Artistic Inspiration

Does inspiration come from within or from without? This is a hot topic of discussion in the art world.  My own answer would be "yes."  For me it is both. It is the dance of my spirit with the Spirit, God if you will allow me to be personal here.  When I was in about third grade I don't know want possessed me to take one of my dad's old tablets and draw a pencil picture of our living room.  But I spent hours doing it while my parents were out on a date or studying at the university. Time stood still.  Looking back I see it as the first dance!

Something resonates between me, creation and the Creator that releases creative energy. It may a spiritual moment, like the painting above which I sketched out during a reading of Mary's song in Luke 1 at church.  Or it may be the light on pine needles.  When inspiration seems lacking getting out of routine activities, opening up my spirit and just absorbing creation, the artwork of others or looking for beauty in the ordinary stuff of life seems to light a spark most times.  It is this dance of light and life that inspires all my work.