Inspiration

So, you remember back here I asked you to share with me what you do to feed your soul? Well, I will be doing something with all your responses soon, I promise.

In the meantime, I asked the Feed Your Soul contributing artists the same question and a few other questions as well. I’d like to share the responses with you from all the contributing artists so far.

Jessica Gonacha

1. How do you describe your work?

My work is quirky and colorful, and it is often somewhat autobiographical in that it deals with thoughts or feelings I have in my day to day life.

2. What are your inspirations in your art and life?

There are so many inspirations! Nature is huge for me– ideas often come when I’m out walking around my neighborhood. I’m very inspired by seeing other people do what they love, and color never fails to excite me, too. I am constantly on the lookout for interesting uses of color and ways to combine them!

3. What do you do to help feed your soul?

I tend to work a lot, so I’ve been trying to find more balance lately, mainly by running or getting some sort of exercise every day, and my fiancé and I go on long walks together to chat about our lives. Also, we recently got a kitten, and she is feeding my soul with love like I never imagine a kitty could! I also love to read inspiring and positive books, and learning new things is a great way for me to feed my soul. For example, I’m taking an animation class soon that I’m so excited about!

Samantha Hahn

1. How do you describe your work?

Delicate line drawings with watercolor or digital color.

2. What are your inspirations in your art and life?

Love, laughter, nature, beauty, urban living, pattern, & color.

3. What do you do to help feed your soul?

Love, create, & laugh.

Michele Maule

1. How do you describe your work?

Well, my primary focus is mixed media collage, but sometimes I like trying something new, so I’ll do some screen printing, or some etchings, or even make journals. I feel like trying new things, and learning new techniques, helps to open up new ideas, and imagery.

2. What are your inspirations in your art and life?

I like finding my inspiration in my everyday life. I like to take objects that I see on a day to day basis and use them in my work. These things are typically things that most people see everyday, but often go unnoticed. A bicycle, a tea cup, a watering can. I like the idea of taking these little lonely objects and giving them a story, and a personality.

3. What do you do to help feed your soul?

These are some of my favorite things to do, and the things that help “feed my soul.”
– Curling up with a soft warm blanket, and a hot cup of tea in the winter time.
– