My Con-chair-toe

blog:  ArtistDianaCamille.blogspot.com

website:  www.DianaCamille.com

shop:  etsy.com/shop/ArtistDianaCamille

Inspiration, is often right under our noses.  In my studio I have this chair, where I often park myself in between sloshing paint around, doing the mundane business that is required of an artist, or when I just need a break.  Feet up with a cup of tea; there I sit trying to gain inspiration for the next project or ponder what next step to take on the current endeavor.

This chair has followed me through four houses now and sits in my current studio for what I hope to be a very long time - no more moving for me, ugh!  It was part of a trio with another identical chair and a sofa.  Space dictated the "thinning of the herd" regarding my furniture when I recently moved here.  A sacrifice but, well worth it given the trade off - a million dollar view and a home totally secluded in the woods;

total privacy, just me and the critters and plenty of space to paint. 

One of which I suppose I should introduce here;

"Peppy Le Mew"  ....who, as you can observe dominates my favorite spot as often as he sees fit (easily mistaken for a pillow).

 

 Years ago, this painting "Concerto" was done by me in transparent watercolor inspired simply by a need for  a safe place to set down a borrowed violin I was holding......the chair seemed like a good place, and boom!  A photo op!  Fast forward several years; I started this in acrylics, (just to see if I would enjoy using this new medium after many years painting exclusively in watercolors).  Much to my delight I did indeed enjoy it, and the dawn of a new era began for me; ahhh.......the magic of acrylics!  Choosing to cut my teeth in this medium with open acrylics (translate: takes forever to dry) I glazed the background, slowly waiting for each layer to dry.  The chair was done in a much more direct fashion with very little - if any glazing.  But, as often happens life got in the way and there it sat for longer than I care to admit, just the chair........ my favorite chair....... unfinished......  

 

 

.....when I finally picked it back up again, adding the violin and bow, layer upon careful layer, until it reached the finished state.  Which brings me back to that word "inspiration"........I find it everywhere I look;  I am inspired by so many things I see, it doesn't take much for me.....always in my mind are at least 14 projects ahead of the current work on my easel (the downside to a creative mind) and I usually have several paintings going at once.

So that is how this painting was inspired; I just looked around my studio, commanded the violin to hold still while I played photographer, taking advantage of the natural early light that came from an east window. Thus the humble beginnings of "Concerto" in acrylics.  You can see the completed work at my website; www.DianaCamille.com