Art is a deeply powerful tool that can enhance a spiritual practice and, at the same time, a spiritual practice can bring another dimension to an artist’s work. Robert Bridges practices what he calls “contemplative photography,” using his camera as a meditative tool and as a means of concentrating awareness and focusing his intent. “Contemplation... Continue Reading →
Simon Beck creates large-scale “paintings” in the snow by walking them out, step by step, wearing snowshoes. Read about how he does it.
Toys are what sparks a child’s imagination as they spend hours each day creating and playing out stories inspired by real life. Revisiting old toys as an adult can bring up surprisingly strong emotional connections and can offer revealing perspectives when explored through the creative process of art. Juan Rodrigo Piedrahita is a painter who... Continue Reading →
Sculptors, ceramicists and other three-dimensional artists often decide early in their careers whether their goal is to produce work that is functional, or work that is research-oriented for the fine art world. Ceramics in particular is so often considered a “functional” medium, however there are artists who enjoy pushing the boundaries of that perception, experimenting... Continue Reading →
The kaleidoscope is a fascinating visual toy, with its name derived from Ancient Greek meaning “observer of beautiful forms.” It magnificently alters the scene before you, as bits and pieces of life are reflected off tiny mirrors to create beautiful, mandala-like images that shift and change, depending on where you point it. Tathi Premchand is... Continue Reading →
The artist is the ultimate observer, a visual journalist of sorts, depicting travels far and wide in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms. Some artists are very grounded in their sense of place in the physical world while others use their art as a vehicle in their search for a place to call “home.”... Continue Reading →
Children who feel like they “don’t fit in” are often creatives who find themselves growing up in a system that favors left-brained thinking. Dreamers and thinkers are often considered outsiders in the school yard as well as the working world. Some, however, are fortunate to recognize their abilities and take the path less traveled to... Continue Reading →
Anyone who has ever spent time commuting on a public transportation system knows the feeling of “being neither here nor there” while enroute to work or home. Waiting for a subway train to arrive, surrounded by others on their way to their individual destinations, we are in transition, detached from our surroundings and from each... Continue Reading →
Why do artists create self-portraits? What’s it like to create something so intensely personal and how does the artist “step back” enough from knowing the subject too well in order to be the artist and the subject at the same time? Vladimir Kezerashvili creates the most extraordinary still-life paintings. As I was perusing his portfolio,... Continue Reading →
Creating art is a study in relationships – the artist’s creative process involves a constant weighing and balancing of the relationships between forms, colors and textures to create a final piece that resonates with integrity. Human relationships are much more complex and incorporating these issues into the creative context brings an additional set of challenges... Continue Reading →
A neologism is a newly-coined word or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but has not yet been accepted into mainstream language. In the world of technology, neologisms such as “google” and “photoshop” become popular almost as soon as they are coined. Artists often create visual neologisms through their work,... Continue Reading →
Visual art can communicate powerful messages in a single painting or sculpture. It can tell a story without words, often staying on the viewer’s mind for a long time afterwards. Amy Guidry has been creating visual stories through her art even before she was old enough to write. “My work stems from two loves –... Continue Reading →
Creativity and entrepreneurs: New leaders are revolutionizing business through creative thinking - and they're learning those skills from artists.
Artists are deeply aware of the environment in which they live and create. For some, it is the energy of the world’s greatest cities that inspires their work. For others, it is the natural world – particularly the increasing fragility of this world as natural forces and human development threaten its existence. Pat Musick is... Continue Reading →
Growing up with Barbie as an example of the “perfect” female body, followed by the pencil-thin models in the fashion world, young girls often develop unrealistic ideas of what they’re “supposed” to look like. It takes an artist, one who sees the nude body – imperfections and all – as the ultimate subject for a... Continue Reading →
Art is often inspired by events with great emotional power. Artists are particularly sensible and, even if we have no intention of producing work to commemorate a disaster or to celebrate a success story, we are often moved to create from it anyway. Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of... Continue Reading →
Artists are always looking for ways to expand their market while protecting the integrity of their work. Sculptors cast their sculptures in alternative materials while painters might create a series of limited-edition prints or find other unique ways to get their work out to a wider public. Richard Malinsky’s paintings are collected for their emotionally... Continue Reading →
Inspiration can come from anywhere and the Artist Mind thrives on the unusual and the unexpected. For many artists, researching alternative mediums brings new perspectives into their creative practice. Diane Clement is an artist who uses a wide variety of products and techniques, mixing assorted paints, water, beer, wine, oils, alcohol….and even Lear jets! “I... Continue Reading →
We all have our unique ways of sharing our experiences with others, mostly through the stories we tell our family and friends. Those of us who are artists have a second language we also use for storytelling – a visual one. Sometimes we can share more with a single image than we could in an... Continue Reading →
