Inspiration: Where does it come from?

Since antiquity, Artists have had a mysterious relationship with the source of their art. There is no unified field theory for creativity, not yet anyway. Inspiration comes and goes, waxes and wanes in its intensity and forms. August 2007 was a very inspiring month for me and it has me reflecting the source if it all. Clicking on this image will take you to a large version uploaded onto my flickr sight.

 

 So Silent You Can Hear the Earth Breathe  22 x 50 archival inkjet print

Here are words from the script on this piece.

Awaiting your return
Stilled with anticipation
Accepting
So silent you can hear the earth breathe
So still
Let the warmth of memory arise
I cannot grow cold
Even in the dark of night
So pure the light of dawn
When the light will strike me yet again
Her warm invisible hands
Slowly melting the stone in my heart

I am not my art
I am not my words
I am not my face

I am all of this

I am unknowable

The ancient Greeks created the idea of the muse, a female personification of this vector of creativity that pushes its way into our minds. I suppose there can be male muses too.  'Will she come or will she go now?' The line from the classic punk rock song by the clash comes to mind. Perhaps it was fickle nature of love and human relationships that inspired this association. In fact the triangle between creativity, love and sexuality describes a territory of wonder beauty and mystery. The Creative fire of art and love intertwine in myth and in our daily lives and if you let it, these experiences can transcend from mere emotion and experience into the realm of art.   Right now I like to think of this creative life force that flows through us as a fire in the wilderness, something that supports our souls and keeps us going, it must be attended to, this fire, fed new experiences and gently fanned with the breath of reverence, patience, excitement and understanding. And so much more! Happy creations to you
 

Flickr Energy; Back to my blog

After a bit of a hiatus here, I'm finally posting again. I've been off on Flickr, setting up my account there and having an amazing experience with not only the art but the community of artists that exists there. It's given me a great boost of energy and I've been creating like crazy. Including this image below:

 

Epiphany in the Desert. Archival Inkjet print. 2007, 35" x 35"

 
The delirious burst of Goddess energy flashed for a moment beyond the horizon, turning the pilgrim to stone and then back to flesh again. In only an instant the Universe had changed.

I guess I'm a bit of a mystic at heart, but this image is also a homage to one of my favorite 19nth Century Artists, Odilon Redon. Do you know him? If not, your in for a treat. One of my most profound experiences in viewing art took place at the Redon room at the Musée d'Orsay, where his chromatic pastels float in a dark space like aquarium views into the most deliriously colorful world of art and imagination. (Don't miss this if you go to Paris) But despite his chromatic work, Redon also was master of  somber monotone etchings He had a strong mystical thread running throughout his work.

This art also reflects somewhat my sense of having received a great burst of energy  from flickr. I've met a lot of artists there  who freely use a lot of PS processing very effectively  and it has inspired me to push my process work even further. For a long time I felt like a voice in the wilderness with my Digital Art, and now more and more, their is a great acceptance that digital manipulation is just another tool, to be used––wisely or not––In the artists box of mediums. It's very exciting. Check out my Flickr photo-stream where you will find and even larger selection of my art than on this site. Cheers!