Tag Archives: painting instruction

Sketching California: Capturing your travels in art

Posted on May 8, 2024 | 2 comments

Summer is nearly upon us and people everywhere are getting ready to do a little traveling. Maybe for vacation or maybe just to visit some friends and family in distant places. Most of us capture our visits with dozens if not hundreds of photos in our phones, or as I like to call them, our personal entertainment devices. But how many of you actually go back and look at all the photos you’ve taken? Probably not too many.

I want to encourage you to develop the habit of recording your trips and making small sketches in a travel journal. This doesn’t have to be complicated or involve carting around tons of equipment. And you surely do not need to record details of every minute of your trip. But a travel journal is often helpful to prompt your recall of that marvelous chocolate shop in the Marais District of Paris, or the intriguing rock shop at Zion National Park. A note now will save much time trying to recall those lost memories.

I recently had the very great pleasure to visit relatives in California, both northern and southern. Although I have traveled to California before, this visit was pure pleasure and exposed me to many beautiful sights. Plus, I dined on all kinds of delicious food. Yum.

Since I was traveling very light, I only took the barest of art equipment and a journal in which I’ve recorded many other trips over the years. I make brief notes of daily activities, plus some essential facts about the details of my travels. My greatest pleasure is to capture some scenes through sketches and small watercolors. The best part of my recordings is that they help me to concentrate on the scenes and set them firmly in my memory. Obviously I can’t capture every scene, but am happy with the ones that I do. They mean so much to me when I review my travel journals at a later time.

Small sketch kit. Prang watercolor kit with my added professional paints, book, mechanical pencil, permanent ink pen, collapsible water container.

These are some of the sketches from my recent journal. My metal Prang watercolor set has been refilled with professional watercolors. It is so old that it’s a collector’s item now. I only carry three or four small brushes, a mechanical pencil (no sharpener required), a pen with permanent ink, a folding water container, all in a resealable bag. The notebook is only 5 x 7 inches. I have smaller sketchbooks and larger ones but this size fit in my backpack and was easy to carry.

The first day we visited the beautiful Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose. I could smell the scent before I even entered the gardens. People of all ages were strolling or lounging in the shade of some magnificent redwoods. We sat in the shade and caught up with life while I made this sketch. You do not have to include every detail when you are sketching but may take liberties to change things to suit your needs. You’re trying to catch the spirit of the scene, not necessarily the exact replica.

Another day we drove out to Half Moon Bay and walked out to Pillar Point to see the surf. Later, we drove down the iconic California Highway #1 to Santa Cruz for dinner on the pier. I even spotted a plein air painter on a bluff above the ocean.

One day we took the train up to San Francisco for a day of sight-seeing. Starting at the Palace of Fine Arts, we walked to Crissy Field, down the shore to Copper’s Corner. I sketched the Golden Gate Bridge from this vantage point. Fortunately my son took pity for my knees and respect for the hills of SF to hire cars to take us to various spots. We ended our outing having lunch at the famous Sam Wo’s restaurant. I was exhausted by the time we took the train back to San Jose.

Later, I flew down to LA where I reunited with my sister and nephew and niece whom I haven’t seen in many years. They were the best hosts and tour guides. We visited the outstanding Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Another day we went to the Getty Museum atop the hills. The collection was beautiful as was the museum and the views. One day was spent at the wonderful Hilbert Museum viewing its impressive collection of California art. Special kudos for my nephew’s husband and his navigation of the LA traffic, all without a hint of impatience.

Did I sketch everything that I saw or visited? Of course not! But I captured some significant to me places and events. Plenty of food for thought and future paintings. Meanwhile, I can refresh my memories with my sketchbook and notes.

So while you’re planning your next trip or vacation, don’t forget to pack your sketchbook and some drawing materials. Happy traveling!

Here are a couple of links to previous postings about travel sketching.

Sketching in New York

Keeping an art journal

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Posted in art, painting instruction, travel

Tagged art, art notes, california, california artists, copper's point, crissy field, getty museum, golden gate bridge, hilbert museum, kit miracle, los angeles, painting instruction, palace of fine arts, prang watercolor, sam wo, san Francisco, san jose, sketch kit, travel journal, travel sketching, watercolor sketch

Van Gogh visits Birdseye library

Posted on February 25, 2024 | Comments Off

Showing the kids some images of real Van Gogh paintings.

