Tag Archive for inspiration for artists

Hooked on Pinterest – Eye Candy for an Artist’s Soul

Beaded Meditation Art Quilt by Nancy SmeltzerNancy Smeltzer, MFA

When I first started this blog 1 1/2 years ago, I was looking at the various social media platforms that were out there to promote my writings and my art work. One that kept being suggested was Pinterest . To be honest, at the time, all I was seeing were pages with photos of recipes, wedding plans and things that people were wanting buy, and the commercialism really turned me off. However, since that time, a lot of artists and other creative folks are posting some amazing photos of their works, and I must confess that I’m hooked.

After registering, you start creating boards with different themes, so one of the first that I made was of my Meditation Art quilts. This piece that I did for my friend, Keith Allen Kay, who does amazing energy mandalas. I tap into the person’s energy and “see” what the garden would look like where they would meditate and play. This board is all of my own work.

However, most of the other boards are a mixture of my own work and those of others. When you see a photo on someone else’s board, you can pin it to yours, thus creating a collection of whatever the theme that board is about. One such board  I call “Spiral Shapes”.

"Shattered" - a Spiral Mosaic by Kathy ThadenHere is a really cool mosaic by Kathy Thadden called “Shattered“. She uses a diverse collection of materials to create the lovely composition from a geode in the center, spiraling out to shell casing, and corks. The craftsmanship in the construction of the piece contributes to the crispness of the lines as they lead the eye outwards form the center. This photo is just one of many that I have on my “Spiral Shapes” board.

"Feather Dusters" - by David FleethamOne of my larger boards is one I call “Dramatic Nature“. This recent addition to that collection is this beautiful underwater photo called “Feather Dusters” by David Fleetham. The composition certainly fits the title of my board in that the dramatic swirling of the soft “feathery” creatures down the center of the piece balance out the hard coral on the right. The purple coral in the upper left couldn’t have been more balanced with the lavender centers of the white creatures. I imagine that this gorgeous photo was just one small piece of the reef that it was on, but what a beautiful “freeze frame” of undersea life that I will never get to see in person. I could so see this photo being worked up in textile techniques!

So, Pinterest has become a daily “fix” for my artistic need for color, texture, shape, and composition. Some of the pieces are so beautiful and intriguing, that my shamanic sensibilities, called “wolf awareness” kick in. That’s when my sense are do heightened that it’s almost as if I’m devouring color. It’s great, good fun to be in that State of Being, and totally legal, I might add.

 What is your favorite source(s) for inspiration? Do you use what you experience directly in your resulting art, or as a springboard to get you creating?

Why not leave a comment as to your thoughts on this posting. Please take a minute, fill out the form below or by clicking on the “comments/no comments link” at the top of the posting, and then share your ideas with the rest of us. We all grow when we share our thoughts and impressions, so why not join our growing community of those who appreciate art quilts and textile arts. We’d love to hear from you!… and PLEASE tell like minded souls about this blog! The more readers and contributors, the more I write because encouragement helps the words flow!

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com (be patient as it loads; it’s worth it), my spiritual healing work at www.transitionportals.com and can find me on Google + , Facebook (for Transition Portals) Facebook (for Fiber Fantasies),  and Twitter.

To find out how to buy my art work, please check out “How to Buy my Art Work” in the “Pages” section to the right of this blog.