Inspiration
My inspiration comes from a variety of places, anywhere between the word of the Lord to a small creature. I just need to be attuned to my environment and inspiration usually comes sooner or later. However, life's stressful situations can sometimes keep me from focusing on the wonders of life. When this happens, I "just do it," and hope for the best. Sometimes I produce something that I feel is wonderful, but other times just the process of doing it makes it fulfilling to me.
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| The Pool Guest Pencil Paper, Paint, Pencils & Pens! - Wild Life Alexandra's Sunday Sketches Try It On Tuesday - Things With Wings |
The two art journal pages above are perfect examples of what I mean with just doing it. I drew the stylized Madonna and Christ Child after a couple of days of struggling with what to do. I had been looking through my books on icons, but I just couldn't decide what I wanted. Finally, I just sat down and started sketching without thinking about it. The result is not perfect, but it's a design that could lead me to do a painting in the future. As to the second page, which was inspired by a bat I rescued from my pool this week, it's not one of my best sketches. However, I enjoyed the process of sketching it.
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| Sun Loving Bathers Tim Holtz Dies & Hand Cuts Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Mid-Summer Tag Tuesday - Summer Holiday Manon's Paper Saturdays |
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| Happy Holidays Punches, Scraps, & More Freshly Made Sketches #146 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Emboss It Karen's Word Art Wednesday #143 |
The two paper crafts above are two other examples of what I mean. Last week, I received the Tim Holtz Gingerbread die. Since I had the Summer theme in mind, I immediately decided to use it to make this whimsical couple. All I had to do was design their little swimsuits by hand, use the TH Stamp die to cut the towels, and the TH tiny tags to form the bottles. As to the Christmas card, I had the Freshly Made Sketch in mind when I saw a Christmas card using a wreath when perusing through blogs. I immediately decided I would use the wreath in place of the flower. It worked perfectly!
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| Judge Roy Bean's The Jersey Lilly Saloon, Langtry, Texas iPhone Photograph Bella's 52 Photos Project - Gallery 13 {Refreshments} |
Finally, when I saw the "refreshments" theme, I decided to look through my iPhoto collection. I found the photograph above, which I took when my family and I were on our way to Big Bend National Park a couple of years ago. Judge Roy Bean, who was also a saloon keeper, was appointed Justice of the Peace in Val Verde County, in 1882. However, he took it upon himself to be "The Law West of the Pecos," which led him to become a legendary and very colorful character of the "Wild West" here in the USA. Anyway, I believe that his saloon represented "refreshments" for many travelers in this extremely hot part of the country.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little about my thinking process and inspiration, and would love to hear about what inspires you. I also want to thank everyone that took the time to leave a comment last week during my 3 year blog anniversary, as well as all everyone who is following my blog. Blessings!
I hope you enjoyed learning a little about my thinking process and inspiration, and would love to hear about what inspires you. I also want to thank everyone that took the time to leave a comment last week during my 3 year blog anniversary, as well as all everyone who is following my blog. Blessings!
Beautiful work as always! Valerie
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and lovely projects! Thanks for sharing a bit about your process. I too believe in just doing it and not overthinking projects. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!
ReplyDeletenice sketches, I am glad you found inspiration to make them! I sometimes get like that when I am busy and struggle to come up with an idea to paint.
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely pieces. LOVE your Madonna and Christchild. :) I also love seeing some holiday tags, etc. Yeah for Christmas! Hee Hee
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week. I've added you to the sign-up.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog!! And stopping to leave a comment. I have had a wonderful time this morning browsing thru your blog over coffee this morning. :) You are so talented. I love how you dabble in many different things..kinda like me. LOL! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteAll lovely work and great bat drawing
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday
Love Chrissie x
glad you saved from the pool! hank you for joining us at TIOT. we hope to see you again soon. EE
ReplyDeleteAll creations show your inspiration, and the sun bathers made me smile! That is just too cute!
