THE CREATIVE SPARK: “There’s a different type of beauty in the silence of an empty street. This is the scene of a wet market in Hong Kong after closing time. In contrast to its lively character during the day — bustling with people and commotion — the closed shops depict a serene perspective with light reflected upon the cleanly washed wet ground. It’s beautiful to see the different personalities of a street during day and night, as if the empty streets tell the story of its people who have retreated back home after a long day of work, resting for the night.”
And He Sang for Free by Carol McSweeney
THE CREATIVE SPARK: “This piece came about as a result of a chance meeting in a tunnel in New York City. I heard a beautiful voice coming from the darkness, followed it and met a lovely young man who was singing his heart out. After spending a couple of hours together, I sketched and photographed him. I felt that his eyes told the story of his soul — sincere and open-hearted — and hoped to capture that in my portrait of him. To add creative mystery to my work, I try to mix what I see with a little of what I don’t see, whether it’s color, brushwork or value.”
Opportunities Abound by Barbara Fox
THE CREATIVE SPARK: “This work was painted in response to an invitational exhibition. I chose to paint glass marbles, and my creative spark was ignited by the inverted, fish-eye view of the scene behind the orbs as well as the reflections on the smooth glass surfaces. I observed that each marble was identical, yet completely unique, depending on its environment.
“As an artist focusing on realism, I was delighted to paint a bit of an unconventional subject — the marbles were both fun and challenging to paint in watercolor. I set up this scene late one afternoon, thinking the red origami crane was a great counterpart to the transparent orbs. I was amused at the playful imagery of a mother bird stiffly at attention and her energetic brood rolling hither and yon, exploring the great beyond.”
Pounce by Tina Forkner
THE CREATIVE SPARK: “My creative spark began with a printer malfunction that produced both a pixilated and color-shifted ‘painterly’ image of an original photograph given to me by wildlife photographer and friend, Jim Stamates. The pixilated image made it easier for me to identify shapes and values as well as the color shift from the original browns and golds to blues, violets and pinks, which gave the image a fantasy effect. In the end, this coyote represented to me the spirit of faith and hope all mixed up with a little bit of fun.”
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