Lately, in the charcoal grey of the night, while all around me are sleeping as they should, strange thoughts enter my head.

Tonight's little escapade into irrelevance led me down a path of the manner in which an artist grows. Not that their height means a lot to me - but I mean their artistic abilities.
I have discovered that my own art needs feeding. I need to become passionate about a concept, an idea a colour even and then I am fed by the input of others. I work best when I am working with a co-photographer/artist/model etc... I tend to parasitically feed from them. Not that I need their ideas; I seem to need them, to express mine. I call it collaboration - but I know that I am moved by shards of light, by the texture and shadowing of skin, by the tiny gob of last night's mascara that clings desperately to an eyelid, the shades caused by the pressure of fingertips on skin, the striking difference in the highlight of a collar bone, the colour changes of the fall of hair, the mysteries that are hidden behind flashing eyes... and the list goes on, ad infinitum.
I say I am fed by others, and the contrary exists also. If people get in the way of my self-expression, my art, my passions... I walk away... no; I run away before they do me damage.

Of late, my inspiration has been waning. I am disappointed in many of the subjects that see my work, approach me, and want me to be someone else. I have refused shoots on many occasions because our eccentricities are unmatched. Oh well... this happens. Back to re-editing the work of other days.

"I love your nudes, will you shoot my graduation shots?" (so does she get an accountant to fix her stove?)
"Can you make me look like her, she looks so free - but of course I wouldn't dare go nude." (D'uh!! Guess why she feels free!!!)
So I am not always inspired to work with every model/subject that comes my way.

I also ask myself about how others that rely on the creative process, ready themselves for a project. I know writers have blocks, and spurts, and manic days and doldrums. What are the triggers for them? Is it a fight with the boss, a win at the track, or that contented moo that follows a great meal?
I have friends that are great photographers, how do I tell them that they are heading along a dead-end alley way and need to revive themselves. That they need to be free enough to express without working on creative ideas while someone/something else is restraining their passion and empowering mediocrity?
How do I spell out to a 19 year old model, that screaming is the best way to start letting passion slip into their portfolio, that they are being sexy, not sensual because they are enabled by so many, so often, when they play sexy? How do I explain to a redneck boyfriend that his girlfriend wants to explore the sides of herself, that he thinks are just for him, when in reality, they are just for her? That he will only restrain the inevitable for so long, before reality bites and he will be the first casualty?

So all this rambling started with a direction and then entered a Twilight Zone... that's OK... suffer.
Just fill in the poll with any old thing, I am not conducting a survey for a thesis!

--
Models' Folios at :
OMP & ModelDancer
Art -Works are at:
eRomantica

Yes to all. My writing is going nowhere at the moment, but on the other hand I just finished a griffin sculpture that was commissioned by =GoredGuar, and a small bust of Batman for my Dad's birthday, and now I've started the armature for a Phoenix my brother wants for his birthday. Sculpture and collage come pretty easy, though I won't pretend that I'm great at either, but I'm struggling with my writing right now. I have lots of ideas, but I can't seem to get them moving.

--
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

Beau,
You left out my choice, which is, I think, the choice you described for yourself. My art springs from the interplay of the internal and external. What I see and how I see are my artistic co-conspirators.

What I wrote for my *pearwood shoutboard was first of all about the art of others, but I think it applies to my own as well.

So what catches my eye? An eye to see beauty in the unusual or, even more, in the ordinary things of life. A portrait that reveals something unique or special of the one portrayed -- or of the artist (self-portraits in particular fascinate me), or of joy, grief, and hope of life. A gaze into the eyes of the one gazing at the artist. The sheer joy of creation. A delight in the ridiculous that resides in all of us. Gracefulness of form and motion.

Blessings,
Steve

being stagnent...stressed, overwhelmed, tired...

When I'm happy or sad, content or unnerved, art seems to oose from me! When I'm uninspired, in a rut, or feeling apathetic...art and expression seems to elude me.

In my oppinion, external influences only make a difference if we're in a place to recieve them (negative or positive).

-Ember

Generally my creativeness is derived from within my soul, my spirit, my yearning, and love; but ocasionally it is influenced by external triggers that unsettle both my concious and subconcious.

--
_{Never compare yourself with anybody else. You are what you are. Nobody is like you. Nobody can act your part as you can.}

I wanted to comment but didn't really see a place to answer....

I'm a simple woman with a lot of built up creativity wanting to escape from within. My creativity comes with much emotion; doesn't matter the type. I dream in words, I walk in visions and I live in a darkness that holds my creativity captive.

One day my heart will open and love and extreme passion will flood my world and I'll be free to be me!



--
_{Art is my only true love}

For now it is just what I've seen your artwork, but it is unlike anything I've seen so far. Her style is professional class of the eye that looks beyond what you see with their eyes, I think that points to the eye of the soul or mind that makes us rethink things. ;

Juan Manuel