More Inspiration from Andrea Hupke de Palacio
Jul 21, 2011 Drawing
I got a message yesterday from another long time reader, Andrea. Andrea is an artist and blogger in Paris who does the cutest illustrations based on her observations of the city. She also paints and is experimenting with new media, a great way to get out of a rut!
Andrea says:
Congratulations for your marriage and I’m glad to see you back in the saddle (this is an expression we use in Germany too:) and to have your posts again in my inbox.
I have been away from blogging myself for some time now, but am trying to hop into the saddle too lol.
Enclosed please find a picture with my latest work in process, I’m working with new techniques including
egg-tempera and pigments, in a new environment, new home new studio:)
If you like to share it on your blog, please go ahead,
I wish you all the best for you and your art and your life,
Andrea, best of luck to you getting back into the swing of things. Perhaps we can motivate each other!
Below is Andrea’s egg-tepera work in progress, called Singing Bodies. The rich colours remind me of fall; I would love to see the finished product!
Tags: inspiration
Inspiration Courtesy of John Lanthier and Dee Siffer
Jul 19, 2011 Special Bulletins
Congrats on the wedding. I love your blog – very interesting and useful reading. I`m an artist and graphics designer myself. Here a link to my website with some of my portraits and paintings if you would like to post it. http://johnlanthierart.com/ I hope one of my compositions could help kickstart your creative process.
A lovely message from John Lanthier, who is currently studying at Concordia. John is a man after my own heart; he does portraiture, still life, surrealism and abstract. Check out his site. My favorite is Enter the Void Part 1 under “other.”
I also got a message from long time reader Dee Siffer, who I’ve had the pleasure of corresponding with before. Below is her portrait of Ronald Reagan. So glad she decided to share this! Beautiful work, Dee.
It’s not too late! Share your work!
Tags: inspiration
What Gets You in the Mood?
Feb 23, 2011 Art General
Mood lighting?
Soft music?
Paint fumes?
We all have little rituals throughout the day to get us ready for the task at hand. These activities put us in the frame of mind needed to tackle whatever it is that has to be done. Maybe you have a coffee and check your e-mails before you go to work in the morning. Before turning out the light to go to sleep, you wash your face, brush your teeth and read a magazine.
These small, insignificant activities can go a long way towards your mental preparation, which also applies to the artist in the studio!
I know that I have my pre-studio ritual. One thing I like to do before beginning a painting session is to put on my painting clothes. It kind of goes without saying in a practical sense (I can get messy), but it’s like my uniform. Wearing painting clothes tells my brain that it’s time to get to work. There is a shift in mentality that accompanies getting changed for the studio.
Another little ritual I have is to peel the dried paint off my palette. Again, it sounds kind of stupid, but it’s almost a type of meditation. This is when I can let my mind wander and think about my last painting session and where I want to go next with my work.
These rituals provide the transition from work-mode, or cooking-mode, or cleaning-mode into studio-mode.
When it comes to sleeping, many people find that healthy bedtime rituals improve their sleep. Let’s apply this to art! Perhaps your rituals before you hit the studio can actually help you be a better artist!
What puts you in the mood to paint?
Tags: inspiration, motivation, rituals
Harder Better Faster Stronger – Words of Wisdom from Daft Punk
Feb 2, 2010 Art General
I love a groovy dance tune as much as the next girl, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of techno music.
Last night I was doing some painting. Vince was watching wrestling in the next room, so I plugged into my iPod to drown on the angry sounds of men yelling at eachother. By chance, Daft Punk’s Harder Better Faster Stronger came on. I don’t even know how it got on there; to be honest, it’s usually a song I skip past.
But for some reason, the heavy beat resonated with me and I listened to it all the way through. Then again. And again.
I never put songs on repeat!
As I listened, I started to pay attention to the lyrics, and realized how relevant they are to the life of the artist. Consider this:
Work It Harder Make It Better
Do It Faster, Makes Us stronger
More Than Ever Hour After
Our Work Is Never Over
Sound familiar?
As artists, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to the next level.
I’m slowly beginning to realize that success as an artist doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of tireless work both inside and outside the studio. We need to be disciplined and structured in our approach to our art and business.
Go download this song and let me know what you think! The rhythm is awesome to paint to and the repetetive words are like a mantra every artist should live by!
Tags: art tips, inspiration
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