Painting Motivation, Inspiration and Hope

I thought I'd give a little insight into my past, motivation, and why my art inspiration comes from nature. I'm a retired victim/witness advocate. I worked with survivors of crime & other trauma for about 20 years. During that period I saw how the process of creating art could assist survivors in their healing journey.

Not all survivors became artists but many had a cathartic experience through art in its different forms. I truly believe people don't forget a traumatic and painful occurrence. They acquire tools that help them survive and become stronger.

After witnessing arts benefits, I began reading art history books, created my first stick figures, and was on the road to my own art education and journey.

My subject matter on the surface is not about crime and pain. I do understand artists that share their emotions on canvas and it can be beautiful. My work is more about capturing nature. The motivation is to capture life's natural tenderness. I like knowing "mother earth" gives us hope.

”Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day." -- Winston Churchill.

Merry Christmas Original Watercolor by JC Strong

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone, especially those of you that have been following this blog.

I’m grateful for the people that have taken the time to follow my virtual art journey and it’s also a pleasure to follow other people, artists, and artisans on their personal creative travels. I know it takes time to follow, read, and digest all the material on the web. So I appreciate all of my virtual art friends.

It’s good to know that art is going strong. May the coming New Year bring good health, good luck and of course artful discoveries.

First Friday Art Walk and Finding Fine Art

I belong to wonderful online art groups. AWE TEAM (Art Walk Etsy Team) and Vast Teams (Visual Art Street Team) are two that I support. Also Etsy Shop owners also have a movement supporting “finding art” called Fine Art Friday. The members within these groups work tirelessly to promote fine art, artists, and their creations.

So this Friday if you’re looking for art for your home or a gift, please search Etsy Shops and use the tags’ firstfridayartwalk, ffaw, awe team, vast team and fineartfriday you’ll find unique and fun creations . . . The following Etsy Treasury is an example of what you might see.

'Share the Joy This Holiday Season' by jcstrong

Fine art, jewelry, photographs and fashion, come in a variety of textures, mediums, cultures and style, They all make for great gifts this holiday season. Have some fun, buy a unique gift and share the joy...

I love the mix of art, fashion and home decor in this particular selection.

Click on the photos for details:

oekaki $100.00	eljayrae $20.00	ArtbyBuddy $250.00	OnTheHook $20.00
TouchOfSilver $43.00	modernmarks $18.00	LoveElycia $30.00	schemata $24.00
paintingwell $45.00	MoMuertos $15.00	pixestreasurec... $13.60	candythomasgou... $140.00
TheHighPlainsK... $45.00	SarahJohnAfana $24.00	litapsilverj $160.00	derekcollins $58.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

What if Matisse had a blog?

I’ve just finished a small format painting. It’s raining again so I sit at my keyboard and I wonder.

If artists from the past had the opportunity to author, a blog would they discuss the joy, struggles, inspiration or the everyday details of creating art? I thought of so many artists from the Renaissance to cartoon animators I’d love to know about in their own words. I know art history books outline their lives but new technology would be interesting in the artist's hands. . .

Do you think Matisse would discuss his motivation for his figure ink studies, oil paintings and then in his later years paper gouache cutouts? Andy Warhol, I hope would tell us in his own words why Campbell’s Soup. I would love to know when and why Jackson Pollack dropped, dribbled, poured his first “action painting.” I’d like to ask creators/designers of Bugs Bunny, Tex Avery and Bob Clampett how did you select that little guys look, attitude, and voice (Mel Blanc) and the famous line “What’s Up Doc.” That would be fun . . .

Finally, artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo could share their personal struggles and the artists and collectors around the world/blogosphere would reach out and share their story.

Shop and Treasury Updates:

My latest painting "Three Tree Island" is in my Etsy Shop.

New Treasury's:

Big surprise this little treasury made the first page of the treasury list.

A Sunny Forcast with a Touch of Purple by JC Strong Gallery it highlights contributors to the First Friday Art Walk (ffaw) and the AWE Team.

Range Thread Fellows by HandmadeHelp is a wonderful selection of fine art in a variety of mediums and styles.

"Made in USA and Proud of It" by MysticSilks is a joyful variety of art, jewelry, and home decor.

"Alla Prima" Acrylic Painting and Art Favorites

Each painting has its own unique lesson and process. I always have to ask myself a series of questions regarding the subject, technique and why I want to paint.

This subject although floral reminded me of a group of people and I wanted to paint them from life. Like any group of interacting people I had to take my time and get to know these little flowers. Hmm, sounds so simple. . .


Today’s favorite artists:
I like the idea of painters like Henri Matisse and Georgia O’Keefe painting well into their eighty’s. The ability to grow and create work that was meaningful kept their spirit’s young . . .

See this painting and others in my Etsy Shop.