New Ideas and Better Habits

Creativity and new ideas can be elusive at times. I notice that my new ideas (at least the ones I like) have often come when I have a measure of balance in my life. If things are out of whack, for whatever reason, my ideas dry up and the frustration sets in. I’ve recently been experiencing a “dry” period and the new art work has been slower in coming.

So I’m ready to try something new and I’d like to invite you along on this short journey. I remember watching an interview with Andrew Wyeth (I think), where he talked about painting and being in the studio every day. Some days he liked what he was working on and some days not, but the habit of working every day was what grounded him. By comparison, my practice has been to work many (many!) hours in a row, then not for awhile.

So, in the effort to develop better habits and new work I am going to take Wyeth’s lead and try a little experiment. For the next week, I plan to post a new drawing or painting each day.

Stay tuned for the results!

Dreaming Of My New Garden

Every year in the spring I start to spend a lot of time outside in the garden. First I clean it up, pull off the leaves and then discover what of my perennials are going to make it back for another season. Next I plant the seeds, taking a casual approach with a loose plan. This year I am hoping to find the time to expand my garden and create a back yard full of lilies, sunflowers, morning glories, marigolds, columbine, nastrium and maybe even some veggies!

I took these photos at the recent Portland Flower Show, it was a beautiful show. Hopefully these photos will inspire my imagination so I can create a new and colorful oasis for me, my family and friends! I also think in these photos and later the growing garden there will be inspiration for a painting or two! Happy Spring!