Inspiration

Squeezing art into your life

September 10, 2011 In Inspiration 1 Comment

Being invited to talk next Thursday, 15th September, at 10.30am at Caloundra Regional Art Gallery in conjunction with the Squeeze exhibition required me to reflect once again on my own art journey. My connection with this exhibition by Sunshine Coast artists who teach in all areas of art, was through my writing and philosophy on the artists journey and finding creative direction. Toni Risson, an author friend with whom I discussed the talk, responded with ‘you squeezed art into your life and it squeezed everything else out’

Yesterday I spent an informative day at the Brisbane Writers Festival listening to around 12 guest speakers who were all either authors, agents, publicists or publishers. Without fail each one commented in some way on the difficulties of surviving financially while having a creative career in writing, yet all these speakers persisted with their dreams and had a vision for their creativity that continued to shape their lives in unexpected ways.

I came away more inspired and convinced that raw talent plus passion was only the beginning. It caused me to reflect on a book I had revisited recently by John C Maxwell – Talent is Never enough: Discover the choices that will take you beyond your talent. This is recommended reading for the jaded artist in all of us. Maxwell believes that ‘ talent is overrated and frequently misunderstood.’

All are welcome to the talk .. A Perfect Blend, Coffee & Art with Guest Speaker: Lyne Marshall artist and author on her journey of finding herself as an artist and [squeezing] it into her life at Caloundra Regional Gallery -22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra 4551 – RSVP Ph. 5420 8299. Download the Perfect Blend Flyer

Caloundra Regional Gallery talk by Guest speaker Lyne Marshall

Perfect Blend - Squeezing art into life

Creating art from the soul

August 22, 2011 In Inspiration No Comment

Memories form a large part of any art creation and getting into the right frame of mind or flow has been the subject of a lot of the research that went into my books Gleaner or Gladiator: The Struggle to Create and Invisible Realities: Finding the Hidden Dimensions in Art. My recent entry in the Flying Arts Award came out of memories of my childhood on a then isolated island off the Queensland Coast. The entry was to be about connection and I wrote in my statement ..

‘ all passionate artists are lead to search for their own marks, to place the beating of their own hearts on paper and canvas. This is to trust the spiritual connection we have to life, to go back to the basics of our own backyard. Here we find the nature that resides in our humaneness, our souls’ creative destiny. This painting, My Island Home, came unexpectedly from childhood memories and reflects the years spent on the beaches of Bribie Island. This was a time of absence as I was missing my fisherman father as he worked at sea. The bridge, silent in the background, came later to connect us all to the mainland.’

At the time of painting I did not know where the work was leading so it was interesting to witness once again my belief that tapping into the super conscious level of the mind is a necessary part of any creative activity. You will find articles on this blog that address this topic in more detail.

My island Home painting by Lyne Marshall

My Island Home 122 x90 cm acrylic on canvas

Having a Creative Mindset

July 21, 2011 In Creativity Inspiration Workshops No Comment

Don’t feel you have a creative bone in your body? Even full time artists have their moments. Don’t paint yourself into a corner just paint yourself into a creative mindset. Creativity is a big part of everyday life. It’s just different for many situations. You may have this revelation planning a dinner party to impress someone important. A rather large creative leap could be needed to get the results you want.

What does it take to move the creativity of producing an artwork into a business workplace situation for instance? You do not need to be an artist to know we are all inherently creative. Imagine having the artist’s ability to think squarely on the feet as an abstracted painting emerges from a blank canvas. It is like nothing else you will try in your lifetime and very rewarding. Its the same process we use in all problem solving and involves mastering techniques and rules to the point that a higher level of functioning allows you to safely and creatively change them to suit the purpose.

Although an art studio can be chaotic, it is the creative achievements that make it the best job in the world however being a full time artist is not an easy choice. Getting to the top of any profession requires persistence and dedication and having faith in yourself and the creative process. The similarities of the art studio with many other jobs are closer than most people think. Superior art must come from a higher level of consciousness where the answers are unknown until they arrive and delight. It is a way of thinking, feeling and doing that is available to most who seek it.

Imagination and curiosity play a large part in a creative successful outcome and a good way to bring this into your work is to bring back the simplistic way you thought as a small child. I do wonder what would happen if you took the artist brain into the office and problem solved the same way you might paint. It may open up new pathways to success however you would need a good relationship with your client to explain why you are both covered in paint.

You can read past posts on the Twelve Qualities of Creativity on this blog and also access two books on creativity and the artistic mind on the links above or on ArtClique Below is a painting that came out of a visit to Atlin in British Columbia in 2009. It will be exhibited in the Hidden Dimensions exhibition in The Atrium Gallery at Toowoomba Regional Gallery from 11th October – 6th September 2011. If you are in town come to a Meet the Artist event planned for 1pm – 3pm on Saturday 15th October. The gallery will be open from 10am and the books are available now in the Gallery Shop.. and at Murray’s Art and Framing in Toowoomba.

Into the Wilderness 122 x122cm acrylic on canvas

Creative Destiny

June 28, 2011 In Inspiration No Comment

Creative people will search for inspiration through many sources including other artists but in the end it is who we are that needs to shine through in our work. By going back to the basics, to drawing on our own backyard, we will find our souls’ creative destiny. To be passionate requires faith, and this is the glue that will hold us together, for in us all beats a heart that not only loves the living elixir of life, the richest reddest blood, but the act of creation.

It is important in finding the way to be led by a greater love. In looking for answers we may be spun in many directions and just as water finds it own level we also find, through repetitive signs, a clear direction. All passionate artists are lead to search for their marks, to then place the beating of their own hearts on paper, canvas or clay. This is to trust the spiritual connection we have to life and not the words of mere men; the critics and the art experts but the words of the heart.

Just as the leaf falling on turbid waters is tossed about by the eddy and flow, its destination arrives in time. To go with the creative flow is to trust our own judgement, for to follow another’s way is to get caught in a side stream and never be free. If feeling blocked use this break to research and grow. It is enlightening to understand that block is actually change waiting to happen.

Below some new paintings fresh from the studio. Find more of my work on the ArtClique website

Vanishing Vista 76 x 76 cm acrylic on canvas

Reforming the Land acrylic on canvas 76 x 76 cm

Appreciating inspirational skies

June 10, 2011 In Inspiration No Comment

How often have you seen images of artworks made my animals: perhaps elephants, monkeys and even cats. There is a published book titled ‘Why Cats Paint’ and also a few interesting youtube videos about this subject. Now I do admit I own the book and must read it one day as I have seen evidence of my cat making swipe marks in the mud and dust on my car. As she is the furry kind of feline I am reluctant to give her my acrylic paints to use, despite possibly missing out on making millions from the sales of her art.

Recently I discovered my cat sits in the paddock and watches the sunrise most mornings. We love to photograph these amazing skies and I see God’s brush work in the clouds. As I am inspired to write on creative process and the way the mind works in the art studio, this realisation posed a dilemma for me. If my cat is getting inspiration from the sunrise, will she one day demand that I allow her to paint?

Tallegalla sunrise

Leonardo Da Vinci loved the skies and was known to have said said “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return’. I have posted a video on Facebook and here of a sunrise at my home.

Download Tallegalla Dawn, an artist’s inspiration