My lovely friend Caite and I have had a dialogue going back and forth on the topic of inspiration. She sent me this article, written by artist Alison Jardine, called Inspiration is Irrelevant. To paraphrase, Alison was asked by a college student, “Where to you get your inspiration?” and she answered immediately, without thought, “Inspiration is irrelevant.”
A candy study I did back in 2000
I know what she means. Every single time I arrive in my studio, plunk down my bag, and stand in front of a series of partially made or blank (eek!) canvases, I freeze. I don’t want to be there. I want to organise drawers, prime door casings, sort tools, file clippings, anything but face those canvases. If I’m perfectly honest, I’d say I’m inspired 10% of the time I plunk down that bag. It’s not that I’m ungrateful for my career, or a sour little brat. That’s not what I’m getting at.
The thing is, once I start doing anything to those white squares, they take on a life of their own. In Alison’s words, inspiration becomes irrelevant.
The hand is moving, the critic shuts up, the hand takes over.
The versatility of acrylics and oils are such that one can just muck about and allow something good to happen (or not), and to be perfectly honest, something good happens 90% of the time. You really do just have to show up for it, and not wait for that elusive Inspiration. I find I feel more “inspired” after a good productive day in the studio than I ever do before it. Especially if I’m not particularly inspired when I arrived! It’s like being dragged to see a film you have no interest in, and loving it.
The word inspiration should really be subsituted for commitment.
Do I feel inspired today?
{Music swells}
No.
{Music dies down, like a broken record, a la Monty Python.}
But do I feel committed today?
Yep. I’m here, aren’t I?
Okay then.
{cue sounds of CBC Radio 2, a kettle boiling, and the swiff swiff of something, anything, being applied to canvas.)
Off I go, y’all.
Tags: alison jardine, caite dheere, inspiration is irrelevant
A beautiful entry Lisa.
I’ve never read anything on this subject expressed so articulately. Action is the thing- screw the reaction to it!
Hi Lisa,
I just stumbled across your blog, and as a fellow painter, I really enjoyed reading it!! I am wondering about the photo with your brushes- what are the large puffy brushes called? Do you use those for both acrylic and oils? Of all my studio courses I have taken, very few have explained the tools of the trade. This has led to a collection of paint brushes, many of which I never use. Thanks for your help!!
Hi A.J.,
Thanks for writing! The brushes are Escoda brand, from Spain. They’re fun to use, but awful to clean! I use them for oils, but they could be used for acrylics too. I have loads of brushes i don’t ever use, too. I think the key is to just experiment with tools to find different ways of mark-making. The rules mean very little. My favourite brushes are synthetics designed for use with acrylics, (they break down over use with oil thinners) but I don’t mind. They give me good marks while they last, then they go all frayed and I just get different marks. It’s all gravy!
Aw, nuts.