Vincent Van Gogh visited the Birdseye public library this week…sort of.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, this little library plays an important role in the community. As small as it is, it hosts a number of activities for patrons of all ages. All of these activities are FREE to attend although attendance may be limited due to space.

I brought in a few of my own sunflower paintings for some inspiration.

Recently I volunteered to teach a few children’s painting classes. The first of these classes was to learn about Vincent Van Gogh and to paint a picture in his style.

Although the class was limited, we had a nice turnout this week. I explained to the children a little about Vincent Van Gogh, who he was and why he was important. Also, they learned about his painting methods. Each table had several vases of sunflowers (faux) which the children were encouraged to choose what and how they wanted to paint. The library supplied all the art materials and even had little aprons just their size. They learned about mixing colors and how Van Gogh was known for his bold brush strokes.

Each child composed his or her own painting.

All in all, it was a great group. I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.

Next month, we’re going to learn about Georgia O’Keeffe and her skull paintings. I’m bringing in a collection of real skulls (cow and deer) for them to use as subject matter.

Many thanks to AmyJo, the library branch manager, and other patrons who make programs like this possible. Public libraries are the best bargain around. What’s happening at your library?

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Posted in art, impressionism, painting instruction

Tagged acrylic, Birdseye, children's programs, contemporary impressionist, indiana, kit miracle, library, painting instruction, sunflowers, van gogh, vincent van gogh

Pen and ink, sketches and drawings

Posted on December 3, 2023 | Comments Off

This week I’ve been fooling around with some pen and ink artwork. If it’s a sketch, then it’s looser. If it’s a drawing, then it’s more formal. That is not an official designation, just my own idea.

Birdseye Branch Library, pen and ink, Kit Miracle This one is plain but I actually colored in the Christmas wreath with a touch of red and green on the samples that I printed for the library.

So about a week ago, I thought I’d do a drawing of the library for the library. This is the little Birdseye Library which was featured in a post a few months back. I thought a pen and ink drawing which they could reproduce and sell as note cards would help them raise some funds. Most people can afford a package of cards for $15 without too much of a stretch. As with a previous painting I did of the library, I gave them the reproduction rights. They would handle all the printing, selling, etc. They can put the image on T-shirts, bags, cards, whatever. I hope it helps.

I’ve enjoyed creating pen and ink sketches for about 40 years. I find them very relaxing and will often just doodle while watching TV or sitting outside. Some of the images of buildings and structures are more formal, but most of the landscapes are pretty loose.

The old bank building and other stores, Birdseye, Indiana, pen and ink. Kit Miracle

Inman Episcopal Church, first church in Birdseye, Indiana, Pen and ink drawing, Kit Miracle

This week I did five sketches. In addition to the little library, I did a drawing of the first church in Birdseye and an old bank building in the small downtown area. The little church was from a very old photo that someone supplied me. But the downtown buildings were from some of my own photos. I have boxes of old pictures. Many have turned out to be good recordings of places and buildings which no longer exist.

The Crabapple tree. Pen and ink, watercolor. Kit Miracle

A Quiet Place to Rest, pen and ink, watercolor, Kit Miracle

Finally, I sketched a couple of trees. An old crabapple which the grandson loves to climb. And a dogwood by the herb bed which shelters a bench, perfect for taking a break from yardwork. I have added a couple of touches of color in the form a cardinal pair. This is done after the image has been printed on heavy card stock in black and white. I’m turning this one into our Christmas card this year. So it’s part print and part original.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that jazz. Take a moment to enjoy some nature and get a breath of fresh air.

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Posted in pen and ink

Tagged Birdseye, country living, indiana, kit miracle, nature sketches, painting instruction, pen and ink

Painting with a very limited palette

Posted on November 12, 2023 | 1 comment

The most recent paintings that I’ve done have been with using a very limited palette which I’ve posted about previously. I’ve now cut the number back to four colors plus black and white. I like the challenge to see if I can adapt the most colors from just a few options. Actually, it works very well.

The original reference photo. I like the dappled light.

This painting is based on some photos that I took of summer flowers several years ago. Called August Bouquet, it showcases some zinnias and Queen Ann’s lace, plus others. The vase is sitting in the shade on an old wooden table, with dappled sunlight showing through. I’ve added some scissors as a foil for the flowers.

