Filling My Creative Well
Taking Time Away to Find Inspiration
The job of the artist is to stay inspired. So, I took some time away to refresh my creative well. I went as a tag-along on my husband’s business trip to San Antonio. While he was in conference each day, I took in the art scene and made some art of my own.
Day One: I visited the San Antonio Museum of Art. I spent most of the day taking my time observing the colors, textures, and details of some of my favorite artists and some new-to-me artists.
Here are a few that inspired me…
John Singer Sargent. Look at that rug! You can practically feel the soft furry pile that’s under her feet. And that side table! How her dress shows through the transparent glass top. Perfection!
Wayne Thiebaud. His warped perspective of SanFransico is a delight! And the thick, juicy paint … wow!
Georges Rouault. A long-time favorite artist of mine, his thick, dark outlines, texture, and simple shapes are all reminiscent of stained glass. And it’s no wonder! He was a stained-glass apprentice when he was fourteen!
I finished the day painting this HUGE live oak tree at the Alamo.
Day Two: I visited the San Antonio Art League and Museum in the morning. They had a beautiful permanent collection with a great history, as well as the work of their 2026 Artist of the Year, Sandy Whitby. I left inspired to try my hand at oils again (can you believe I haven’t touched oil paints since college?)
I finished the day back at the Alamo painting another live oak and then taking a walk along the Riverwalk while enjoying gelato from Amorino. The gelato recharged my battery and I painted one more painting. This time, a painting of the Hugman Bridge (AKA the Selena Bridge).
Day Three: I spent the morning at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. I’ll be honest, Western Art isn’t normally something I gravitate to, but I left super-inspired! There was so much to glean from the work there and so much variety in style within the Western genre. Take a look at the pieces that struck me…
Now that I am home, I’m inspired to push my colorways, brushwork, and medium. I look forward to seeing how the art I observed influences the next paintings I create.