Staying Inspired............
Recently I received an email from one of my students saying she was having a difficult time going to her studio painting now that she's not in a weekly class. She also asked how I stayed inspired with my creativity.
As artist we are all inspired to paint for different reasons. I have always been a happy painter and found that during times of stress, loss of a friend, pet or loved one I had a difficult time going to the studio to paint. Some of my other artist friends use their stress or depression to push through and create their art then. I remember seeing an interview some years ago with a very well known country singer saying that some of his lowest times or break-ups pushed him into writing and creating some of his best music. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade.
Painting for me is a very spiritual activity. Its a time for quietness and reflection. Its about sharing your vision thats in your head and putting it on paper. I tend to have all kinds of thoughts ramble through my head when I am painting. Recently my dear friend Mary Alice Braukman NWS gave me a wonderful book "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. A couple of months went by and I finally picked up the book and started reading it. This is a remarkable small book packed with a lot of truths and knowledge of how to stay inspired and break through some of those tough times. I would highly recommend this to any of my students or artist friends. This little book will forever remain on my night stand.
