inspiration

Art related events in London continuously amaze me.  A recent example was a portrait painting demonstration given at the Mall Galleries by James Horton, president of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA).  I’m convinced that I spent too much time isolated in my own studio and now I’m being blown away by being exposed to other people’s work.  Mr. Horton was painting this young (squirming) woman in the middle of the main gallery with a crowd of people watching over his shoulders.  I was in awe of how accurately he rendered her face and how seldom he used white paint (note to self).  I found out after the demonstration that he takes art students on painting trips to places like India.  That might have to be added to my list of things to do in life.

The demo happened to be scheduled during the RBA’s Annual Exhibition, a group show of RBA’s members.  There were several pieces that I was drawn to but one in particular that I couldn’t stop staring at.  Of course a photo doesn’t do it justice (especially as this doesn’t illustrate the massive size of the canvas), but nonetheless I had to share a glimpse of this studio painting by Ken Howard.  Now I’m determined to see if he also teaches.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day, sigh.

First, let me tell you how much I love my new iPhone, which allowed to me sneak tons of photos at the Cincinnati Art Museum (it’s easy to trick the docents into thinking you’re sending a text message).  So, I got a great close up of this stunning painting by Henry Mosler.

I have been painting since high school and drawing since I was knee-high to a grasshopper (I love saying that).  Yet, I see paintings like this and think, “How is that done?”  Yeah, I sort of stand there with my mouth hanging open while people pass me and the painting by.

Then, I want to race home and paint before my head explodes.  That’s a less poetic way of describing how inspiring it is.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”  - Barack Obama

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” - Henry Ford

I shower 2-3 times a day in the winter because I can never get warm and my winter PJs consist of ski-ready-like layers.  For these reasons, and so many more, I literally squeal with uncontrolable excitment when I see the sight of above for the first time of the year.  The 09 sighting occured outside my mom’s condo (obviously at night) as I was returning a borrowed dress.  One of her neighbors pulled into the parking lot as I was kneeling in the mulch documenting the little sprouts that could.  Yeah, he will always think of me as the “crazy lady with the camera in the dirt.” Eh, he just doesn’t get it.

I was downstairs yesterday in the LVAA gallery prepping for a group of girls from Maryhurst who were coming to see the Rob Shetterly Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibit. I was working my way through Shetterly’s paintings, reading each bio so that I could intelligently speak to the girls, when the painting above of Rev Cecil Williams deflated my latest gripe like a popped balloon.

The pace of 08 and overwhelming volume of its rapid fire events has stressed me out a bit, but the quote in this painting put it in perspective,

“Death isn’t the greatest thing to be feared for it homogenizes everyone, makes us all equally dead.

Most folks are afraid of living because abundant life requires risking everything to love, liberate, and accept yourself and others now. People are afraid of life for it creates diversity and requires commitment to action. To live is to struggle.”

Right on! So what if my stress is shaving years off my life like a smoking habit? I’ll die at the end of one hell of an accomplished existence that will leave those who played it safe wondering, “What was I waiting for?”

I made my first trip abroad right after graduating from high school.  Ever since that first experience on foreign soil, I have been careful when and where I open my mouth to reveal my American accent while away from home.  Several times it’s been simply embarrassing to claim my country of origin.  Tonight, for possibly the first time ever, I’m proud to be an American.