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Artspiration

Stumbling along the journey

Endless curiosity, observation, and a great amount of joy in the thing. ~ George Grosz In our society, especially when it comes to hobbies like creating, we often highlight success and overlook the importance of failure. Yet, failure is crucial to our growth. Just like Thomas Edison, who found countless ways that didn’t work before […]

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Artspiration

Borrowing Inspiration

If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together There was an art supply trade show in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. So… some of us went to it (including Matthew’s 4-year old daughter – who was absolutely the hit of the show – pretty sure we’re […]

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Artspiration

Creative Hiccups

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. ~ Joshua J. Marine Ever have one of those days when things just don’t seem to work out quite right? Maybe you head to work and realize you’ve got a flat tire. Or have an electric circuit go out and be […]

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Artspiration

YOU are the secret

Every artists dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~ Henry Ward Beecher I was recently chatting with a friend about making art. The basic conclusion we reached was that there is nothing new to be made – but only you can make it the way you […]

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Artspiration

Emotion is created by motion

Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work. ~ Chuck Close Sometimes we just don’t feel like doing a thing even though we know it is what we should do and it is good for us. Just do it anyway. Get started. Don’t think about it. Just move your […]

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Artspiration

Creative seasons

There is a season for everything under the sun—even when we can’t see the sun. ~ Jared Brock I recently listened to this podcast episode about a rural artist and how she makes it work. This quote about taking a break from painting while her kids were small caught my attention – “I abandoned painting […]

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Artspiration

Attention Cottage

Creativity needs a quiet place where it can breathe and flourish. I recently heard the phrase “attention cottage” and loved it. It was coined by analogy to a memory palace. It was meant as a place of attentiveness. For some of us, this would be a private art studio. Many of us will have to […]

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Artspiration

Mundane excellence

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle When discussing different materials, I try to keep in mind the end goal for the project. eg: if you’re just playing with art supplies – do what you want and have fun! However, if you’re looking to sell […]

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Artspiration

Breathing space

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. ~ Pablo Picasso I was supposed to go camping this weekend. Reserved the site months ago, had a group of friends and neighbors going, most of the gear and food was packed… the whole shebang. Then I called it off the […]

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Artspiration

Communing with art

A man who never reads will never be read. A man who never quotes will never be quoted. A man who never uses the thoughts of other men’s brain proves that he has no brain of his own. ~ Charles Spurgeon The quote above is about reading, writing, and thinking. About how our pens stand […]