My Artistic Home: Inspirations In Every Corner
My home is a reflection of me and a creative avenue for my artistic inspiration. I am inspired by the setting of my life and the people and things that wander in and through my space.
I recently came across an article in The New York Times that pondered the idea of homes as reflections of their inhabitants. The piece highlighted various artists and their collections, showcasing how their living spaces serve as both inspiration and backdrop for their work. Reading it was like nodding along with a familiar friend - as an artist, my environment has heavily influenced my creativity.
Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life
Is my home reflected in my work? Most definitely. In my own home and studio, I've deliberately crafted an atmosphere that fuels my art. I am a gatherer. My travels have concluded with luggage filled with memories - a tablecloth from a Paris market, a shell from the coast, a wooden spoon from an antique store. Many of these things are incorporated into my everyday life and thus become daily reminders of fond memories.
Transforming Memories into Paintings
I have a series of paintings that I call the Treasure Table. It is a great excuse to collect interesting trinkets that inspire me. When a composition is lacking, the oyster shells from a family oyster roast can balance the flower-filled vase that was a wedding gift many years ago. I collect binoculars and wooden boxes that often find their way into my paintings. Vignettes of my personal items and oddities that have found their way to my home ignite my creativity. My husband and I are bibliophiles, so books are in the small library and stacked in areas where we might sneak a minute to read. All of these things figure into my artistic endeavors.
Architecture Makes for a Good Composition
I also love architecture and have pored over plans and designs of older homes. I am particularly inspired by the 1920’s architecture of Willie Ward homes that are cherished in my hometown for their classic simplicity. I am also inspired by Bobby McAlpine, a contemporary architect who creates a home to “mirror the soul.” Both create not just the walls, but a place to call home, a place to reflect, and a place where I become inspired.
“One good friend likes to mention that every home that I have creatively touched even has a window in the shower. ”
I prefer natural light, so my homes are window-centric. One good friend likes to mention that every home that I have creatively touched even has a window in the shower. The windows open both literally and figuratively to bridge the space between inside and out.
Our house plans included architectural elements we collected from old houses and salvage companies. The vintage telephone shelf with a place for a phonebook from a 1950s home is no longer a relevant household feature, but its addition to my kitchen is an intriguing window in time. My children barely remember a corded phone, and most certainly not the phonebook. Pulling together each plank of wood and piece of furniture became part of a narrative that I call home. The structure of the house as well as its curated objects are characters in my story.
My home is an active participant in my creative process. The people and things that wander through its rooms leave traces of inspiration in their wake, leading me down new artistic paths. The way the morning light filters through the windows, casting ever-changing patterns on the walls, or the way a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen counter can ignite a burst of creativity—all of these small moments add up to a tapestry of inspiration that informs my work as an oil painter.
In the end, my home is not just where I live—it's a living, breathing canvas that evolves alongside me. It's a testament to who I am, where I've been, and where I'm going.
