Keeping Me Going!
Often I paint and have no idea where things come from. I know they are a part of me and they just need to express themselves, but while I am working I never really know – sometimes, I never know! Recently I have been going through my photos of our time in Europe, and I think I know what is driving some of the work I am currently doing. The above photo was taken of a western Belgium sky at dusk and so much of it reminds me of some of the things I am working on. Consider this one which you have seen before:
Can you see some of the parallels here? Sometimes my work helps me to understand what the inside part of me is searching for and sometimes I am never aware enough to catch on. One of the things which has caused discussions lately with some creative friends is how we have to live our lives and often have other creative outlets in order to continue to work. I have learned with this particular insight how important a particular type of travel is for me and taking lots of detailed photos, too. I also know if I do not journal the painting becomes very difficult. I think my family would also tell you that without my journaling, travels and painting, I would become very difficult! So being an artist is much more than the actual work I do in the studio. Is this true for you, too? What other creative endeavors do you need in order to stay on track? Is your work actually more than meets the eye?
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There are 8 Comments to "Keeping Me Going!"
I guess being an artist cannot be separated from ones life in the way perhaps working at some other jobs can be. I think all creative work contains more than meets the eye. In fact, this is something “outsiders” cant understand unless they try to make some art too and discover that there is a process involved which can include many other activities too.
i dont journal much anymore, but at one time that helped me very much. I guess taking photos works well for me to keep me inspired. And watching movies sometimes and reading certain books.
Kim when I saw your first picture posted here I thought it was one of your paintings with a little realism bit in the corners. !! That is a wonderful photo and seems very Kim-like.
thanks for your recent comments on my ceremony post. it was fun to create that ceremony. it inspired me and excited me.
Kim, I had the same impression as Suki when I first looked at this picture. I thought, oh this is a new painting Kim made, so interesting cause it looks as if she works with more fluid paint or inks now:) I agree, it’s so Kim like and I can so understand the inspiration it brings you for your paintings, the search for depth, the creation of depth with many many layers etc.
I have experienced that the “work” of an artist encompasses every waking minute and that the inspiration needs to be nurtured with different creative activities, for me it would be, as you know, journaling, in writing and doodling and painting, yes, and music, learning music, and watching, and walking. Reading sometimes but less. Artexhibitions: I really need them to set my mind free of rusty thinking or when I’m stuck…and to discover things outside my personal comfort zone…. The more I think of it the more it seems as if a lot of activities where involved in keeping creativity flowing:)…Thanks for making us think about it!
Suki, I love that ceremony post so much! It is so touching and your beautiful face and wonderful words just … well, they were just a symphony! Thank you so much for sharing that very special part of your life.
You speak so much truth here. I think one of the things you brought up is so true for so many fields. You can’t understand what it takes unless you participate or keenly observe the processes. While I can’t understand what it takes to write a novel (and have it published, as you have), I know that it is more than I can comprehend and that makes the value go sky high. I think that is the truth for all the arts and I also think it is true in general. For example, I don’t know what it is like to dig ditches all day everyday, but I know what it is like to dig for several hours and that sure makes what someone who has such a job have respect in my book. I think when we have that kind of respect it matters. The thing is, we don’t seem to have respect like that for a great deal of professions. You know?
I think you journal in your own way. I have seen quite a few visual journals come across your blog which you have place your very talented hands upon.
Kim-like…well, I suppose I do have a reputation for a particular kind of look!
I do love this photo, although in reality, I don’t think it did that sky justice! It was amazing!
Thanks Suki!
Thanks so much, Andrea! It was a shock to me when I saw this photo again!
I completely agree with you about the work of the artist encompassing every minute of every day no matter what is happening…good or bad. I was thinking today as I walked along the streets how all of the visuals of the city come into play and how I need to spend longer periods of time sitting in areas making notes and sketching ideas which come to me when I do that. I am often with people when I do that and of course they are not interested in just sitting while I am doing those things. Oh Gee!
Thank you, Andrea, for binging so much insight to this post. I think I need to be a better observer of the everyday!
Hi Kim! Another thought-provoking question, as usual! I love the parallels you found between your paintings and your photographs. It’s so interesting the way these things manifest themselves, often without us even noticing. I remember the epiphany I had in school when I started developing my own abstract style. All of a sudden, I could see that almost every project and assignment I’d done over the years had some of the same elements of line and grid and colour. It was very eye-opening!
I find that most of my “inspiration” comes from need. A need to fix a problem I experienced in a previous work, or a need to fully realize an idea that didn’t quite work out last time. It’s hard to explain, but the results of one piece sort of feed the ideas for the next piece. It’s a bit of a snowball effect. When I hit a slump, it helps to look through some old work to refresh my mind about the concepts I was struggling with.
I agree with Andrea that creativity is expressed in a variety of ways throughout the day. I think that as artists, every part of our lives inform our work in some form or another, whether we recognize it or not.
I also think that artistic “play time” is super important. Time away from the pressures of creating a masterpiece (so to speak!) and just mess around with materials and subjects. This is another way that I find creativity. Playing around can sometimes provide some surprising results and lead to new ideas that wouldn’t have surfaced otherwise!
Hello Miranda, isn’t it interesting how there are things in there which need to just come out and once they do we can begin to draw those parallels. It never really stops, it just keeps evolving. The way you explain the evolution of your inspiration as coming from need reminds me of the process used in designing. Typically that is the design process…it begins with “solve a problem” and proceed from there in a variety of fashions.
I love this idea of “artistic play time”. I am in total agreement about the importance and believe excellent artists give themselves just what they need in that direction. I love exploring with materials and visiting art supply shops is my idea of real shopping! LOL Staying fluid and continuing to evolve with your life and thus your work makes all the difference.
Thank you so much for so many great insights here, Miranda!
Yes I can see the similarities, I am often taken with BIG SKIES! huge clouds rolling in from a storm, delicate cirrus clouds which seem to stretch on forever and lots inbetween.
yes it just keeps evolving…
Thank you, Steve! I love expansive skies and even small glimpses of sky becomes appealing when you are in the right place! The evolving part I really like!