Momentum

Inspiration and Chain Smoking

No, I don't smoke, let alone chain smoke, but I am borrowing the idea as it applies to my art. I came across the term from the author, Austin Kleon whose work I follow. He describes the process of chain smoking as "instead of taking a break in between projects and worrying about what’s next, use the end of one project to light up the next one." By working in this way "you avoid stalling out in your career by never losing momentum." When I read that I thought it was a great term to describe the process.
This last series of paintings I have been working on is a perfect example of keeping the inspiration flowing and the pieces coming. While working on the first piece I had items that I wanted to use but that just didn't fit. That led to a bit of brainstorming and the beginnings of the second piece, after that I still had things (different ones) leftover. So I continued on to a third painting and now I have a fourth piece percolating (slight logistical stall- I need another support to work on before I can begin). I have quite happily been able to go quite far with just one small dose of inspiration. Hopefully I will be able to use this idea of chain smoking to my advantage and keep my creative momentum going.

 Detail of Piece #3

Wood Veneer Piece #2

Here is my second painting that was inspired by the wood veneer. But don't look too hard for a piece of veneer hidden somewhere in the painting. You won't find it. The veneer was simply the inspiration that got the creative juices flowing and the painting evolved and developed from that inspiration in a slightly different direction.

 Wooden Squirrel

30" x 48"

Found Objects and Mixed Media on Doorskin

 Detail #1 of Wooden Squirrel

 Detail #2 of Wooden Squirrel

I had so much fun making this painting that I started another one almost before I finished this one!

Wood Veneer Piece #1

Veneer Moth

16" x 20"

Mixed Media on Wood Panel

This piece began with wanting to show off the beauty of the dark wood veneer sheet I picked up at Urban Source. With the veneer as my inspiration and foundation for the painting I began adding various elements, playing with things until I found a pleasing composition. It has been a piece that I thought was done at a couple points along the way, but kept changing my mind. Now, finally, I have decided that it is finished. Let me know what you think (I realize it is quite different from alot of my other recent work, but it was fun)

 detail #1 of Veneer Moth

 detail #2 of Veneer Moth