So often I am asked how I figure out what I am going to do or where I get my inspiration. I find that hard to answer sometimes, do you? And if people see the things I do to try and get to that place, they will wonder how one translates to the other. I can't answer that, either. Can you? The image above is just some light modeling paste tinted with acrylic paint which has been smeared...literally...onto some black paper. I then wanted to see what green inference paint would do on the rough purple hue, so I swiped...literally...some of that across the background. What about those three dots? Well a friend had sent me a jar of metal foil flakes, so I did 3 dots of gel medium at the bottom and stuck on a few of those. That is what happened. Not so exciting, but I learned a lot. These are the kinds of things that kind of push me into other larger pieces. I have tons and tons of scraps about, portfolios full of papers like this. Sometimes I pull those out and see if there is anything I wish to revisit.
What makes me come up with what goes on the scraps of paper? A lot of the time it is interest in how far I can push a medium. You know, what can I make it do? Other times, it just seems to fall into place as I am working on something. That is what happened with the WIP I posted yesterday. I had gotten a few books as gifts along with some new paints, etc. I wanted to see what I might make the paints do and try something a bit different. But I couldn't follow directions specifically...something in my just will not allow that...so I grabbed an idea and did it my way. That is often the way things work out. Is that the way it works for you?
Here is a snap from another example of something I did a couple of years ago...do you think I like purple? But I have just added the copper paint. I wanted to see what that would do and how it would react. So I just plopped it on here. Digging through old stuff is also a good thing for me.
My interest in what makes creativity happen pushes me to explore what that means for me and what it means for the viewer, too. I only wish I could find a place where I could explain it so people could understand what I mean. Well, I would blame the loss of words on my age, but I have often found myself dealing with that issue.
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14 comments:
Hi Kim, thanks for stopping by my blog! I see you're also a fan of Golden acrylics -me too! I've spent too much time in the past thinking about why I'm making or painting aomething. I think you have to just go with the flow and then maybe stand back later to see what the thinking was behind it. The joy of creating is being 'in the zone' when time passes by without you noticing and you're led by intuition. I always surprise myself by looking at artwork months after making it and suddenly realising what is was I must have been thinking about!
Jess, you have an awesome blog, so I will be back to see what you are doing there. Thank you for stopping by here! I adore Golden acrylics!
You know, I have never thought about the time I spend thinking about why I am doing something, but you can bet I sure will now! Being in the flow is so important for art as well as for health! And you are right, being able to look at it once it is done is absolutely what is most important. Ahhh, the all important question..."what the heck was I thinking?"
I will be visiting you again soon!
Kim, I believe I understand what you mean about the push to create to explore, then to explain.
Both images are exciting.
Thanks San...the more difficult part for me is the explaining. I suppose like most creative types, I could spend the days in my studio creating...the rest of it is the greter challengs. Thank you for your kudos.
Hi Kim,
My thoughts are that maybe there's no need to explain. The creativity comes from an inside place, where only you go.You can be inspired by a song, or a feeling,a scrap of paper,a shadow,,,or nothing at all except the feel of the paint.But I'm not sure that it can be completely explained.
The two pieces you show here are both really nice work,,,which I'm sure were fun and not work at all.The second one however, grabs me, makes me want to look again, see more, 'experience it' if you will. You've done your job.
Love the copper, wish I could see it IRL.
Hello Babs! You know, after this post, I am beginning to agree there is not as much reason to explain as I origionally thought when I first posted it. What spurred it on was someone visiting me and wanted me to explain to them just what inspired me for each painting they saw! I thought, eeek! It had happened before, but not tho this degree. And all of my stuff is just as you say, a part of me which no one else understands...no matter how well they know me. So maybe the right thing is to say something brief, then ask what it means to them as that is what is most important.
I am glad you like these little bits. The second one has kind of got me going again with an idea for a larger piece. The copper paint is Golden brand and I am finding these paints really great for a little bit of pop...maybe I should change saying "pop" to "bling". :)
As always, your comments are really quite meaningful to me! I wish you could see them IRL, too! Come on up for a visit. Thanks.
Hi again Kim - I enjoyed your visit to my house. You were able to see my fave colour is purple too!
:) Jess, you and I have very similar color taste! And the visit to your house was FABULOUS! I hear these colors are the ones which will be popular in the near future...they always come around to it, don't they. I will not cry to loose the browns!
Kim, I love the lines, dots and soft plum color in those! Creativity is so hard to explain. I know that certain things I see, hear and feel inspire me to want to do a painting. If I don't paint for a while, it feels like it'll burst out of me till I grab my brushes and paints!
Hi Lynette, I agree with you that creativity will follow you around until it forces you to do something or go absolutely MAD! And I can tell you my family also sees the difference. I am glad you like what you see here. Pulling out some of the old stuff has given me a couple of ideas for some new stuff. I suppose creativity is like that, too. As Jess said, sometimes you just have to do it, then stand back later and see what it means.
Yes, I love both images. It is clear to me that you paint from our soul and to that extent words or an explanation are unnecessary. The expression and statement are very clear in this work. If everything could be explained in words there would be no need for paintings.
Ah Philip! These are very kind things to say, indeed! I am glad you find it clear...I think it takes an introspective person to understand one! And you are right, I have to keep reminding myself how important the visual is without the words. Everything can't be explained with words and is not meant to be! I live with verbal people all around me (my daugher is even a professional writer), so I think it gets me going sometimes.
Again, thank you for the kind word and the reminder.
I can't wait to see how things are going over at your blog...love that black and white you are doing.
I love this one with the three dots! It has a soothing effect on me.
Thanks Andrea! I kind of like that, too. I have it hanging in my studio and keep wonering how I might use it another way. Thanks for doing this, my friend! Peace!
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