To Be Inspired...Lesson Two From O'Keeffe

I did what my art teacher told me to do...I went home, craving to find my way to become an artist. I took that precious book and devoured every word, every image, and every page. I read it over and over again with so many times falling asleep to Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings vivid in my brain...just burning into it. Often I would wake to a sharp corner of that book sticking me in the side. This repetitive action would become the foundation of my art education and build my confidence to begin that first good painting I would create.

I studied Georgia's Landscapes and got lost in the exotic land of New Mexico. Her flowers painted close up brought me sensual awareness and to look at things closer...to treasure small things in my life. The Bones I sensed history and immortality. With her paintings to music, a sense of joy and artistic freedom that remains within me to this day.

To be inspired, with my heart beating with artistic passion was liberating. I was so wound up with ideas it was hard for me to begin with one! So I took this new knowledge and applied it to a paint study in my art class. It began with learning how to build a frame, stretch canvas, prime the canvas, then to begin the painting.

I knew what I was going to paint with instinct... and began my first good painting at 16. The painting is a landscape with my profile superimposed on top of it. My eyes are closed, my hair is blond flowing in the breeze and I am dreaming of things I love...my family, the earth, my first love, and my dream to be an artist.

Name of the painting is, Dreamtime, inspired by the landscapes of Georgia O'Keeffe, painted in 1973. It remains in my studio as a constant reminder of my artist journey with my many lessons from O'Keeffe.

Name of the Book is O'Keeffe, from the Whitney Museum published in 1970. Sky above the Clouds is the painting on the cover and is on exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. It is big and glorious...And an old friend of mine I visit every time I go there.

Lesson Two From O'Keeffe...To Be Inspired