2 minute read
FINE ARTIST MENTOR
Nuggets of INSPIRATION
BY SONAL RAJE
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“Where do you get the inspiration for your paintings from?” It’s a question I have been asked often. I think the answer lies along the quest rather than at a destination. This journey sometimes leads me inwards, and then the painting is a snapshot of my mind at that moment. At times I find it in the landscapes that surround us. And then there are days when I find nuggets of inspiration on display.
It was a beautiful Autumn day when I accompanied my daughter Juilee on a visit to the Art Gallery of Guelph. It was only through pure serendipity that I found the inspiration I was looking for. The installation on display, What is Left (2015), was by the artist Tsema. It belonged to the exhibition Grounding, curated by Maya Wilson, the recipient of the 2020 Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators. In What is Left, melted coins resembling natural copper nuggets
suggested the transformation of the metal back to its natural state and away from its use as a material commodity. Copper being a grounding element connecting us to Mother Earth. As an energy conductor, it integrates change. What a fascinating concept! On our way back home, the glowing leaves on trees seemed to echo this natural cycle of nature. Being a visual artist, these literal nuggets of inspiration find their way onto my canvases in a flurry of creative energy. Inspiration leads to creation, and a series “Copper Musings” is born.
My mandate at Blue Amber Arts is to add a unique value to everyday living. Transformed into art decor, attire and accessories, these paintings can be presented as aesthetically pleasing, tangible, and healing experiences. The presence of online Print on Demand services have made this possible without the need of having to possess an inventory. Wood panels, soft silks and ethereal chiffons, velveteen, sturdy canvases...the possibilities are endless.
That brings us to the “last but not the least” area of marketing. Social media presence is a boon for creatives to get a message across, and it invites a wider audience to share their vision. User friendly programs like Canva and Pic Monkey can create beautifully effective posts in a jiffy. Thus another cycle of Inspire/ Create/ Share is set in motion with these Copper Musings!
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