What Inspires You?

What inspires you?

Is it a person, place, or thing?

Is a poem, song, or a painting?

Please comment and share!

For me, inspiration comes in many forms. From objects. From experiences. From memories. From concepts. From people. From places. From everywhere and everything.

I am inspired by...dreams, books, colors of glass, bubbles, the night sky, twilight and dawn, flowers, skies and clouds, green foliage, mountains, watersheds, birds, mammals, amphibians, anything domestic or wild, the smells of coffee, chocolate, or the vanilla air that penetrates my soul when I order ice cream at Brewster's, the smiles of the people I know and love, from thinking back about the teachers I had that pushed me to my limits and made me think and create, from the mistakes I have made (HA!), from thinking back about my childhood escapades, from my exquisite friends, the purr of a cat and the howl of a dog, from the earth, air and water, and right now, from the downpouring rain. As the rain tapdances on the earth, I can smell the dirt, I love that smell. If you are not inspired by something, well............ If you look, really look, inspiration is there.

This summer has been a rainy one indeed, but, it has inspired all the colorful flowers in the new garden. That in turn has gone from my senses to paper.

'Summer Garden' watercolor (C) gls (SOLD)

Shadows of the Sun

Yes, most of my works are small. Typically, I print on an 8' x 8' substrate or smaller, however, I found these clayboard panels that were 6' x 24'. I am really excited about using them. The first one I printed was 'Across the Day' https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG8Njy41hTD_0aYoBCO0rHOT_Ll-1xKLrLdSkUkvSxat5FTCi-INRc6c2CswlO0E4VET6fXEpNrM6euG791i6VmPH24RTO87OHbsagxeFlATzC0zh48Olr-yefobL-Q6I12O0gFPs_Bw/s1600-h/across+a+day+mono+6+24.jpg







This image is the second one of this size I have done. Working with oils and very little working time due to using the clayboard, I find the larger attempts a lot more challenging. I find my mind spinning with ideas. WOW.

Lately...

Night Shadows photograph by gls

Lately, I have been working in the flower garden and yard. Today I finally finished a 7' x 7' patio made from thick brick-like pavers. Being much older now, I need to be careful following through on these huge whims I have, I feel it, lol. My bones ache. Not even a 30 minute dip in the cold creek made a difference...not physically anyway. It felt great, all the sounds of water falling over rocks and the kingfisher darting all about invoked a feeling of peace. Ah-h-h-h.

I am getting ready to make art now. After tomorrows visit to the local gallery to switch out work, I plan on making prints and painting some watercolor landscapes. The annual pilgrimage to Bath County, to drop off work for the Bath County Show, is this weekend. I do love that ride.

I have been renewing my interest in photography. I bought a new digital camera a while back and have been trying to learn about all the amazing things it can do. My first digital camera was only a 1.7 mega pixel camera and I remember being impressed with it, lol. I found a good home for that camera though! I had a student last year that expressed an interest in photography, she even wants to become a photographer at some level, fashion or medical. I was so impressed with her because this student has a keen eye and the personality to be successful at anything she tries. So, I gave her the old camera, a few typed notes that may be helpful to her, and a jump drive to store her photos on. The day after I gave it to her, she came bouncing in my room, showing me her first photos! I am anxious to see what she does this summer! I tell you, this kid is a natural. I pray she follows her dream!

Well, the night clouds are rolling in. Time for me to move along for now.