Work in Progress

Last week I talked about how taking photographs to remember certain things which are interesting and maybe one day be able to use that for an inspiration. I posted the photograph of the apple tree on my parents farm. It is an old tree which really has two messages...one of giving up and one of being ready to go!

Today, I am going to share with you what I have been working this week. It is not complete, but I thought you would be interested in the direction the photograph took me! Very different, but also very much inspired by that particular photograph.

Do you have these kinds of inspirations?

Part of the Beginning

A few afternoons this week, I was able to get into my studio and work on a couple of projects there. In the last post, I talked a little bit about what is inspirational. I use my digital SLR a lot to capture bits and pieces of what calls out to me. I do not tend to be a people photographer, but sometimes parts of people hold an interest for me...my people photos are really snap and shoots. Anyway, back to the inspiration...with the canvas I am currently working on, this image of an old apple tree on my parents' Virginia farm prodded me along. While the final result will not look anything like the photograph (thank goodness), it is what inspired what I am currently working on. So stay tuned to the end result.

Do you ever find a photograph and being to wonder about the parts and what they really have to say? I think this old tree has a story to tell. Do you?

Do you find inspiration in all kinds of places? I know I am so very inspired by natural things and many people are. I am also find inspiration in other places as well. I carry my camera around a lot and take photos that many people would not take. For example, food photos can show some of the most amazing textures. Are you inspired by retail? I know I often get bursts of inspiration when I spend a bit of time exploring art supply shops or farmer's markets. Beautiful shop displays can tons of fun and very inspirational. I also find that store fronts and street scenes can get me going.

This is a photo of The Tea House in London. It is the greatest little shop on the inside. You can probably imagine all of the tea leaves, the tea pots and cups, the tea tins and all of the tea making necessities you might find inside this shop. But the exterior is tremendous fun and draws you in to enjoy the inside. In this photograph, take a close look at the light, the textures, the shapes, the lines and the colors of this photo. Do you feel inspired to create? I know I have a few things cooking in my head.

She's Back

Finally after months of trying to get settled after this move, I am working towards some reasonable form of life. I have found this transition from Europe to the US a difficult one. I never thought returning to my home country would be so difficult, but I am missing the people of England so much. I am slowly settling into our home here and very slowly getting the house into a place we can call home. Surprise of surprises, I was even able to make it into the studio recently. True enough, I only prepared some canvases, but I was in there enjoying myself.

During this transition, I have been thinking about how I am going to have to go back to some of my previous techniques for keeping my life sane and for keeping my creativity flowing. For me, that is a balance of things. I know my yoga is an important part and I have been doing that several times a week for a while now. I also find interacting with my young adult children keeps me fresh and ready to go. But one of the old techniques that worked so well for me before that I have just re-discovered is journaling.

Now journaling means a lot of things to a lot of people. I think it means what helps you process your ideas and thoughts. It helps with organization of perceptions and feelings. This happens in different ways for different people. Some people like to just write, some like to doodle, some use photography and others use a variety of techniques. Like me, there are people who do or have kept multiple journals at the same time. I know this will be effective for me again as I try to keep up with this new life.

I had let some of my coping techniques go when we were in England, because my day to day life there was like a journal. I wanted to soak it all up in a different way. It was great for me then, but now I do have to get back to what worked for me before. I think it will work again to keep me clear and open to all the possibilities my life has to offer.

What keeps you going? What is a part of your life that remains important to keep your creativity alive and processing? There are many factors which need to come together for me, is this true for you, too?