Art can serve as a means of expression when adversity strikes. It can provide an escape, it can offer solace or it can be a way to express and sort through the emotions that surround the event. But for painter Brian Glenn Truex, art also became a tool to explore the development of his inner... Continue Reading →
In recent years, art education has been on the front line of school budget cuts in the U.S., which raises the question: Is art really a necessary component of an effective educational curriculum? Ask the kids from a certain inner-city school in Chicago’s south side……. Meg Peterson is an artist with studios in Chicago and... Continue Reading →
The expression of movement is always a challenge for those of us who work with the sculptural form – but when an artist transcends the grounded physicality of the medium, the result can be one of awe and surprise. Johnson Cheung-shing Tsang is a Hong Kong sculptor specializing in ceramics, stainless steel sculpture and public... Continue Reading →
In most creative realms, trends are often what drives sales and, particularly in recent years, a majority of the large-scale, commercially-driven art, music, film and literature we consume is created from proven “formulas” and popular themes. I am always grateful to discover artists who explore subjects, themes and styles that are outside of the mainstream... Continue Reading →
Humble organics in the service of a greater purpose. The deeply complex abstract paintings of Saba Hasan from New Delhi, India have a universal language that transcends culture and politics and speaks directly to the heart. Hasan’s materials are her alphabet. She’s been known to use nails, fabric, sand and leaves, slashing the work and... Continue Reading →
Visual artists often work with toxic materials, sometimes sacrificing their health in the pursuit of their art. Here is one artist’s “green” alternative. #110 – Taking the “toxic” out of making art. Most of the visual artists I know are environmentally conscious. But if you were to enter most of their studios, you’d probably find... Continue Reading →
#106 - The world is a candy store for the Artist Mind. The world is a treasure chest for artists. The creative muse is everywhere – in the past and present, in science and art, in music, nature and spirituality. I met painter, curator and professor Stephen J. Tyson at a recent gallery exhibition, where... Continue Reading →
Imagine the power of living as a truly creative human being…… #102 – The Artist Mind can teach us to live through the deep symbolism of a creative life. As I continue this journey celebrating artists and the creative mind as well as my own path as a visual artist, I am beginning to understand... Continue Reading →
[Today’s featured artwork for Day 99 of the 365 Days Project is by Gary LeMaster] Pushing the boundaries of the traditional Easter Egg, and how a color-blind boy became an artist……. #99 – The Artist Mind knows no limitations. Anything is possible. I was actually looking for pysanky. I wanted to write a special post... Continue Reading →
Water isn’t meant to be controlled, but a watercolor artist can offer insights into how it might be managed….. #94 – Each artistic medium has its own energy that the Artist must learn to properly manage. This one is about Water. I’ve always admired watercolor artists. It is perhaps one of the toughest artistic mediums... Continue Reading →
#90 – The culture of color The best part about this 365-Day tribute to the creative mind is not only the discovery of some of the most exceptional artwork being created today, but the chance to meet artists from around the world and perhaps gain an understanding of some of the cultural peculiarities that influence... Continue Reading →
[Today's featured artwork for Day 32 of the 365 Days Project is by Kimber Berry] Dance. If you want to dance, invite an artist. #32 – Artists know how to dance. They dance with their paint, their forms, their words, their music. I’ve always experienced life in full-blown living color. And it surprises me when... Continue Reading →
[Today's featured artwork for Day 25 of the 365 Days Project is by Jan Hopkins] When your materials choose YOU……. #25 – I didn’t choose the materials I use in my work, they somehow found me so that I could create from that deep, rich place that long-time artists know. If my logical brain had... Continue Reading →
[Today's photo for Day 5 of the 365 Days Project is Serena Kovalosky working in her "outside" studio.] After spending 18 years in the corporate world, I traded power suits for paint-spattered jeans and stuffy board rooms for an airy artist's studio. This next reason why I love being an artist may have more to... Continue Reading →
[Today's featured artwork for Day 4 of the 365 Days Project is by Leslie Parke] Curiosity. This hallmark of the Artist Mind is the most entertaining - to me, anyway - although I do have to rein it in sometimes in certain social situations. #4 – The Artist Mind has the curiosity of a small... Continue Reading →
[Today's featured artwork for Day 3 of the 365 Days Project is by Kesha Bruce] Ditch the rules. I had plans, but I should have known. For this project, I had decided that I would write one affirmation per day as I arose each morning for the next 365 days. But every time one would... Continue Reading →
[Today's featured artwork for Day 2 of the 365 Days Project is by Serena Kovalosky] The sculptural piece pictured above is one of mine. It was a departure from my usual work, which made it a challenge to create and raised all sorts of doubts about my validity as an artist. What started off as... Continue Reading →
[Today's featured artwork for Day 1 of the 365 Days Project is by Rick Hunt] After I wrote yesterday’s post, I started doubting the validity and purpose of the “365 Days project. But when I woke up this morning and wrote down the first of what will be 365 affirmations, I felt profoundly connected to... Continue Reading →
I wasn’t going to make a New Year’s Resolution this year. Over the decades, I’ve already attempted the obvious ones – where I’ll lose weight, make my first million, find the love of my life, quit my day job, become an artist. (I did manage to achieve the last two, and the rest…..well, they’re still... Continue Reading →
