A visit to northern New Mexico, my favorite place in the world, always inspires me. There's something about the environment that's different from everywhere else -- is it the light? smells? cool air? Yes. I've never HEARD the Taos Hum, but I've FELT it. In Taos, in Santa Fe, in Madrid...I take big gulps of air while I'm there, shoot lots of photos, sketch and make notes, all in an effort to hold on to the magic.
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| Bottle Fence, Golden, New Mexico Where is YOUR most inspiring place? |
It's amazing where inspiration can come from. Sometimes you're looking for it. Sometimes it finds you!
This painting happened almost by accident. In a mini collage workshop a couple of months ago, I was explaining about the importance of backgrounds, how we need value change, a place for the eye to rest, blah, blah, blah. I picked up this vibrantly colored POP and said, "....for instance, THIS ONE wouldn't work. It's too wild!" Then I plopped on top a pot I'd painted for some other painting, the pot I'd nearly discarded.
ZZZZZZZAP! Magic happened and I almost missed it. The background and the pot were made for each other! Then I saw a student's painting of tall cactus in a pot. Hmmm, I thought. Hmmmm. More made for each other stuff.
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| Cactus Cousins |
