Inspiration....

Talking about Inspiration can be a tricky thing at times

because I sometimes struggle to see how people can't find inspiration

it usually feels like my brain is being bombarded about twenty times an hour 

with images that are crying out to be drawn and painted

and most days I go to bed feeling slightly beaten up and overwhelmed 

by how many things there are to draw and paint

and how on earth will I find time to draw them all

but it hasn't always been this way

and I used to get all angsty about what I should be painting

and what sorts of images and techniques I should be exploring

and where I should be taking my work and all that other utter crap

and it turns out the freaking shoulds were killing my inspiration

I was trained to draw and paint

I went to college back in the good old days when we actually had academic drawing classes

and tutors and professors who extolled the virtues of being able to render

and create tone in paint and it was generally a mix of technique, history and aesthetics

which meant I was lucky, as a lot of graduates now don't get that now

but the thing that stayed with me the most, that stuffed up my work for years

was image development

what are you saying, where do you want your work to be

how does it reflect and inhabit your beliefs about art

how is your style developing and reflecting your process

and all that other complete and utter nonsense

which completely did my head in and stifled any enjoyment I may have had

and don't even get me started on inspiration

I couldn't even spell it by the time I got through thinking about all that

But then after a shocking session of angst ridden quasi creativity

I gave myself a mental uppercut and told myself to stop being a complete tosser

I like simple things

I like what is around me

and drawing and painting them brings me great pleasure

I think the pleasure is doubled because it is fun to draw and paint them

and while doing the work I am made to look closely at the object

and get to appreciate its loveliness

even if it is just a favourite giant tea cup

and I feel joy in painting the same thing many times

I have attacked these mugs a couple of times

and love the bowl shape and the crispness of the blue and white lines

there is something timeless and comforting about them

not to mention they mean my tea cools nice and quickly

So I gave myself permission to not worry about image development

and to explore whatever takes my fancy

and it was kind of addictive

everything is fair game

the labels on a can, the mess in the pantry

the teetering pile of ironing with all its different textures and colours

the jungle I call a garden, my art supplies, the contents of my handbag

a trip to the pharmacy... it is all drawing and painting fodder

and my whole life has opened up into a sea of inspiration

and I find it alternates between exciting and bloody terrifying

which means sometimes I have to Do the Lean

but it is never boring and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way

because now from the time I wake up I am noticing things around me

I get to be immersed in my creative bubble even when I am doing the dishes

it is such a lovely place to be and I wouldn't go back to my old way for anything

So a big thank you to Jen at The Artists Playroom

for setting the topic of Inspiration

and reminding me to stop and appreciate how much I love what I do

and how I do it... xx

My last few blog posts have been about...

The Alvey Feeling....

The Brocolli Chip Effect....