PPF: Painting from Inspiration
I've worked my way through the wonderful free class "Finding Your Muse" by Alisa Burke. She suggests unplugging and finding some things that inspire you by going out for a photo walk or a sketchbook ramble. I find the unplugging really hard, but it's definitely something I need to do more often. Although I didn't get out to take any fresh pictures, I turned to my existing photo files to select some photos that really inspire me. I found this picture of daisies. I love the soft blur juxtaposed with the sharpness of some of the petals. Love the intensity of the colors. The next step is the process suggested by Alisa is to actually do something with your inspirational starting point. So, I took out my acrylic paints and made this art journal page:
It's one of the first paintings I've ever made where I didn't start with a sketch. I just started laying down color in appropriate shapes. It came together quickly, and I really like how it turned out. For you painters out there, do you usually start with sketch or do you start with color? And for the rest of you, where do you find inspiration? Come back tomorrow and see my "ten on the tenth" post with some more photographs that I find inspiring. For today, check out this link to see other painters participating in Paint Party Friday's Celebration of One Year of PPF!
I find unplugging a bit stressful to, but it is a good thing to do and this is a great painting... It has been such a hot and wet summer here that I find a walk around the house with the camera can turn up lots of good subjects as well... not just the garden... looking forward to seeing what you tackle next...xx
ReplyDeleteYour Spring painting is great Maria. I usually start paintings with a drawing first and build it from there with color. As for inspiration, I look to nature. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteYour painting is sensational Rinda, I really love this one, you have captured the little daisies so well!
ReplyDeleteI unplug during school holidays, it's a great way to recharge and shift focus or reinspire.
I love it! So vibrant and the yellow has a punch of energy.
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF!
I like the idea of unplugging. It's been awhile since I've taken a long walk with my camera, although it's because I don't like to take long walks in the rain.
ReplyDeleteYour journal painting is so lovely.
Happy PPF Anniversary! Helen @ Natures Walk
Love what you've done here,Rinda....such a bright,happy painting.
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
ReplyDeletexxx Susi
Oh so pretty, Rinda! I love yellow and I love daisies, so it's my Ideal Picture!
ReplyDeleteWhen I paint (not often these days, hmm..), I sometimes start with a sketch (because I'm a cautious person), but other times I just pick up a brush and paints and get stuck in!
Yesterday, I was driving up the hill from the river, on the way to my mum's. It was a bit misty and overcast, with promise of some sunshine later. The fields were wintery and so were the trees, but there was so much to See and it was so Lovely!
Coming home again, on the way down the same hill, I had the gorgeous view across the little valley - the water meadow, the farm, with its cluster of ancient-to-new barns and buildings, the church, with the white cottage in front and the green churchyard... Trees, greenery, rosy-coloured buildings, ancient stone...
So I thought, "Why don't I get out of my car and house, take my sketchbook and camera and Just Walk?"!
I think I will. I must. It will do me so much good, on so many levels!
You have some good views and scenery where you live (I know because you showed us photos!). Be brave and go out there!
Lovely! It sure does feel like spring. :)
ReplyDeleteLove these daisies - always such happy flowers I think.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the photo, Rinda! And your painting turned out wonderful, the daisies look so happy soaking up the spring sun.
ReplyDeleteNature is probably my greatest inspiration at the moment. As to doing sketches first: it depends on the subject. When working on a canvas, I usually sketch first, but when working in my journal, I know like to just let it flow and see what happens.
Happy PPF!
Beautiful spring. Saludos
ReplyDeleteIt turned out beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI started a sketchbook last year that I called "walking in my world" to help me capture things I saw when out walking. About halfway through so there will be more this year.
Sometimes I start with sketches. Other times I don't.
Daisies are my favorite so I find this picture gorgeous and I love what you did with them in the painting. I usually start with both. I have an outline sketch of a girl and then I blast everywhere else with color.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Denton
I love daisies...and your painting is beautiful...reminds me of when I was little and spent summer days making daisy chains... :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to just jump in and see where the paint takes you? This is so beautifully summery.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I always start with a sketch but you have inspired me to give it a go once without. Seems scary! Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteSweet, fresh painting.
