Inspiration at the Easel

 

With each new body of work, I start with new inspiration clipped or taped to my drawing board on my easel. From left to right:

-Postcards of paintings by Edvard Munch

-Notes on Beginning a Painting Richard Diebenkorn 

-A photo from the Rodin Museum found in a favorite Matisse book

-A photo of Arshile Gorky drawing in Connecticut 

-Bonnard and Munch postcards

-Notes to Myself

What do you have nearby for inspiration and encouragement?

Sunflowers XI

Work in process photos are fascinating. Seeing how each step, each mark creates an entirely different feeling as well as new work. Each brushstroke takes it on a different path.

Supplies used:

Journal I made from hardcover book and 100 lb Accent Opaque cardstock size 9 3/4 x 16" opened 

Working size (single page) 9 3/4 x 8"

Acrylics: Holbein, Sennelier, Utrecht and Golden (heavy body)

Painting knives

Brushes

Princeton Catalyst Tools

Looked at: 

Joan Mitchell

Vincent Van Gogh

Reading:

various Joan Mitchell catalogues 

Remberance of Things Past by Marcel Proust

What I'm Reading: Edouard Vuillard

 

“Who speaks of art speaks of poetry. There is not art without a poetic aim. There is a species of emotion particular to painting. There is an effect that results from a certain arrangement of colors, of lights, of shadows. It is this that one calls the music of painting.”-Edouard Vuillard 

I've been looking at my shelves trying to decide what to  read next. Searching for pictures of interior life, painted layers and textural backgrounds. I can't think of anyone better than Vuillard right now. 

Julia Frey's Venus Betrayed: the Private World of Edouard Vuillard is exactly what I've been looking for. 

Sunflowers for Your Weekend

My first flowers in over a year. They've brought inspiration at every stage. It was sad to let them go but they have planted seeds... 

Writing about Art

 

Just like painting, writing about your own artwork is a learning process. I'm currently reading Art-Write: the Effective Guide for Visual Artists by Vicki Krohn Ambrose (recommended by this Art Marketing website.)

I appreciate how to the point Ambrose's book is. It's also engaging and interesting to read. There are fill in the blank questionnaires, word lists and ideas that get your thinking cap on.

Speaking of thinking caps, it is time for me to stop procrastinating and get to writing. Do you have any favorite books about writing about your own work?

Replanting my Sunflowers

 

I spent hours thinking about my comment in yesterday's post (how I regretted not binding the sunflower paintings into their own book.) Well, I fixed that today. 

I'm putting my pink petal journal to the side. While I don't usually like working back and forth between two books, it is there for when I want to work on something different. Onward!

Sunflowers X

 

Lots of looking, stepping back, walking away, layering, and letting go. My only regret is not painting them in their own separate book. 

I've painted ten sunflowers. We shall see what tomorrow's brush brings.

Supplies used:

Journal I made from hardcover book and 100 lb Accent Opaque cardstock size 9 3/4 x 16" opened 

Working size (single page) 9 3/4 x 8"

Acrylics: Holbein, Sennelier, Utrecht and Golden (heavy body)

Painting knives

Brushes

Princeton Catalyst Tools

Looked at: 

Joan Mitchell

Vincent Van Gogh

Reading:

various Joan Mitchell catalogues 

Remberance of Things Past by Marcel Proust

Sunflowers IX

 

Sometimes you have to let go of an idea and let  it become something else. Maybe it will reemerge again somewhere else.

Supplies used:

Journal I made from hardcover book and 100 lb Accent Opaque cardstock size 9 3/4 x 16" opened 

Working size (single page) 9 3/4 x 8"

Acrylics: Holbein, Sennelier, Utrecht and Golden (heavy body)

Painting knives

Brushes

Princeton Catalyst Tools

Looked at: 

Joan Mitchell

Vincent Van Gogh

Reading:

various Joan Mitchell catalogues 

Remberance of Things Past by Marcel Proust