WHAT IS INSPIRATION?

We asked the finalists from the RBC Canadian Painting Competition what inspiration means to them:

1. CAROLINE LARSEN, TORONTO

“Inspiration, to me, is just a spark—something that grabs your attention and starts your mind moving in different directions.”

2. RUSSELL LENG, VANCOUVER

“Inspiration is a notable sensory moment and often a starting point to build on and translate into something more. Inspiration doesn’t always happen at the beginning of a project or painting—it can arrive in the middle and often reveals itself at the end as well. This speaks to the fluidity or fleeting nature of inspiration; it comes and goes but can be chased down if you are persistent enough.”

3. JOHN PLAYER, MONTREAL

“It has something to do with being compelled to act; it’s a force that drives me to fill some kind of void in the immediate that appears sometimes randomly and sometimes from research. It’s directly attached to one’s belief system as well.”

4. JESSICA BELL, OTTAWA

“Inspiration, to me, means interest. Anything that is inspiring is something that can persuade a second thought.” h