Evolution of a Style III: A New Dose of Inspiration

As an artist, I've come to terms with the fact that my creativity sometimes comes in waves and occasionally needs a jump start.

I have a large one-person show coming up in October and have been painting for it now for a few months. OK, I admit I should probably say "struggling with painting for it" because, at times, being at the easel felt very difficult rather than energizing.

By early June, I knew I needed a new dose of inspiration.

Mesa Verde to the rescue!

I admit to being scared about taking 2 weeks away from the easel just when I was at my busiest, but in the end it I think I'll be more productive for having taken the break.

Of course I came away with a lot of photos that will make their ways into paintings at some point. But I think I came away with something even more intangible: a deeper and clearer sense of history, a sense of the amazing creativity of both the Ancient and modern "Pueblo" peoples, a deeper sense of the connectedness and richness of cultures here in the Americas before Columbus even dreamed of sailing west. I began to deeply appreciate the amazing architects that have lived here on this continent for thousands of years. How difficult it must have been to eke out a living in a changing landscape and climate. 

I hope too that these intangible elements, feelings, somehow make their way into my paintings.

I will say that driving home was both sad and joyful - I always shed tears when I leave the Mesa Verde area, but dozens of ideas for new paintings flooded my brain on the long car trip home.