Posts Tagged: ocean
Inspiring Your Art: Broken
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places” –Ernest Hemingway
This week I’d like you to consider this quote by Ernest Hemingway, from “A Call to Arms.” I’ve always liked this quote—it really resonates with me. But I confess I’ve never really considered using it as inspiration for my art. So I thought I’d change that!
Aside from personal struggles, this quote brings to mind Kintsugi, which is a Japanese method of pottery repair that uses gold to accentuate the broken edges of the repair. This technique has its roots in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which emphasizes seeing the beauty in the flawed or imperfect. I’ve always liked that philosophy too. It kind of cries out “Look at me! I was broken, but I fixed myself! And I’m even better than before!”
So my goal right now is to take this quote and create a piece of art based on it. I’ll share the piece when I’m done and I invite you to do the same!
Inspiring Your Art: Ocean
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean, in a drop.” – Rumi
I wanted to go with a water-themed quote for inspiration this week. I enjoy watching the ocean and miss living near the coast. This quote also speaks of the connection between the individual and a much greater whole. I think that sometimes we can get so tied up in all the many urgent details in our lives that we forget to take a step back and put everything into perspective.
I think, as artists, it’s important to remember the connection between ourselves and the ‘outside’ world. I know I find much of my inspiration in nature. And when I don’t spend time outside, it impacts not only my motivation to create art, but also my overall productivity and mood.
Where do you find your inspiration? Do you have a favorite place you go to recharge? What does this quote mean to you?