Class 2 ~ Inspiration ... various sources

We kicked off this class with a good look through some books from my "Artists That Inspire Me" shelf. What usually inspires me most about an artist (and their work) is how they use their art to explore the Meaning of Life. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a piece of art you created while exploring the Meaning of Life must be worth that much or more.

Here's what we looked at:

Nick Bantock and specifically his book The Egyptian Jukebox. It was the first time I looked at a book and thought: "Okay, I *really* want to do this stuff." Also the first time I realized it was within my abilities to learn how to do it. The other breakthrough moment with Nick Bantock was when I realized while "working in his style" (NOT copying!), my concern that I might create something that was a pale copy of his work disappeared as I understood that if Nick himself walked into the room, handed me his materials and stood over my shoulder directing me, my work would always come from me ~ and that was a good thing. I got to test this theory when I took a collage course with him a few years ago and was delighted to discover that he *inspires* originality in all his students. I believe this book is out of print, but he still actively creating and teaching. In fact, I'm taking a writing course with him at the beginning of June, and I can't wait.

Lynda Barry: The nearest I ever came to an artistic meltdown while holding a book in a bookstore was when I first laid eyes on What It Is. I wanted to be teleported home NOW so I could dive into a book I hadn't known existed 10 minutes earlier. Of course, I'd heard of Lynda Barry and followed her painfully wise cartoons (Ernie Pook's Comeek) in the Georgia Straight for more than 20 years, but nothing really prepared me for this multi-layered full-on exploration of the effects of an oddball childhood, the power of images, and the brain (and its foibles). This book is way deeper than it appears at first glance ~ don't let the "random found paper" look fool you ~ it's amazing. If you want MORE of her exercises on images and art, you will also like: Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor, and if you want deep quirky stories about what it means to go through teenagehood tyou'll really like One! Hundred! Demons!

Shaun Tan is a well-known children's book illustrator and painter from Australia. I love a lot of his books, not only for their beautiful artwork but also for his sensitive take on what it is to be a vulnerable human. His wordless book The Arrival speaks volumes about the immigrant experience. Although the artwork is far beyond what I can do, the story is deeply moving. The book I brought to class, Tales from Outer Suburbia, is a collection of his short stories paired with his art ~ funny. touching, sad, joyous, alarming, spooky ~ each story, and the art that goes with it done in a different style. And you all know how much I like that. Well worth a read.

Jill K. Berry likes to make art with maps. I have one of her books Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed-Media Mapmaking, and some of the exercises on mapping the self are particularly interesting to do ~ whether it's mapping your head, your heart or your hands. Highly recommended.

Another artist who pushes me into unexplored territory is Sara Fanelli. She's mostly known for illustrating children's books, but I'm charmed by her book Sometimes I Think, Sometimes I Am. In it, she does one of my favourite things: chooses quotes and then uses them as a jumping off point for art, but in a totally different way than I would. Her work is disarmingly simple - primarily paint and collage on found papers, but with a quirky, graphic twist. A little bit out there, but I like it.

Another artist whose books I brought for show and tell were created by Teesha Moore. She sells her books through her etsy site (which is currently down), but if you google her name and choose images, you'll see plenty of her inspiring work. She and her husband ran an artist retreat for 15 years or so in Port Townsend, Washington for 500 artists at a time (!), and it's safe to say that a lot of what I learned about being an artist happened at their retreat through the contact I had with other artists, both teachers and fellow-students. Here are a couple of Teesha's collages to give you a taste of her style:

If you're looking for a more direct exploration of how to use art as a way of discovering who you are and how to make sense of your life, I recommend Art Saves: Stories, Inspiration and Prompts sharing the Power of Art by Jenny Doh. Through the artwork, exercises and insight of 20 artists, you see how art (and the priocess of making it) enriches the lives of creative people ~ and I think we're all creative people. So there. Well worth a look.

If you want a pocket size book to inspire you, may I recommend Patti Digh's Four Word Self Help. Filled with very brief but useful instructions for a better life: "Always assume positive intent", "Claim your own mistakes",  "Show up, be real", and illustrated by a wide variety of artists, it's a proper little gem.

There are so many more books I could tell you about, but start with these ones, and keep your eyes open ~ ask friends what helps keeps them on track. I'd love to hear about your favourite books of inspiration as well ...