Vertical canvas prepared with thin color washes

The canvas is a 20 x 16 vertical, 1.5 inches deep. I’ve already sanded and gessoed it and added a little texture. Then I added a thin wash of colors approximately where I anticipated locating the main shapes. After this coat dried (working with acrylics that only takes about twenty minutes), I then made a loose pencil outline of the flowers and other shapes.

The next step was to add color to the outline. I don’t try to make the outline colors match the subject, in this case, flowers. In fact, I often choose what I anticipate are contrasting colors to the final painting.

Middle stage with some fill-in color, loosely painted. I actually like this stage best. I think it would look nice in a larger size.

Then the main shapes began to get filled in. I hesitate to call this the tedious part, but it is much more involved than the previous steps. I just have to stick with it until I’m done. I zone out, listening to music or a recorded book. Sometimes I fill in the background first; sometimes I start with the main subject. There are no hard rules here.

Canvas on my easel. I’ve turned off the painting light to get a better idea of values and colors. You will also notice a couple of shed snakeskins hanging on my easel. Actually, this is ONE snakeskin (about five ft) which my son found in the woodshed. He thought it would be fun to leave it for me in my studio…spread out on the floor. Big joker, eh?

I step away from the canvas often at this point to compare values, colors, shapes. The painting light above my easel can cast light which is too harsh so it’s best to turn it off while I compare values. This is a good point to take a break, perhaps overnight. I’ll often run out to my studio in the morning to see if the painting looks as I thought I left it or what glaring changes I need to make.

Although August Bouquet will be finished with a few more details, plus probably some addition of gold or silver leaf, I actually like one of the middle, less-finished stages best. One doesn’t actually need to put in every detail; in fact, it’s often distracting and doesn’t help convey the message of the painting.

Maybe I’ll paint it again with a less-finished look. What do you think?

My notes with a list of the colors I’ve used. All Liquitex or Golden Heavy Body Acrylics. These paints are high quality and thicker than standard paints. I can get more texture with them.

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Posted in contemporary impressionism, painting instruction

Tagged acrylic, contemporary impressionist, flower painting, heavy body acrylic, kit miracle, limited palette, painters notes, painting from photographs, painting how to, painting instruction, painting with limited palette, snake skin, studio painting, summer flowers

Feature article in Southern Indiana Living Magazine

Posted on November 7, 2023 | Comments Off

My work is featured in the November- December issue of Southern Indiana Living Magazine. Thanks to the wonderful write up by Judy Cato, she’s managed to condense forty years into two pages – with pictures! Thanks so much, SILM and Judy. Check it out here, pages 18-19.

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/68503997/southern-indiana-living-magazine-november-december-2023

Or follow the step-by-step process of how Pumpkin Head was created.

Pumpkin Head – final painting, oil on linen, 29.25 x 36, Kit Miracle, Halloween theme, telling a story

Pumpkin Head – Step-by-Step

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Posted in art, contemporary impressionism, impressionism, Uncategorized

Tagged art, contemporary impressionist, fall, judy cato, kit miracle, painting instruction, pumpkin, southern indiana living magazine

The value of sketching

Posted on October 29, 2023 | 2 comments

I was tinkering around in my studio this week in between starting some new work when I pulled out a sketchbook. Well, one of many. I have sketchbooks of all kinds and sizes. Some fit in a pocket or purse, others are what I call vacation sketchbooks where I record scenes, thoughts and ideas while traveling. There may be more than one vacation in a book. Some I will start and finish completely, while others I pick up as needed. One of my favorite sketchbooks is a handmade Japanese book with thick deckle-edged paper. I don’t remember where I got it but it is so beautiful that I choose carefully what I put in it. Most other books, I write in the back the maker and particulars. And my name and contact info in the front.

Found objects, present from my son. Praying mantis egg casing and three blue jay feathers.

I find sketching to be very relaxing but I’m not obsessed with it. I try out new ideas. Make notes of the materials I’ve used. Or I might write the name of a book that I heard about while listening to NPR. They’re my sketchbooks and I can do what I want. There really aren’t any rules. I might cut swatches from a favorite article of clothing before I put it in the rag bag, or add a post card. Or how about that sticker from that wonderful chocolate shop I visited in Paris. I would never remember the name of that again.

