how inspiration found me

In our life, there is a single color,

as on an artist's palette,

which provides the meaning of life and art.

It is the color of LOVE.

- Marc Chagall

There's been very little art happening here
for the past few months,
but a few nights ago,
i sat my ass down and told myself
i wasn't getting up
until i painted SOMETHING.
It could look like crap, I didn't care.
But I was gonna paint something.

Whenever i have these dry spells,
i try to practice patience and trust.
Patience with myself (you can't force something out)
and trust that inspiration will find me eventually.
So I lit a candle,
put on some instrumental music,
and played with paints.
I initially started with just a few colours,
and the intention of just spreading them
on the canvas with a palette knife.
Just blocks of color.

I kept playing with colours & shapes,
alternating between palette knife & brush,
feeling at this point like it was nothing
but a big mess.
But it didn't matter. 
I was painting.

Then I flipped the canvas upside down,
and only then did I notice
what looked like a woman with 3 legs
(upside down, at the top center of the canvas).
Or maybe it's a woman holding an umbrella.
Or tugging a security blanket. ;)

So I flipped it over again
defined a few more lines,
and something happened at this point.
I began to like it.
I looked at it for a while,
then I left it for the evening.
When i woke up the next morning,
i looked at it with fresh eyes
and natural lighting
and i loved it.
Funny how that happens...

When i finished painting in the evening,
i thought "yeah, i guess it's not bad"...
but when i saw it in the morning light,
after a good nights' sleep...
i really liked it.

I see people and streets
and a city and trees...
And the best part for me
is the mystery woman...

Another quick drawing
from the DRAWING YOUR LIFE book.

My gratitude journal,
that i had neglected for a while
but have now begun to write something in here
on a more regular basis.
One of the best ways
to make your life better
is to jot down a few things
you are grateful for each day...
to become conscious of what you HAVE
rather than what you are missing.
And by what you have
i don't mean things. :)

 

What I'm currently enjoying...
the biography of Marc Chagall.
I love art that tells stories.
Marc Chagall's art tells stories.
A beautiful little video here,
with the work of Marc Chagall
and music that makes my heart melt:

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
xx