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 →
#101 – Art takes time to create and one must take the time to experience it. Here are more inspiring thoughts from previous essays: Day 108 - Should Art Match the Furniture? Day 114 - An Alphabet of Sand, Seaweed and Nails Day 82 - How to See with the Eyes of a Stranger Art... Continue Reading →
[Today’s featured artwork for Day 111 of the 365 Days Project is by Jina Wallwork.] Life, death, art, rebirth. Bringing the mysteries into the physical world. #111 – Artists and mystics walk the path beyond the veil, moving from the physical world into the realm of spirit. While both use that experience in their work,... Continue Reading →
[Today’s featured artwork for Day 110 of the 365 Days Project is by Dan Welden.] 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... Continue Reading →
[Today’s featured artwork for Day 109 of the 365 Days Project is by Brian Dettmer.] The inevitable decline of the hardcover book has inspired a sculptural artist to find ways to repurpose them. Brian Dettmer is well-known for his innovative sculptures created from old books, often incorporating entire sets of encyclopedias into his art. It... Continue Reading →
[Today’s featured artwork for Day 108 of the 365 Days Project is by John Zajac.] Is art supposed to match the furniture? #108 – Art is for everyone, regardless of income, education or cultural background. But it is not merely decorative. Purchasing fine art has long been the exclusive realm of kings and queens, savvy... Continue Reading →
[Today’s featured artwork for Day 107 of the 365 Days Project is by Francelise Dawkins.] The right brain, the left hand and a gift of intuitive creation... #107 – Although Artists can be left- or right-handed, the Artist Mind is linked to the left side of the body and in certain cultures, left-handed dominance is... Continue Reading →
