Today’s inspiration

These days I’m thinking a lot about how to find more self-acceptance. It’s an evolving practice. And I find that inspiration from other artists can really support this. Especially when I see something in another artist’s work that speaks to my own progression. I guess their work doesn’t have to be the same as mine… they show the way or confirm that the thing I might be doing is a bit like this and it’s ok.

I’ve been a fan of Leif Low-Beer (found on Instagram) for a few years now and just today I really connected with these collections of works that come together in a very pleasing way. I love the proposal. Personally, I don’t know if my work would happily sit together the way his does but I do begin to feel more openness towards the disparate nature of my work and practice; like it’s ok to have a lot of ideas, beginnings, unfinished works, individual works… It’s all ok.

One of my favourite artists since 2014, probably. Polly Apfelbaum seems to know my heart and soul. With these vintage photos of flowers… enough said. The saturated colour; the nostalgia; the tongue in cheek. The faded brown paper of each page. It’s not easy to explain how much this speaks to me and my feeling of completeness when seeing it. However, let’s not come to a full stop here. That could happen… when inspiration can trigger a shutting down of momentum… the best work has already been done, nothing further to add! I trust that seeing this work is merely confirmation that what I personally love is allowed (dangerous word); is out there and I can keep going.

Sabine Finkenauer, another favourite, has produced this beautiful piece on cardboard… for some reason when artists use found or low-brow materials it just excites me. The possibilities seem to open up… you can make anything with cardboard… you can transform a humble material into something unexpected… anyone can do it. I could do it! Yes seeing this work makes me want to make some shapes… but will I? I guess this is how inspiration works for me; I like to gather it and let it percolate for as long as it needs to. At some point my own response to these works may surface or it may not. It all goes into the pot and bubbles away.