Another Path to Inspiration

... and I mean "the path" literally as well as inspirationally.

You want a view? Here, you gotta earn it baby! No elevators, seniors' scooters, escalators or any other type of "UP" methods of human body transport, just what you've got on you.

Just so you know, you've it good - by this first photo, we are now half way there to more inspiration. This journey starts from just outside Susie's front door on Via San Francesco in Vernazza - she lives up a good few "stories" by this point.

Let's go!

heading around the first bend...

gotta stop and enjoy this...

heading around the next bend...

up the next path...

you gotta look over the edge to see more things...

her studio is in the former church which is also Vernazza's city hall now - the bells still echo thru the hills on the hour and half hour, the new church is down in the village in Piazza Marconi. Her studio space is in the former priest's residence before the church was converted into what it is today.

outdoor "lobby" of church

Ok. We're ready to enter the church... but we're not there yet...

outdoor courtyard inside the church

she's got a lot of free reign around here... they like her!

(courtyard)

just in case you need a rest, I haven't included yet another flight of stairs in this foto journey... you can thank me later.

pass by and overlook Vernazza's elementary school playground... (you'd THINK school would be fun with this view!)

Susie and Jake come to the door and...

yep... go up more stairs.

Oh, but WORTH IT!

Sepia tones can take you back in time. Never seen the sea so black as it was this day - it was the morn after a big thunder and lightening storm.

former kitchen... now another work space for her

her main work room... I'd love to rip up her floor and frame it! (she's laid a canvas sheet over the stone)

Charcoal sketches...

Another work space outdoors high up on the church "catwalk"... that sounds rather ironic!

Jake's "running room" on a rainy day (part of the outside area of her studio) - I had to catch him running... he's so sweet!

happy "Jake prints"

ready to start new pieces... at the moment, most of her work is at her exhibition in Genova.

Heading back down now...

Good exercise, beautiful view, gorgeous paintings - and also lovin' that floor of hers - refreshed my inspiration once again!

[even Jake has learned "il calcio" (soccer, or football for you Europeans!) ] :

Inspiration from the Internet

I felt that today was a total write-off as far as making art is concerned.  I just couldn't get into it.  But alas, I spent some time surfing other artists' blogs and facebook pages, and have been re-inspired to create.  Tonight I'm going to get a good night's sleep, wake up refreshed and get to work.

Sometimes we should allow ourselves some down time to get revved up again.

I loved seeing the variety of work, thoughts, methods and colours.  Thanks to all you artists out there!

Plein Air Inspiration

Kirkland, Washington... art opening at Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery
[He carries some dynamic artists' work... REALLY worth a visit]


The road trip I took to Kirkland on Wednesday was fabulous. The day was sparkling on the lake, on the people, and I think a little on me too. I plunked myself down under a tree here and did a small pen and ink sketch of this scene:



The water, trees, sunshine, boats... all things that inspire me and make my spirit feel calm.



These two painters below really inspired me for my upcoming plein air painting weekend in Whistler with my artist friend, Lori.


I had a short chat with these artists about my fears of people looking over my shoulder, making comments (positive or negative) and how they handled these remarks when painting in public. Their response to me (another "intruder"!) was that they just keep on doing what they love to do. From some of their stories, they have received some rather strange criticisms and tips from "know it alls", but generally they said that you just have to let it run off your back and keep to your vision of the moment...

____________________________________________________

Whistler Weekend


We drove up separately because we filled up our vehicles with a lot "just in case" materials and paintings. I remembered the cooler of food and my hat too...





The traffic was pretty smooth flowing seeing it was a Friday and the fact that they're doing construction. I know this photo isn't the greatest, but I love the Howe Sound view while driving up the Sea to Sky Highway.








We got up early on Saturday and walked up to the Upper Village... a little nervous at first for fear that we would get "kicked out", but people loved us being there... we loved it too!

This is the view across from where we were painting... we had a little lunch there. I thought it looked so European with the flowers and umbrellas.

Heading home on Sunday, I stopped in at the Lions Bay Art Gallery. I've wanted to visit last time I was up that way, but the timing didn't work out. The gallery is run by artist Michael Tickner's wife, Alice Tickner. I have always been a fan of his colourful, cheerful work and have seen a lot of cards and prints of his paintings on Granville Island.



Seeing as I had my truck full of art, I decided to show Alice. We chatted for about 2 hours or so about art, art careers, spiritual matters, artists... lots of stuff - she's so easy to talk to. She loved what I showed her and decided to represent my work. I'm pretty excited about it!

"Long Tall Sally" 24"x12"

Lions Bay Art Gallery

A Walk in the Park

The last few days I've been hunkered in my studio studying some photos that I took a few days ago when we had a tiny window in sunshine. I've started a few more paintings and here is the source for my inspiration:

...taking a walk in the park to ignite my creative spirit... I'm in a total "Tree Mode" of painting. I found a new (new to me) park in Abbotsford (Fishtrap Park, I believe??) that has some great quiet spots to sit and think and a path that isn't full of people.

I just LOVE the different textures of tree bark!

how cute!

I love the panorama aspect of cameras: this one had some great height!

Tree roots... Love 'em!

Different angles...

I'm doing a few different kinds of paintings now that will feature some "down below" views.I'll show you when I'm finished...

On my walk, I found this little guy. Poor thing, he's alive but looks a little battered up.

I wonder what happened to him!

Alot of my paintings have been based on this type of setting. This was taken at Mill Lake in Abbotsford. There's usually a few more people in this park... lots of dogs being walked and also lots of baby geese and goslings! Also refreshing for the spirit. Just watch out for all the geese poop!

I can't wait for some better weather soon... that means getting out of the studio and back into the woods!