Step One... Inspiration.

Where does an idea come from? How do you take a concept and put it on canvas? When are you ever satisfied enough to say that it's done? These are a few of the questions that I recently asked Patti and Kim.

For Patti, inspiration comes from all around her. "I’m inspired many ways; I see a reflection on a vase, water or sunset and wonder “Can I capture that?” I see someone with an interesting face and wonder “Can I paint that expression?”"

Sometimes, when she gets an image in her head, it's not of matter of not being able to get it out, it's a matter of how to get it out. "This image begins to obsess me until I find a way to implement it within a painting. I paint it in my head; sketch it on paper, then finally on the canvas."

Once inspired, Patti does not discard her ideas, she stores them. "I have a folder of sketches and photos of things and people I want to do and constantly fear I’m running out of time to complete. Upper most on my list right now is a painting of Tim", her husband, "playing his guitar. It’s the one I want to enter in art shows this fall but one I haven’t started yet."

Sometimes your inspiration is tailored to your limitations, such as the lack of time. Kim says, "Recently, high contrast and bright colors are inspiring me. Portraits take a long time to do and when I have the time that is my preference. Since my painting time is limited, I need instant gratification to keep me interested so I select subjects that I can finish in a setting or two at the most."


Above: A portrait by Patti