Tuesday, September 5, 2017

How to Stay Inspired as an Artist





Like many of you..
I can take grey and overcast..
cool, or chilly
weather just so long..
and then my body craves sunshine..

Having lived in California
I know that the beach can be misty cool and downright cold..

and so it was
when we journeyed out to visit family..



but it was lovely to see the blue, grey ocean
through the planks of the decking and feel the sway of the pier..





My brother in law and sisters in law
take cottages at historic



every year on the same weekend at Pacific Beach
and this year we decided to visit them there..

the cottages are right on the pier and the view is pretty
amazing..








there are pots of succulents on
each and every porch..
which was cheerful..








but my Sister in law
bought us some sunshine






below..
this is the view from the deck of their cottage..









so to find the sun, 
we headed inland to visit
the historic



in
Balboa Park
and built in
1905






Mr Marston owned 
a beautiful department store at that time
and he built this Arts and Crafts house 
and gardens 
on rock..
yes.. dear reader..

they had to blast the rock
to plant the garden and the trees..
at the turn of the century..

inspiring that they would go to such lengths
for 
beauty..






While we were there I realized
that
There are many ways to generate
inspiration
as an artist..

but one sure way..







is to get out of the studio...






you don't have to go across








the country..
but you do have to leave the house..
leave your environment..








and see..
really see..






see what other artists create..








admire architecture
and arts different than what you create..








follow nature around..





from one color...








to another..






to another..








like a busy bee..
allowing nature to lead you...







fragrance to caress you..








and the unusual to delight you...







seeing
is an art in and of itself..







the curve of the leaf..
the lines of the house..
all sing to the soul..






the rows of fragrance..
all beg to be 
SEEN 
clearly...






and with that clarity comes
inspiration...



"Art is neither a profession or a hobby, art is a way of Being. "
Frederick Franck 
Zen of Seeing






I plan on being here next Tuesday..

and 

we are experiencing 
a dramatic increase in hurricanes
this year..

Mr. La Dolce Vita is in Texas right now,
working on the remediation
which will take a long time..
and we are watching Hurricane Irma
very closely..

so if you would be so kind..
please visualize Irma moving harmlessly out into the
Atlantic..

and hold us in your
kindest thoughts..
I would greatly appreciate it..


xox