New paintings, hot off the easel, and some thoughts on art and life ...

Are you curious about how an artist gets ideas? Here's how it is for me:  something catches my eye, and I use it as my starting point. But where it's going to end up wouldn't be obvious to an outsider. I can usually see the painting before I start, but it isn't always what's in front of me. The painting above is an example.

One of the inspirations for this painting came from Downton Abbey. Yeah, that's right - Downton Abbey. In one of the episodes I saw a gorgeous color combination of scarlet and gold. I think it was in their breakfast room. I filed it away in the back of my mind, then one day I came across two roses in my own garden, and I thought they were close to the right colors. Many, if not most, of my paintings start with real life flowers set up in my studio. I work from life, but I also take a reference photo that I can use to test compositions. Then, as I work, imagination takes over and I'm no longer painting from life or photo either one. As the painting evolved, I had fun with the color layering and mark-making using paper towels and Catalyst tools (I've written about them before). Then, finally, when I'm happy with it, I quit painting and move on the next inspiration.