New show highlights Artist’s Inspiration at Gallery One
Where do ideas come from? That’s the question for Gallery One artists in their new show, Artist’s Inspiration, on view through Tuesday, March 3, at the gallery in Ocean View.
Inspiration is a powerful force that ignites creativity. Every work of art originates from a unique spark potentially influenced by various sources: historical events, personal experience, mythology, literature, emotions and more.
This month, the artists of Gallery One are sharing their personal sources of inspiration for their own artwork. For artist John Schisler in his oil painting, “Lavender’s Stillness,” that inspiration is an emotion. “A gentle reminder that the most powerful thing you can do is simply be still,” he said. “Breathe in calm. Let the quiet heal you.”
Artists have long been inspired by the beauty of nature. Cheryl Wisbrock’s watercolor, “Bayside Assateague,” is motivated by local scenery. She said, “I love painting our skies, waterways, fields and beaches. This painting was created at the edge of the marsh in Assateague in late summer.” Laura Hickman is inspired by her morning walk, as shown in her pastel, “Sun and Fog.” “Each morning I walk my dog down this road toward the rising sun. It's a lovely way to begin the day and is never the same.”
Dale Sheldon and Lesley McCaskill are also inspired by their natural surroundings. Sheldon’s acrylic, “Colors of Sicily,” and McCaskill’s acrylic, “View Across the Pond,” share local color and vibrancy that uplift and captivate. Cindy Beyer’s pastel, “Poppin’ to the Light,” vibrates with color inspired by a field of flaming-red poppies. Mary Bode Byrd’s acrylic painting, “FlyByrd,” is inspired by the delicacy and beauty of a hummingbird, and her desire to capture its wispy energy.
Sometimes an artist is inspired by their materials. Laurie Fields said of her mixed-media painting, “XOXO,” that her spark came from her environment. “I hate for anything to go to waste! For this piece I used canvas trimmings, palettes and cropped monotypes that were in bins in my studio.”
