Category: Sources of inspiration

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

After careful consideration, I decided to not take my paints with me to the land of no electricity. Instead, I gathered new experiences and information (and photos, of course) so that the time would truly feel like a vacation. (Why does one need a vacation from a wonderful life? I dunno. . . because that’s the way it’s done??) So here are some images from that time for you to enjoy:

This is a flower I have never seen before – it is called Western Monkshood

This might be my favorite wildflower – the color isn’t right here, but it is still fabulous! It is some sort of Gentian – Explorer’s? Hiker’s?

Here is the yellow flower that seems to stand out more than any other – it has the unfortunate name of Bigelow Sneezeweed!

Here it is in its setting – doesn’t it pop??

I was graciously shown a wonderful new place – this is a view looking OUT of a cave! (No I can’t tell you where – very very top secret!)

This is a view as we were leaving the spot – despite the rain, it was a fantastic hike, an invigorating 12 miles of new visuals!

One morning I actually got up early and went in search of sunshine.

Inspiration, Part 8

Central Coast Pier – sold

My friend Debbie and I have known each other since high school. She returned to college a few years ago after raising her children. She had a desire to be an art major, and she has absorbed knowledge like a sponge. We have attended workshops, shows and seminars together, and bounce art ideas off one another without stopping the entire time we are together. Before I was a painter, she used to remind me over and over, “black is my friend”. This was to encourage me to get my darks as dark as possible in my drawings. That was inspiring, because it showed me how to make better art. HOW is big with me. . . anyone can spout criticism, but it takes an insightful and knowledgable person to have a way to fix the problem and to be able to articulate the solution. Debbie also inspired me by encouraging me when I was wavering on the decision of learning to oil paint. She told me exactly what to buy, answered many basic technical questions, and never let on how shocked she was at my total ignorance!

Angels in the Wilderness

Today I had the privilege of hearing author Amy Racina speak about her 4 days of survival alone with 2 broken legs in a remote part of the Sierra. I used to be a backpacker and was always taught to NEVER NEVER NEVER go backpacking alone (not that I wanted to!) Amy is far more adventurous (reckless?), brave (foolish?) and strong (incredibly!) than I have ever been, and her survival story is remarkable, using extraordinary physical strength, rational thought and mental determination. She is a captivating speaker, and when she told of seeing someone after 4 days of dragging herself along, it brought tears to my eyes. I bought a copy of her book, Angels in the Wilderness. I hope I can put it down sometime before midnight tonight! http://www.angelsinthewilderness.com/

Inspiration, Part 7

If you check my blog regularly, you might have been wondering if my computer croaked in last week’s heat wave. No, it is fine, and so am I (thanks for your concern)! I was gathering new inspiration in a place that has no electricity. Here are a few glimpses into that place for you:

This is a view of Timber Gap this morning. It was smoky out from all the California fires, and a thunderhead was already forming.
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This is the view back toward Mineral King from Farewell Gap, a very long walk. It is always worth the effort, especially to see the Sky Pilot flowers, which only bloom above 10,000′.

This is Farewell Gap as it looked a few weeks ago. The lowest point between the two peaks is 10,589′, and that is where we were!

Inspiration, part 6

Yesterday in drawing lessons, a student brought photos of the family farm in hopes of designing and drawing a collage. There were close-up shots of fruit and blossoms, medium shots of individual trees and equipment, and long range views of orchards with hills behind them. I have been drawing this stuff for years, but yesterday one of those photos caused me to spontaneously erupt with “I’d like to paint that!” Why? Because it was beautiful! I am inspired by beauty, once again! Here is a similar picture that I drew in colored pencil a few years ago. Sorry, it is sold.

Okay, I lied. I am not sorry that it sold. I love to sell my work!

inspiration, part 5 (open mind)

Sweet Seat II – 8×10 – oil on wrapped canvas – $80

My friend Lisa inspires me with her hard work, determination, and encouraging helpful criticism. We met the first semester of our freshman year at Redwood High School in an art class. She has been teaching junior high art for a number of years, and is now working on her master of fine arts degree in an online course. This adds about 30 hours to her work week, a killer schedule.

Lisa is an abstract painter, and has opened my eyes and mind to this style of art. Most abstract “art” leaves me scratching my head with wonder and amazement not only at the mess on the canvas, but at how it passes for art, enters a gallery and gets sold! I used to think it was nothing but an emotional outburst in a 2-dimensional form, but watching Lisa plan and create her work has changed my mind. Good abstract art does exist, and it is a result of hard work without the usual benefit of a scene, object or photo to guide the artist.

So now my mind is a bit more open, but I exercise caution in this area, lest my brains leak out.

Inspiration, part 4

There is an art newsletter called Robert Genn Twice Weekly Letter. Sometimes I don’t read it for weeks, then slam through a bunch of them at once. His writing reminds me a bit of the way the water keeps charging full force over the dam in a seemingly endless supply. The man never runs out of ideas, and he really makes me think!

Here are some of his subjects: pushing oneself through mediocrity, 14 points for jurying art, 16 ways to keep yourself working, attitudes necessary when working en plein air (French for on site), kalopsia (the condition of things appearing more beautiful than they actually are), works on paper versus works on canvas, and the way one artist creates caricatures. These short letters come 2 times a week, on and on and on! And, they are free!

www.painterskeys.com/subscribe/

One week’s difference

This is not about my art directly. However, it could apply to the category of Series: photograph and paint the same scene in many different seasons and times of day. It could also apply to the category of Inspiration: it is ALWAYS beautiful in Mineral King!

Here is a photo of the trailhead this morning. Last week it was all under snow!

Inspiration, part 3

A few years ago, Jack White (see Inspiration, part 2) referred to someone named Diana Botkin, and in the next issue there was an article by her! She wrote beautifully, and was clearly a wonderful person. (Yes, you CAN tell that by reading someone’s work!)

So, I contacted her to see if perhaps we are related. We married men who have the same last name, but, alas, we can’t find a connection. Meanwhile, I have learned so much from her – asking her technical questions, watching her market her work, admiring her discipline, loving her good character.

This woman is just incredible and her paintings of Northern Idaho and mothers with children are very very beautiful.

Here is her website: http://www.DianaMosesBotkin.com, her Daily Painters Gallery page: http://www.dailypainters.com/artist_gallery.php?artist_id=817 and her A Painting a Day blog: http://DianaMosesBotkin.blogspot.com

Why am I telling you this? Because Diana inspires me, and I hope that you too will be inspired by seeing her work!

Inspiration, part 2

Uncle Roger, private collection

When beauty appears, inspiratioin is spontaneous, easy and instant. The harder part of inspiration is motivation: what keeps me going, prevents me from quitting, answers my many questions, and pulls me through the dry spells? Most often it is people; they inspire me through encouragement, helpful criticism, and written materials. (And, I firmly believe that one must be an optimist to be self-employed!)

Art Calendar is the best magazine for professional artists that I have ever seen. Its focus is the business end of art. It is full of information by and about artists who are earning their livings solely by their art. Through it I have “met” several people who have changed the course of my career, from a pencilhead to an oil painter.

When each issue arrives, I immediately look for the article by Jack White, artist and author of books on marketing art. His wife is quite a successful artist also, probably because she is good (duh) and because Jack promotes her! Jack isn’t a highly educated man or a smooth writer but he is a great communicator. He writes sort of like President Bush talks – Texas is the common denominator there.

www.jackwhiteartist.com and www.senkarik.com are where you can find Jack White and his wife Mikki’s artwork.