SPRING: A Time For Inspiration

These days I am doing fairly well with art motivation, I have a stack of finished works and an even larger stack of "in-progress" or "need some final touches" works. I have been working toward a goal of getting a work or two into a prestigious May/Sept Show but I am always looking for art inspiration.

You may have heard this before and I will say it again, go to your art museum! I always find inspiration at the museum.

These days my favorite work of art  at the museum is this beauty by Robert Henri - The Beach Hat. I love the expressive thick background and the simple strokes used to create the features and sweater. My favorite aspects of this painting are the brushstrokes. I continue to struggle with paint application and need to learn the deliberate placement (then leaving the paint/stroke alone). Look at the red stroke on her neck against the white of the shirt, look at the dark Alizarin paint stroke from the shoulder down to create form on the sweater - amazing! The colors are lovely and the model (Henri's wife) is gazing out at the viewer -a beautiful painting all around, I find it inspiring! Doesn't Henri make it all look so simple? What I would give to complete a portrait work like this!

My advice is to go to the museum and find a work that speaks to you. Then ask yourself why the work is interesting to you and how you can apply it toward your work. I love Robert Henri's backgrounds and think I will incorporate thicker multi-colored backgrounds with expressive strokes into my works, not copies just take-away inspirations and ideas! Instant Inspiration!