ReplyDeletehow cool to have the chance to draw a bat from first-hand experience! That is one lucky bat with being rescued. And love those gingerbreads in their summer outfits!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on three years of blogging! Your posts are always inspiring to me, you put so much love and thought into them and your art. I'm so glad you saved the little bat. I like the sketch as well!
ReplyDeleteFabulous artwork! Your Christmas card is wonderful - I so love the colors! Thanks so much for joining us at Freshly Made Sketches.
ReplyDeleteFabulous creations !
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us at Simon Says Wednesday Challenge this week.
Jo x
LOVE all the Christmas! That Madonna and Child in the Garden has my heart. LOVE the shape, and the swirly tree!
ReplyDeleteI just love the sketch of the Christ child and His mother Mary! So simple, yet moving! thx for dropping by and glad you like the architecture at Canada Place. You all must come visit sometime!
ReplyDeleteLeslie
abcw team
Christmas? Not long now. lol!
ReplyDeleteDenise ABC Team
It looks like a productive work space to me! xx Jan (57)
ReplyDeleteMuy bonitos diseños, encantadora la madonna!
ReplyDeleteMy wife is an artist, and I see how stress can make it so hard for her to be creative. Your insight is very interesting; things to keep in mind. I especially love the bat sketch. Some of my favorite animals.
ReplyDeleteSamuraiFrog, ABCW
Arnold, thank for visiting my Woyww, it is a rather special space,west by north west so gets good light all day. Max doesn't usually sleep there, I think he was just soaking up some warmth and keeping an eye on me for his breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI love the Madonna and child on your page, such lovely flowing lines. It is so special, would make a really beautiful Christmas card with the true meaning of Christmas all there.
Chris #45
Hello and thank you for visiting my WOYWW desk today and leaving a lovely comment...I've come to look at your blog and your beautiful creations. The Madonna and Child is stunning and I love your Christmas cards and sketches, Carole Z WOYWW #35 xx
ReplyDeleteAlways a fun visit - I do love the Judge Roy Bean snap - such atmosphere it a simple display. Love it, and your work on show too - which is why we visit after all!
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW!
Mary Anne (5)
I had surgery and missed several weeks. Happy anniversary belated. Thanks for sharing your process. I really like those ginger people!
ReplyDeleteNice work. Looks like you have been busy lately.
ReplyDeletecool gingerbread characters!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
The madonna and child is lovely. I love the bright colors. So sweet of you to have rescued the bat. They are so misunderstood. And Christmas! Already! I guess it is almost August. :-)
ReplyDeleteApril #62
The bat may not be one of your best pool guests but there is a little laughter in his face. The Madonna is so beautiful the curves are perfect for that art and it will make a stunning painting. The one trimmed corner of the DSP on the Christmas card makes it outstanding for some reason. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us today.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Carole, Word Art Wednesday
Hello and thank you for visiting me. I especially like your Madonna and child- but all your work is so good. I have a tendency to over think and end up with little finished :-( Anne x #25
ReplyDeleteWonderful post as always. I love the colours of you Madonna. Your bat drawing is so cute, I hope the little fellow survived his swim.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week,
Von #15
What a cretive way to used the gingerbread die! Makes me smile, more than the bat! The stylized Madona is very pretty. Thanks for sharing about your inspiration. #28
ReplyDeleteMadonna and Child is top notch...Always inspiring to visit♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/cone-flowers/
ReplyDeleteThat is so kewl to turn the gingerbread men into sunbathers would never have thought to do thar happy late woyww hugs Nikki 8
ReplyDeleteA lovely post Arnoldo, and very inspiring to read! I love the gingerbread bathers, they made me smile, what a clever idea to cut tags for the bottles! The Madonnas and Child is beautiful. I am sure you will go on to develop a wonderful painting from it. What inspires me? Colour. I am drawn to colours that catch my eye and love strange compilations! Happy 'art making' my friend. X
ReplyDeleteExcelentes trabalhos....
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
There is so much going on here this week Arnoldo but I really like the bat, think he could be the start of something.
