inspiration & serendipity
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - 8:11 pm GMT
Sometimes one goes looking for inspiration.
For me, whether that search is out the window, through my lens, in the stroke of a brush, or into my interior it is almost always fruitful. From my perspective, we are surrounded by an infinity that is constantly evolving. A place where everything is always imbued with renewal.
No two moments in the universe are ever the same, and in this reality lies magic beyond that which any incantation might evoke.
This kind of creative searching has its place; is essential even, but it isn’t the topic of this post.
Today I want to write a bit about that other kind of inspiration. The kind of inspiration that comes calling of its own accord.
Like a first snowflake settling on the still green grass, it can herald an oncoming wave, or simply one fleeting drop. Regardless its form or duration, it is unfailingly a delightful rush.
I absolutely love getting caught up in the flow of something new.
Recently I was accosted by a poem written by a friend and it sparked the immediate need for me to draw.
I was stunned to find that what I was drawing was a mandala.
I haven’t created a mandala of any kind in more than a decade. And if I had thought about why not, I might have said that my work had evolved—had moved in new directions.
Which just goes to show how wrong a person can be.
Below you’ll find my first new visual piece of 2010. It was inspired by this wonderful poem by Marianna Paulson:
Living. Breathing.
Breathing. Living.
Inspiritus -
inspiration -
spirit.Awaken. Breathe. Live.
Now.
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You can find Marianna at her website, blog, and on twitter.
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Here is the image inspired by Marianna’s wise, beautiful, mantra-like poem.
I hope you will enjoy the viewing as much as I enjoyed the creating.
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title - breathe life - by Kayt Hoch
I suspect mandalas may be making a new visitation to my creative life, time will tell on that.
Truth is, I still feeling like drawing. And the energy buzzing my fingers feels a lot more like a wave beginning to roll, than one lonely drop from an otherwise pale blue sky.
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tech stuff - in case you care
The drawing was created from blank screen using Photoshop CS3 software. All elements of the piece were hand-drawn, (using a Wacom Intuos3 tablet) combined with two gradients (created by me), and integrated using various blending modes and transparency levels.
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(what is this?)
it is vivid and full of life, I see it as a renewal of some kind, the symmetry seem to serve as a reminder that things or life repeats but not always in the same pattern
perhaps I’m just reading too much into it but I like it is inspired by something outside of yourselves and that something inspire some inner, creative imagining of something new
I love how the colors move. Bold and powerful. And I love how it moves me, to… joy.
What a joy and an honour to see my poetry prompt transformed into a work of art!
The mandala signifies unity and harmony. We are all interwoven in this “quilt” - some of us designing the pattern, others adding their square, others admiring the work and some being “warmed” by the fabric.
Thanks for making it safe and fun to participate in this project, which takes on a life of its own that is often grander than we can imagine. Little did I know that my hastily-written p.p. would result in this beautiful piece of art!
I’m excited to see what those “buzzing” fingers (love your description of being in the flow) will next create.
I love the heat at the middle and the cooling as we drift off the page. Beautiful.
Rich colors fading at the edge. The inner self vibrant and real, creative and energetic. Beautiful!
lissa thank you so very much for the lovely comment!! - I am just delighted by your response. Traditionally a mandala is intended to evoke exactly the kind of contemplation you describe - I do so appreciate you sharing your experience/thoughts, it is really wonderful for me to hear about how you are interacting with the image.
Casper Bless you - what a wonderful thing to say. May you always be moved to joy by something in each day. Namaste.
Marianna I believe the true value of any art is to evoke a response. In thinking about it more, I realize the straightforward language and intricate weave of your poem is indeed very mandala like. Words within words, meanings building and layering as the poem renews itself with each re-reading. It is perhaps no great surprise that such writing sent me back to one of my artistic roots.
We’ll see where things go, since that part is pretty much out of my hands.
Thank you for the lovely comment
Laurie It is so good to see you!! Thanks for your patience over these many months of blog quiescence.
I do so appreciate your comment - it makes me look at the image anew, and I love seeing the work from new perspectives. Thanks, thanks, thanks!!
Tumblewords Thank you so very much for stopping by and leaving such a wonderful comment! I really appreciate & value your input a great deal. Wonderful interpretation imo. Gratitude
p.s. I copied your comment to this page from the image page, so more folks might see it and find your wonderful work.
Both works are stunning. I often find we think we have moved in another direction only to find out that we have only just made our circle wider.
Hi Kayt, thanks for visiting on behalf of Selma’s interview. Your mandala is magical. The colours are breathtaking; the more I look the more I see.
texasblu so good to see you !! and what a wonderful comment - I love your image of the circle widening, beautiful
Rowe delighted to meet you and thanks for the wonderful feedback, so very nice of you! Hope to see you here again sometime
Incredibly beautiful. Another gift to enjoy and to share!