If you looked through my books, you might find some pressed flowers or leaves, lots of four leaf clovers (artists are good at finding those). A favorite quote from a Chinese fortune cookie.

Typical found birds nest waiting to be captured in my sketchbook.

Many of my sketchbooks are devoted to nature or natural elements. I have plenty of subject matter out here on the 90 acres. Plus, one of my sons would (and still does) leave interesting things on my drawing table. A birds nest, some feathers, a praying mantis case. I’ll hang onto these items until they become too ratty and disgusting to have around. But the drawing will last much longer.

A messy robin’s nest. See if you can spot the secret code in the drawing. Notice the thumbtack shadows.

One of my oldest sketches (not in a book but just loose paper) was of a very scruffy robin’s nest which my son brought me one day. I did a fairly large drawing, added some (imaginary) eggs, and scanned it electronically. I’ve used that drawing for many years. I’ve even printed it off on watercolor paper and painted it so I have two versions. Unfortunately, I have seen my drawing pop up on the web elsewhere under someone else’s name. Ha ha. What they don’t know, is that I added a secret code to the drawing so I know it’s mine. I kept the original drawing on my bulletin board in my studio for years until the paper yellowed but you can see the thumbtack marks in the corners. Yeah, those artists are violating copyright laws but I have neither the time, interest nor resources to pursue the matter.

Box of found objects. Birds nests, acorns, chestnuts, magnolia seedpods, etc.

Back to the point. I highly recommend keeping a sketchbook or two or four. They’re so great to relax, record your life, your thoughts. I’ve used pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, colored pencils and markers. I don’t use charcoal much as it tends to be messy and it smears but you can use what you want to in your book.

A dead bird. Anything can end up in the sketch book.

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Posted in art, country living, painting instruction, pen and ink

Tagged art, contemporary impressionist, drawing, drawing instruction, kit miracle, painting instruction, sketchbook, sketching

The Golden Marble – More Gold and Silver Leaf

Posted on September 17, 2023 | Comments Off

The Golden Marble, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24. 23K gold leaf and sterling silver leaf. Kit Miracle

This is another painting in the gold and silver leaf series that I’ve been exploring. At 30 x 24, it’s the largest one so far. I also completed this one before Leo’s Muse which I posted last week.

The subject is a young boy who has been playing dress-up with his sister. In a spirit of silliness, she has adorned him with ribbons and hair clips. His smile engages the viewer as he shows off The Golden Marble which is a prized possession.

Although I usually plan my paintings very carefully, I’ll admit that I really wasn’t sure where I was going with this one. I liked the subject. I knew that I wanted some gold and silver. Other than that….well…

A preliminary sketch of the subject of The Golden Marble

As usual, I did some preliminary drawings of the child. These are just to familiarize myself with the subject. I then sketched him on the canvas, a straight-on shot. Then I began playing with background colors. I elected to use some very bright and warm colors, radiating out of the figure.

Initial lay-in of colors. I did the background warm/hot colors first. The began a grisaille of the figure.

I then painted the figure in grisaille, those greyish tones. Later working overall with adding some detail to the background. More paint on the primary figure. Although I had some reference photos to work from, this doesn’t really represent the situation. I painted very loosely, adding more to both the figure and the background until I was satisfied.

The figure is pretty complete. I decided to add a carpet to part of the floor, leaving the rest as hinting at wood flooring.

Because the canvas is so large, I had to place it on the floor of my studio to work on adding the gold leaf. Again, no fans or air conditioning blowing as the metal leaf is so fragile and blows everywhere. It was pretty challenging to decide where I wanted to place the metal leaf, plus I kept switching back and forth during the process. Sometimes the gold would be on top; other times the silver would be. The fixative is clear so I had to carefully judge where I wanted to place it, and estimate the right amount of tackiness for the metal leaf to stick. Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the result.

The Golden Marble, detail 1. I left plenty of the warm background colors show through. As you can see, I alternated placing the gold leaf on top of the silver, and the silver on top of the gold. Abstract shapes alternate with more organic circle or bubble shapes. No real planning, just in the flow.

The Golden Marble – detail 2 showing the texture of the canvas and close-ups of the hair decorations

The final steps were to go back and touch up the figure here and there. I have learned that it’s difficult to touch up or make changes in the gold and silver leaf as it just doesn’t look the same as when first applied. I may find some way to eventually meet this challenge, but haven’t yet.