ReplyDeleteWe get bats in the garden at certain times of the year, they are quite small, Pipistrelle, not sure what type you get.
Have a good week and happy crafting, Angela x # 38
Glad the little bat was saved, Arnoldo. What a lovely picture of the Madonna and child - would make a great Christmas card. Your inspiration comes from all over - great!
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #1
All gorgeous projects, and all so different from each other! Loved reading your thoughts on the process too. I suppose what gets me going most of all is texture - and colour of course!
ReplyDeleteNot much going on creatively Chez Shosh this week because I was taken into hospital on Sun. a.m. with severe chest pains. I was allowed home on Tues. night after what they think was a coronary artery spasm - no visible arterial narrowing on the angiogram but some evidence of myocardial damage. I'm now feeling wiped out but hope to feel more myself after a few days' rest. One advantage is that I've got plenty of time to visit lots of nice desks!
Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #47
That Madonna is really amazing, and as always I like seeing your paper crafts as well... not to mention learning a little about how you work... inspiration is everywhere and i find I have more trouble in finding things not to draw... my wall above the computer is a veritable field of post it notes filled with ideas... have a wonderful week Arnoldo...xx
ReplyDeleteThis post hit close to home for me...I felt the same way this week..but diving in is the only way...love your pool guest and it all works out in the end!! Thanks for always sharing so authentically!!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
What a lovely varied blogpost. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on making art. Your gingerbread men are very amusing and delightful and I love the colours and shapes of the Madonna and Child. I also like your pool guest, what a difficult subject to draw!
ReplyDeleteHappy PFF.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Arnoldo - my hubby and I are trying to find ways of reducing stress in my life but that's not easy since most of it comes from Mum who lives in the annexe in our house. Physically I'm feeling absolutely wiped out after my experience but that is hardly surprising. Hopefully things will improve in the coming days.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your prayers - they are much appreciated.
Shoshi
I love the 2 sunbathers! lol :-) And that first piece is beautiful ....
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post. I really enjoy your art and ahhh I have been to Judge Roy Bean's The Jersey Lilly Saloon. It is a very nice place. I some great photos from there as well.
ReplyDeleteNicole/Beadwright
Arnoldo, your Madonna and Christ Child in the Garden is very beautiful. Thank you for giving us inspiration.
ReplyDeletevery nice post. i was so drawn to your Madonna and Child...it's really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLovely pieces. dear Arnoldo! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is unique, your art - great! Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Congratulations on three years of blogging!
Endjoy your summertime ang good luck!
Madonna and Christ Child is absolutely gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend :)
Deepa
http://deepazworld.blogspot.in/
Lovely repeated form and curves in Madonna and child!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the various styles and mediums you use in your wonderful artwork. These are just amazing.
ReplyDeleteAll are awesome. I always enjoy your work and words. Love the Madonna with child. Have a wonderful weekend and blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteI think the 'just do it' form is a big part of the therapy of art, it's important to let your pencil or brush do the moving for you...expressive too.
ReplyDeleteNice to see some cards in your post, and I agree, the sketch made a perfect jump off..like the wreath style very much.
Wow! I love your first piece - the colors are beautiful. And, those gingerbread sunbathers are too funny!! Gorgeous Christmas cards too!! Thanks for the eye candy!
ReplyDeleteYour stylized Madonna is just lovely. The colors are beautiful and it is such a peaceful work of art. Those gingerbread bathers are so fun - wonderful to just think outside the little set of rules we sometimes have. Your art has so many paths to follow - I love traveling along with you.
ReplyDeleteThe sunbathers are too cute!
ReplyDeleteI love the stylized Madonna and Child - so fluid and wonderful colors, too! Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteSome great work here, I particularly like the sunbathers!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful to read about your thinking process! I think it is good to just do it, it has helped me a lot with my art. I smiled when I saw the Bathers you have such a wonderful sense of humour it really shines through. Happy Paper Saturdays. Manon :)
ReplyDelete