Bird Boxes

A painting that was inspired by a photograph. The photographer is unknown. The idea came from a colored pencil drawing from 2000. I have been following an artist who turned professional four years ago. It is amazing the difference between the amateur work and the professional stuff. How does one develop the ability to create professional work? Many years ago I sold everything I did at one point. Now my work just sits. I know I have developed some lazy habits and find myself more interested in selling work than perfecting it. I'm not sure how to get past this. How did the artists who developed into professionals find the necessary spark? Was it always there? I am not talking about artists like O'Keeffe or Calder or Wyeth. I am referring to just talented artists. I am in a rut and I'm unsure how to push past it. Lately my life is moving in an entirely new direction and I'm not sure if it is a good thing. People just don't seem interested in the new directions my life is going. There are times in an artist's life when he or she must commit to moving ahead. But outside pressures create tension and unmanageability. There are distractions that take so much energy that work becomes chaotic and uninspired. One wonders if the art one creates will ever move beyond amateurish. One wonders if there is a good reason to push past the blocks.

    I recently found Pinterest and it is an incredible source of inspiration. So much creativity flowing out of this site. Many good inspired artists end up on the site. There is so much good work going through  here that one can spend hours a day looking and it can be addictive. Pinterest has become the place that I go to see work that moves me.

     Well, just wanted to post this work to keep in touch. It is as usual watercolor and pen and ink. I'd like to discover who the photographer was. I lost the photo long ago and I'm  uncertain where it came from and how much the art deviates from the original photo. I do like  the work and would like to do more with it. But I'm just not motivated. 

     Hope that everyone is enjoying a good week. This section of the country has been relatively mild. Potential for snow tomorrow, not enough to worry about. Take care and God bless... Dale