Stoking the Fire

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what inspires artists to create. Golden hour casting the perfect light across the walls of a crimson canyon, the first snow of winter on a quiet morning, a model who captures just the right expression. Throughout history, many of the greats had their muses, from Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel to Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’keeffe.

Or maybe it’s something not so specific. Maybe it’s simply a feeling that comes over you, an amalgamation of thoughts and experiences that pulls you, like a gravitational force, toward that need to make art. Whatever it is that inspires you, I encourage you to pause and ponder it, even for just a moment. Often, that simple question of why can lead us toward thrilling ideas and revelations. It may lead you toward trying new subject matter, or perhaps a deeper understanding of why you paint what you paint.

In this August/september issue, we have several features that delve into the idea of inspiration. One of these is a recap of columnist and artist Vanessa Rothe’s experience traveling for a workshop in the South of France to soak in the energy of the many phenomenal artists who painted there in the past. In the other feature, figurative oil painter Craig Pursley talks about his own muse, an art and theater major named Hannah, who was able to shapeshift into a beautiful plethora of characters and personalities during their six-plus years working together. When things click, they just click.

So as you enjoy perusing this latest issue, let your mind open up to all of the possibilities for painting, and see what lights a fire in you.

Warmly,