The very final step is to spray a protective coat of clear acrylic over the entire painting. This keeps the silver leaf from tarnishing and the gold leaf from flaking off.

Overall, it’s a very striking piece. I want to explore my next subject in this medium.

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Posted in art, contemporary impressionism, painting instruction, portrait

Tagged acrylic, art, contemporary impressionist, gold leaf, kit miracle, painting instruction, silver leaf

Adding pizazz to a painting with gold and silver leaf

Posted on September 10, 2023 | 1 comment

Leo’s Muse, final, acrylic on canvas, 23K gold leaf, sterling silver leaf, 16 x 16, Kit Miracle

For the past several months, I’ve been experimenting with adding gold and silver leaf to some of my paintings. I don’t know why I decided that this was a path for me, but as with most artists, we get inspired with new ideas and techniques. I posted on here earlier about some glam cat paintings and some others, but the most recent sparkly paintings have been both challenging and rewarding.

Leo’s Muse, several sample preliminary sketches

In Leo’s Muse, I began with some ideas rolling around. I took a few dozen photos of my model in different lighting and poses. Then began the difficult part of winnowing down all my options to a few good poses. It may seem like an unnecessary step, but I have found that it helps to do a number of sketches even before I get to the final idea. This allows me to familiarize myself with the model and the lighting until I reach my final idea.

I then sketched the outline of the pose on a prepared canvas (gesso and a couple of coats of acrylic paint.) Then I basically start…somewhere. For a portrait, it will be with the head or body. Then I lay in some loose background colors. In this particular painting, I painted the flesh in grisaille (grey undertones) before I began adding color to the face. After I have the basic face laid in, I just keep working on the painting as I would a normal painting until I reach a point where I am satisfied.

Leo’s Muse, adding more color, grisaille grey under tones on canvas

Another challenge with this painting is the added wreath of flowers. That is entirely imaginary as I didn’t really think of it while I was planning the painting. That is often the way of the creative process. Surprises pop up.

Leo’s Muse, nearly finished. Last step before gold and silver leaf is added

The canvas is two inches deep so the painting is carried around the sides.

After letting the painting dry for awhile, I then began to add the gold and silver leaf. I was a bit conflicted about this step as I really liked the painting without the added touch. But the design in my head called for it so, what the heck? I took the leap.

If you have never used gold or silver leaf, let me tell you, it is challenging. This is not a paint but actual sheets of real 23K gold and real sterling silver which have to be applied to the painting. The sheets of precious metal are so thin (.003 microns, whatever that is), that I can’t have a breath of air in the studio. No fan. No air conditioner. Hold my own breath while I’m applying the metal. And the little flakes get everywhere! On me, my clothes, other parts of the painting, all around my studio.

A fixative must first be applied to the surface that you wish to apply the metal. Then you have to wait until it has the right amount of tackiness. Then gently apply the metal, transferring from the tissue paper leaves to the painting, then gently press it into the fixative, and then remove the tissue paper all the while praying that the gold will actually adhere to where you have placed it. The fixative is clear as it dries, so that’s another dimension of challenge. Where did you paint it? Ha!

After I’ve let it dry, then I can take a somewhat stiffer clean brush and brush it off the rest of the painting. More challenges with flying gold and silver flakes. If you’ve never tried this before, you might want to experiment with the fake gold until you get the hang of it. When possible, I collect the extra flakes and put them in labeled jars for use on backgrounds or other areas.

After the paintings have had time to “set”, I will spray them with a clear coat of acrylic. This prevents the sterling silver from tarnishing, and the gold from flaking more or rubbing off. Or so I am told. I haven’t used it enough to be absolutely certain but we’ll see.

By the way, the title of the painting, “Leo’s Muse” is actually short for Leonardo’s Muse. The model’s direct gaze and Mona Lisa smile of that other famous lady with the knowing look.

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Posted in art, painting instruction

Tagged acrylic, art, contemporary impressionist, gold leaf, kit miracle, mona lisa, painting instruction, silver leaf

Golden cats

Posted on May 14, 2023 | Comments Off

Leo napping, original painting, acrylic on canvas 16 x 16 with gold leaf on sides.

