The process of creating is a complicated, layered, daring, magical and uncharted trajectory. It takes many different forms and can change each time. It's possibly why I had such a hard time composing this post.

The process is personal and I'm sure each creative comes to their work in different ways. It can be simplified into the pure joy of creating. The way the paint mixes and the feeling of brush on canvas. In encaustic I love to reveal the layers and play with the surface. The depth and complexity of oil painting lends itself to so many possibilities. Acrylic is still continuing to surprise me as we figure each other out.

I come to my inspiration in a few ways. I can see a color, line or composition in nature, in a magazine even in another artwork. (We're not talking copying here. It's the feel or a moment within or even it sparking a need to get back to work.) I can work through it completely in my head, this usually comes about when I'm finished in the studio for the day, I tend to be either totally drained or crazy stimulated. If my mind is continuing on solving problems and transforming what I was working on inevitably it twist and turns the concept into new ideas and compositions. This same thing can happen to me when listening to a podcast or read a book. There is a phrase that hits me or a word that delights me and I immediately have a painting in my mind, or at least a direction to go.

The act of creating itself tends to be a momentum builder. In the act of just getting to work I can find a direction. If I start doodling in my sketchbook or playing around with paint, heading no particular direction, I find myself focusing in on a theme or concept and it can become a collection from there.

Finally there is the exterior influence of travel. It can give me the time and space to open myself up and leave room for all sorts of thoughts and magic to play a part. It changes the routine and usually takes me away from some of my responsibilities so that I have more time for play and creative thoughts. The scenery changes and with that introduces another new element to contemplate.

I feel so lucky that I get to think like this. When I was younger it meant I was (almost) never bored and even now I can get excited and hopeful about what's next. It no doubt feeds a part of this creative process how ever it's defined.

Stay tuned for Part II - possibly Wednesday The Process: Beginning

The Process: Concept