what is your inspiration?

Self isolation day 181.  

​I have two new series in production now. My usual inspiration route is to make a word sketch and then decide what to include in my still life paintings that will get the idea or message across to the viewer. I have a new series I call "The Signs" which uses this routine. But I also have another series started wherein I used a different inspiration which is highly unusual for me. I was inspired by a tube of paint color. I'm not usually inspired by any particular color - I love to paint with them all equally. But if inspired by a color it is usually a challenge like...do a red painting, or this works well for this subject matter.  This was different.  I first saw the color on a FaceBook post (you've seen them - the "guess what color" posts). But it stopped me in my tracks.  This was it!  It was the answer. If you paint you will know what I mean; you have something socked away but can't decide on the best way to produce it.  "Hmmm, this would be better poured", or "That's not good enough.  I'll hold onto it and use it later." So I ordered some of this paint, and I am happy to say I was not wrong. I have revisited some ideas I had only produced in miniature and thought they weren't good enough for a full-on painting. Now I am on my fourth painting and it has not failed to meet my expectations yet. So remember to keep your mind receptive. Don't just look; learn to see the possibilities.  Back to my brushes.  


"In creating, the only hard thing is to begin:  a grass blade's no easier to make than an oak." -   James Russell Lowell