Musical Inspiration

I realize I am super-crazy-lucky to be able to have this job and I am grateful every single day that they let me draw pictures for a living, but the only downside is that I rarely create just for the fun of it.  My brain has become so conditioned to create on schedule and per the needs of my clients, that it can be a real challenge to step outside that box and do what comes naturally to my creative soul.

The last few years I have tried to more dilligently keep a just for fun sketchbook (one that doesn't focus on trends or what my clients will need next) and on rare occasions I play along with Illustration Friday, but too often I only create for fun when I'm officially "on vacation".

Since I usually create mostly in watercolor and colored pencil, it helps with the reminding-me-this-is-for-fun-and-not-work thing to try something different.  Those paying super-close attention might remember that last year I had a blast playing with Paperclay and acrylic paints on vacation.

This year I had all those amazing beads, and tried my hand at making my own jewelry for the first time in decades.  I sort of had no idea what I was doing; there was an awful lot of un-and-re-stringing and wire-breaking explosions of beads flying in every direction and enough swearing that at one point Husband Guy asked me if I was actually having fun.  I was.  I totally was. 

I call this one my Guarded by Monkeys necklace, the little monkey-charms hang around the whole thing.

I pulled out the acrylics and this time, painted a few pieces on paper.  Somehow, in all these years of making art, I've never put acrylics on paper before.  Don't ask, I have no idea why.  It was fun, too; the paper got real canvassy and soft - I liked it a lot.  An Elton John song came on while I was painting this one, and it naturally became part of the piece.
Where do you get your inspiration?

Comments

[amberbop]

Those monkeys are so perfect. I feel like some day, someone might show up at your house all David-Bowie-in-Labyrinth style and you will back up in terror (it obs. won't BE David Bowie, because like that could make anyone do anything but swoon) only to have your hand fall on Guarded by Monkey's necklace. Scary creepy mystery man with Muppets will back up in terror and you will hold this piece of magic jewelry above your head. They'll bow, terrified, deeming you Queen of all Bethtopia and marking them your forever slaves. So maybe it was fun, but I'm pretty sure it served a major purpose ;) but maybe in the future though. These are seriously so so cool. You inspire me, chicky! You SO inspire me.

[Beth L]

finally someone recognizes my position as Queen of all Bethtopia. Thank you for that. xoxo