Inspiration

Sometimes there's a need to just put paint on the canvas.  In a fit of inspiration - my favorite kind - I started adding color that I just wanted to be there.  The painting gave me clues and I created as I followed.  Love that the result is as satisfying as the process was!

Debbie's Roses

Debbie's Roses

What inspires my painting more than good friends, good food, lovely venue and orange roses.   My friend always puts flowers out for her guests. Some she grows herself, others are carefully picked for their color and shape - she's always wanting to give me something to paint!  This evening's flowers represented a visiting friend back for a family tragedy, catching up and escaping  - all done in an atmosphere of acceptance, love and laughter. Treasured friends gathered together, close in friendship and life living - Debbie's Roses

Brass Vase

Painting done in class a couple of weeks ago.  Small palette knife painting of roses in a brass vase.  I enjoy painting with a knife, finding abstract shapes and lines in a subject, forcing me to be looser and more interesting (to me).  In addition to the set up, I drew inspiration from a painting by Daniil Volkov of Gallery Russia.  

8" x 10"

oil on canvas board

Roses in Red Vase
Oil on Canvas Board
14" x 18"

Baudy Cafe, Giverny France
Oil on Canvas
30" x 40"

Down the street from Monet's home and studio is Baudy Cafe in Giverny.  This establishment was around when other artists from Europe and the United States would come and spend time with Claude Monet. Here they could catch a bed and a meal and paint in the incredible gardens of the cafe, with their favorite artist only a few steps away.  Lining the cafe inside are small works of all the artists who came and painted there.  I spent a chunk of time looking up to see if I might recognize anyone.  Behind the cafe is a charming studio. It is often labelled as Monet's studio, but I'm not sure that he painted there since he had quite a nice studio in his home.

Flowers from a Friend
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"

I spent an incredible afternoon last week with the daughter of Gerome Kamrowski, an established expressionist artist, a contemporary of Rothko and Jackson Pollack with an incredible inventory of work, some of which was left with his family.  Although I enjoy museums and the art work available to see publicly, having a private tour of his legacy in a home setting, seeing his works up close and sometimes being able to touch them was profoundly inspirational to me.  I appreciate so very much the generosity and hospitality of Cynthia and the final gift of the sunflowers.  I just had to paint them the next day in order to keep in front of me the afternoon of friendship, art and hospitality that I hope to never forget.  Thanks, Cynthia!!    geromekamrowski.org