Friday Inspiration

This says it all!

Hanging on to Possibility...

Got thrown a bit of a curve ball today... and on a dreary rainy day like this I could have justified curling up in a ball on the couch with a big blanket. Maybe even with a big box of cookies.

Instead I painted...

 "Beach Baby" in progress, watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

  

I painted joy, beauty, imagination and endless possibility. 

And, that feels even better than a big soft blanket and all the cookies in the world!

Passion in the History

A lot has been said on following your passion, and creating what you love.  When I think back to school and was studying Fashion Design my absolute favorite course was Fashion History!

 "Retro SwimSuits 1920s", copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

I could not wait to go each week.

I was consumed by it. 

I was so interested that most of what I learned 30 yrs ago is still fresh in my memory. And for each Period we studied we got to create a garment of our own design from that period.  

Illustrated and rendered in watercolor, which is when I learned to adore, and respect, watercolor.  I could have taken this course over and over! 

I am smiling ear to ear while writing this as I remember that time.

 "Flapper's Closet" copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

This kind of project brought me nothing but joy!

So, I am revisiting it now... And am loving every minute of it! 

The research, sketches, inking, painting - and immersing myself in the time period.

"Edwardian Corsets" copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Thinking of the history, the social norms - and restrictions, of the time… and how fashion played a part in all of it.

Total joy creating this art, and truly thankful to be in my present where I am free to live the life I live, and create the art that I love. 

Monday Inspiration - Fall Harvest, Tomatoes

Ah - tomatoes!  I look forward to the late summer, early autumn just for them.   And, I could eat them at every meal so I took this photo as soon as I could - before they were gone.  They are sneak preview of leaf colors that we will see as we move deeper into the Fall.


The colors are simply gorgeous - vivid, inspiring and bottomless.


So as with all my visual obsessions... I have to paint them.  I painted this basket of tomatoes a few years back.  And my biggest challenge was the depth and vibrancy of the color - that color goes beyond red!  I used layers and layers of glazed color, many of which were lemon yellow, to achieve the luminosity.

"Fruit of the Gods" watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

The original painting hangs in my kitchen bringing me a vivid reminder of those stunning colors year round. 

Inspiration Monday - Crayons

Crayons! 

They were my favorite as a child... I can still remember when I got my first box of 64!  with-a-built-in-sharpener AND everything!!!!  I think I felt the earth move that day!  And, how I treasured that box of umlimited possiblities.  Color galore.  Brings happy tears to my eyes.

Crayons still make me a little giddy. And, happily my 5 year old daughter loves to color and craft. We spend many an hour coloring side by side.  I with my (well, technically they are hers) crayons, her with her markers... which are her favorite. Who knows... maybe years from now she will be writing almost the same thoughts about markers! :)
I also now work out color schemes of paintings while I color with my girl.  I'll scan my black and white drawing, print out a few copies, and experiment with crayons.

When is the last time you played with crayons? grabbed a handful and went crazy with color and abandon?
Go ahead... take a fistful, take a deep breath of that glorious crayony smell --- and go create something fun and wonderful.  That's were I'm headed now....