Give that girl a piece of blank paper and a pen and she’ll create a work of art. Okay I’m her mother so I have to say that, but I really love to watch her. Our house is covered in the things she’s created. We have her paintings in just about every room of the house. I think it's also very important for young childern to learn to express themselves in creative ways. Even if they don't continue as they get older its something they can always remember and enjoy.



The thing I think I love the best about her “art work” is that she has no fear. She doesn’t care if she messes up or goes off the page, it’s her creation and she’ll make it work. Aurora isn’t afraid of color either. She might decide she only wanted to use one color, or every color available to her. Sometimes I wish I could be more like that. If I didn’t worry so much about my “art” being perfect I’m sure I would create much more than I do.



It’s funny where we learn our lessons from. My lesson and inspiration comes from little Aurora, who isn’t afraid to cover a blank piece paper with beauty!

blue period.

I've been painting on and off for a little while now. I decided to break out the art supplies a few days ago and give it another go. I sware I have creative ADD, I can't keep with one type of project for very long. A little while ago I was taking a Modern Art History class. I have to say it has probably been my most favorite class yet. I really enjoyed learning the history and my Professor was great. Each week we had to reproduce an idea we were studying. I couldn't have more happy to start painting again. It didn't have to be perfect, it just had to show we understood what we were learning about. I wish I wouldn't have stopped painting after the class was over. I'm glad I picked up a paint brush again though.

flowers.

After I finished my piece I noticed a pattern in my work. I guess I've been going through a blue period. It's kind of funny to think about but its true. Here are some of my older pieces:

daisies.
i think i love you.

You can see more of my works at on my flickr account if you'd like. I'm hoping to get more up soon.

Kind of funny how it works out. Do you ever notice a pattern in your work?

final product.

Last week I showed a painting I was working on. I haven't been painting for a while so I was excited to start again, It took a few days to finish, but I'm happy that I did it. I wish the lighting I was better, I'll hopefully capture some better photos of it soon. I didn't think I was going to be happy with the final product but I have to say I really am. It's getting my creative juices flowing again, and I have so many more ideas to work on!

"I think I love you."

Close Up

the paintings new home in our bathroom room above another painting I did called "The house that nature built."

I'm just flexing my painting and collage muscles a little bit here. I can't wait to see what forms on my next canvas!

work in progress.

Well, I told you all that I was going to start painting again and I actually am! Wohoo! While Aurora was taking a nap today I started a new project. I was just working on the background so far, but I can't wait to see how it looks finished!






I hope everyone had an amazing week, now on to the weekend!!

More Cards.

Well, I know I said I was going to start a new painting today, but that didn't really happen. I did paint, sort of, I realized that Valentines Day is coming up quick, and I wanted to get some cards in the mail soon. So, I made some festive Valentine's Day cards! It was still being creative, just a way to get my juices flowing!






An nice end to a Monday!

new inspiration.

As many of you know I started back to college this past July. So far it’s been going really great and I’m learning a lot! I’m sorry, did you say, learning it college?! Go figure! I think I might be retaining some really valid information for the future. I’m currently enrolled in my second Art History (well this one is technically Art Survey) class. Not only do we get to learn about a style of art but one of assignments is to create art. How cool is that?

During the course I’ve gotten to study some really amazing artists but one that really stood out to me was Henri Matisse. He’s one of the founders of Fauvism and a very versatile artist. If you’ve never heard of Fauvism it is a style of art created in the early 1904s and was so shocking to audiences at first it was called “fauves” which means beast. Not only was he one of the founders of a style but over the years he was constantly evolving as an artist. In his later years in life he had surgery and wasn’t able to sit up and paint he could only lay in bed so he created paper cut images. Nothing could keep this man down he always had to be making art. I think that’s really admirable. It’s really inspiring to look at his artistic metamorphosis and I love each phase he went through.



Women Reading 1894
+++++


Woman with a Hat 1905 (an example of Fauvism)
+++++


The Plum Blossom 1948
+++++


The Sorrows of the King 1952
+++++

These are just four of his the massive number of his works. I hope I may have sparked your interest in something you may not have known before. Fauvism inspired me to create this painting, well it was also my assignment, but I still enjoyed doing it.


Daisies


Happy Trails!