Suddenly, the inspiration comes back....

This past summer, I had decided not to paint or draw. Instead, I had been pulled away by other forces that didn't allow me to be my creative self. I think we've all been there at one time or another.

Normally, being very passionate about doing my art, somehow just began to feel to me like a daunting task. With no inspiration and desire on my side, art was pushed aside. Even after spending hours sitting in my studio and staring at my paintings ( we've all been there too!), I began to realise that you can't have desire without inspiration, just as you can't have inspiration without desire. Both go hand in hand. We all know this.

I hate when this feeling happens because this is exactly why some artists ( myself included) don't spend more time at their easels. I often wish that I can focus on one subject and keep painting that one subject over and over again and be really good at it, that would be easy, but that's not who I am, I need to be challenged, to be inspired by all things.

An opportunity for inspiration arose recently when my artist friend Dayna and I attended the Leighton Art centre Autumn Paint Out on September 30th. This is an annual event which brings artists together to do their art out in the open air in a beautiful setting. I finally put my foot down on myself, packed my painting supplies and went. The day was fabulous, and the inspiration came back...