ReplyDeleteI, too, find my inspiration in nature! :)
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
The colors are beautiful in this painting! I sometimes sketch before I paint, but often I just start painting. In acrylic, I do some drawing with the paint brush. For watercolor and encaustic, I usually just dive in and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI'm under medical orders to stay off the computer at the minute
ReplyDeleteI like this very much. So fresh and welcoming for Spring
What a wonderful interpretation of spring! I have yet to find the time to try out the free class and she is a wonderful inspiration and good teacher.
ReplyDeleteThank you, for your wonderful comments xxx
I love your Spring painting. It is wonderful. Very nice Rinda. I usually just do color and work with that. I have a hard time sketching. Love the yellow in your piece. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteVery very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful. I love how you got your inspiration. I am moving to a new city soon, and I look forward to going from a desert landscape to water and green. I am bored right now with my surroundings, now, so getting out for a photo walk is hard. But...that will be changing soon! Thanks for dropping by my blog. I love that you just started painting...I'm just a beginner, so I don't really have a style yet. :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful Springy colors, a happy painting! Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo and the painting is wonderful too :)
ReplyDeleteI unplug quite often. I do several blog posts and then schedule them for several days in the week. This way I'm not on every day. I'm actually out enjoying the real world and not the digital world. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy being plugged in, but it can get addicting like anything else. Happy PPF.
ReplyDeleteDaisies are my favorite and yours are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I start with a sketch, but sometimes I just head straight to the paint :)
xo
Kristin
Lovely spring colours.
ReplyDeleteusually I just start with making a background!!!! Patsy from
ReplyDeleteHeARTworks
Your painting turned out lovely - of course, I love the yellow background!
ReplyDeleteI read through all the materials & watched the videos for Alisa's class (thanks for the link in an earlier email) and am planning an inspiration walk soon. Currently I mostly get inspiration from online, but I also find it in my photos and magazines.
I love this and I am so ready for Spring to arrive!!! wonderful work!!!
ReplyDeleteUnplugging is soooo hard for me, too! Good for you, trying something new and going with the flow on this page....it feels so fresh!
ReplyDeleteI usually start with a sketch, as well, but I don't usually put them in a sketchbook first, then transfer....I draw directly on the canvas.
Happy PPF!
Hi Maria,
ReplyDeleteI luv that photograph and your painting turned out lovely. I usually sketch something first and then either wood burn the image in and then paint or just paint, not good enough to just start from paint ; )
This morning I'm taking lots of pics of the moon and rising sun and some of them might be inspirations for later works, definitely photographs of nature are a big inspiration for me.
What a superb photo and a lovely fresh page for Spring... I have only just begun to try a bit of painting and since I can't draw, I just have to start with the paint!
ReplyDeletelove to unplug...i like my freedom...i would rather paint any old day...and i do both...sometimes i just start and sometimes i sketch...i'm all over the place as you know...and i love flowers!! your daisy photo & painting are wonderful!! great work, rinda!! yay! happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteYour painting is lovely - such happy colors. I just tried to paint some daisies yesterday - from an arrangement that my hubby brought me, but I'm not too happy with how they turned out - need more practice! Yours, on the other hand, are wonderful. I love the idea of unplugging - I definitely NEED to do that. I become addicted to chasing rabbits on the internet - or on Pinterest - the worst! Although I love it. Thanks for today's inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Tricia
What a sweet, sweet painting!
ReplyDeleteso happy. Yay for spring!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. The colors are bright and does bring a day of spring in.
ReplyDeleteNicole/Beadwright
Wow, the painting and the photo are both awesome!!!Deb
ReplyDeleteYour photo and your painting are both so lovely! Certainly been feeling in a spring mood lately! Looks like you have been, too!
ReplyDeleteHappy (late) PPF!
I really like this spontaneity! You captured the feeling of the photo. I usually sketch my composition on my canvas with burnt sienna(oil paint), then fill in color, dark to light.
ReplyDelete