This post is part of my series, Courting the Muse. Subscribers to my email list receive a weekly prompt focusing on one aspect of creativity.
This week’s prompt: Shadows
Prologue (like this is a book or something)
I’m thinking of skipping dinner tonight and going straight to ice cream.
Wait! Wut??? Why am I telling you this on an art blog?
Fair question–I’m telling you this because that’s what the Muse wants and who am I to deny the Muse?
The scientific explanation: Ice cream, specifically (for me) Tillamook Mudslide, sets off all sorts of happy creative bells and whistles in Miz Musies’ brain, similar to but cheaper and more fattening than crack cocaine
Oh, and it’s legal. Which is good because I don’t look good in stripes.
And since I happen to know there’s some still lurking in the freezer (behind the bagels, my secret) well, I’ll ask you again–who am I to deny the Muse?
That’s what I thought. Meet me in Part 2.
Part 2 (the blog)
Well Miss Piggy Miz Musie had two big bowls of street legal crack and has now crashed and burned, leaving me to write this post on my own. So bear with me here.
This week’s creative prompt is shadows, you know, those areas where the sun don’t shine. Not to be confused say, with those areas where the sun does shine. Like I wrote about here. Those shapes are only interesting–in fact they’re only shapes at all because shadows define them. When the angle of the sun changes and the shadows go away PFFFT the shapes go away too. B.O.R.I.N.G.
In other words, shadows create interest.
I loves me some shadows. Especially ones that make me look like a 20 foot tall long legged goddess. I post those on social media hoping to convince strangers that I’m tall and willowy, instead of, umm…well not that.
In fact, some of my shadow photos are so good, so stand alone ARTY (if I do say so myself) they would make Ansel Adams weep–
However, this is week’s photo is not one of them.
It’s just run of the mill tree shadows across a puddle. A muddy puddle at that. And there must’ve been a lot of schmutz on the lens ’cause the photo is all sorts of not good.
But wait a minute! None of that matters!
Those lines and lights and darks were enough to inspire the muse– a springboard for all sorts of creative action!
One creative prompt–Shadows–one crappy photo and three different results, all oil pastel on paper.
This third one happened a few days later. I turned it sideways and tree shadows morphed into shadow figures.
I added some metallic gold because I got a good feeling from these people-not-people. Like they’re watching out for us. A good feeling and a title that came spontaneously. Guardians.
I’m building up quite a little body of work from these prompts. If you’re on my list you’ll be the first to know when I release the collection., all cleaned up, professionally photographed and ready to go.
And if you’re not on my list–well, why aren’t you?
As alway, I’d love to hear from you. You can share your thoughts in the comments below.
Me and my shadow
“….Whatever happens we got us…”
Your art is wonderful, but your writing and humor could win you an award!
Funny you should say that, Hindi. I began blogging maybe 15 years ago to showcase my writing but figured I need a hook so I threw in my art. And then the art took over…and now the writing is coming back. So maybe I’ll finish that book one of these days!
Shadows: layers and layers of life!
Just had beautiful shadow appear on a textile rug ….shadow of orchid plant in bedroom window onto rug…..whole new way of looking at it.
your art is ever so beautiful
“ Shadows: layers and layers of life!” What a great way to describe it! Big heart for noticing the orchid shadow, I bet it was stunning!
I’m so glad you appreciate my art. I recently came across the photo of you holding ‘Dance With Me’ the day you bought it.
Schmutz on the lens? Where does this word come from?!
ha, ha
That is German – like me 🙂
I grew up in New York, got a whole lot of Yiddish in my vocabulary. I trust it means the same thing, lol.
Yep, schmutz means dirt or undesirable material. And it is both Yiddish and German.
There’s a well known cold wax artist who once mentioned adding Schmitz from his studio floor to his paintings for texture. I haven’t gone that far.
Yep, schmutz means dirt or undesirable material. And it is both Yiddish and German.
I love those GUARDIANS!
Heart emojis here!