This past weekend I enjoyed an artist ‘date’ with my friend Blenda Tyvoll. We explored the Mt. Tabor Art Walk on a beautiful Saturday morning…. visiting friends Myla Raphael, Sharlane Blaise and Chris Keylock Williams among others. I’ve had the opportunity to see some fabulous gardens lately… Chris has created a beautiful oasis around her historic home. And I loved seeing some of the other gardens in the neighborhood! The mature trees, the family’s touches all made for an enchanting morning. I also had the chance to tour the Bishop’s Close at peak bloom along with another beautiful private Dunthorp garden! Such sweet inspiration.
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- Wisteria at Bishop’s Close
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- Magnolia in bloom at Bishop’s Close
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- Ponies tied at the sidewalk
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- Giant tree along our route
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- Me in Chris’ Front Garden
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- Lady Banks Rose in Chris’ Garden
It’s raining today, and I’m off to the studio… but what should I paint? I have a canvas all prepared, and I’m ready to go. Trouble is, I have too many thoughts running through my head and many of them start with ‘should.’ I think that often when a person knows an artist, it is tempting to drop hints like:
- “You should paint this scene… I’m sure it would sell!”
- “You should only paint this way….”
- “You should go back to painting that way…”
- “I like your paintings of…”
If you’re a painter, you’ve probably heard variations of many of these phrases. The trouble is that exploring other people’s ideas rarely holds our interest as well as exploring ideas that come from within.
“Every artist dips his brush into his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” -Henry Ward Beecher
Or, as I read on Leslie Avon Miller’s blog today:
The only way you have anything to offer as an artist is to please yourself. ~Steve Aimone.
When I’m experiencing sensory overload, being still and asking, “What is the next step?” brings clarity and direction.
I like that, Roxanne. It also would bring continuity, because instead of starting something new, it would ask you to simply continue along a path!
Well said, Ruth. It comes from within.
What fun had on the art walk this last weekend…so much beautiful art and lovely gardens to see. It sure does look like you are on the right track as to what to paint. The in progress painting I saw in your studio today is shaping up nicely. Can’t wait to see the finished piece.