As an artist, I’ve often been asked over the years, where do you get your ideas? This is a tough question because you can’t just go to the store and pick some ideas up. Well, maybe depending upon which direction you feel like moving.

For me, ideas can come from a variety of sources. Something I see, read about, even from dreams. Sometimes I think I want to explore a certain idea but end up going in an entirely new direction. That is what happened to me recently.

I was contemplating a series of local scenes. Landscapes, cityscapes. Just a variety of ideas have been strolling through my brain. Then I found myself noodling around with some sketches of my cat, in fact, various cats that I’ve owned throughout the years. (Not forgetting all the dogs, birds, lizards, and a variety of other pets we’ve had over the years.) No, I am not a crazy cat lady. I like cats and it seems as if I’ve had one around nearly all my life.

Tom. Original painting on canvas with gold leaf on front and sides. 8 x 8 x 2.5

So I started with some sketches of my little buddy Leo the cat. He seems to manage to find so many different ways to sleep that he’s almost acrobatic. One particular pose leads to another. Then I removed his ratty old blanket and put him on an Oriental carpet. And this lead me to think, Why not really jazz it up with some gold?!

Anyway, Leo was the first victim, er uh, volunteer. Then came Tom, my dad’s cat. Then Princess who is just too too glam. Adding backgrounds of oriental carpets and some real 23K gold or silver leaf. I have never done anything with gold leaf before but, hey, it’s always good to try new things.

Ki, original painting on canvas, 8 x 8 x 2.5. Unfinished.

Then I realized that I was running out of cat subjects. Even photos of my old cats.

So with the help of a friend who volunteers, I went to the local humane society. BINGO! Back in business. They have lots of cats. Every time the volunteer was telling me that this cat was shy or standoffish, it would come and climb all over me, waiting for its ears to be scratched or belly rubbed. Such a beautiful variety. These people do such good work, especially with the help of many volunteers.

But what really broke my heart was seeing the older cats who appeared in good shape but had been turned into the humane society because their owners died or who were no longer able to take care of them. How confused they must be. They looked so sweet and loving.

Anyway, I’ll be making more trips back there in the coming months. If you have a humane society near you, check it out next time you need a new pet, or just another pet. They definitely get high marks on my list.

Meanwhile, check out my Etsy shop KitMiracleArt to keep track of the new golden cats.

Dubois County Humane Society if you need to adopt a pet.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged cats, contemporary impressionist, gold leaf, humane society, indiana, kit miracle, painting, painting instruction, pet adoption

Shiny stuff

Posted on April 23, 2023 | Comments Off

I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to call this post Reflections or Shiny Stuff. As you can see, my campy sense of humor won out.

I’m taking a photography class this spring. Not so much to learn about composition but more to learn how to make better use of my equipment. I’m using my cell phone and my Nikon. Neither is one of the most remarkable of their class, but they still have plenty of options, bells and whistles that I don’t utilize as much as they should be.

Ooooo, shiny pretty stuff. And who doesn’t like rainbows and unicorns?

This week’s assignment was to take photos of reflections and do some shallow focus assignments. Well, after trying to figure out how to make use of windows and mirrors, I nixed that idea. So what next?

The chef spoons in the camping department

Grocery shopping at the neighborhood big box store. They should have plenty of shiny stuff. Actually I was looking for those big round mirrors that they have mounted at the tops of columns and aisles. Guess what? They’re not there anymore. They probably rely solely on cameras these days.

As I walked around the store, I was tuned into shiny stuff. This is what caught my eye. I whipped out my phone and took pictures here and there. I think security was watching me but this isn’t the first time I’ve taken photos in the store. The fruit and vegetable aisle is striking with all the colors. And one time I even set up my plein air easel in the flower department outside during Mother’s Day weekend. People kept thinking that I worked there.

The remainder of my photos were from a couple of walks in the woods. Capturing the reflections in the creek, seeing through the surface, focusing on leaves and branches.

If you’ve wondered where artists get our ideas, this is the convoluted path we take. One thing leads to the next and then to the next. I’m not using any of these photos as inspiration for future paintings…at least not right now. Maybe I’ll come back to them in a month or a year or several years. I guess the whole inspiration thing just means to be prepared, keep your eyes open and your camera handy. Today might be the day of the BIG IDEA!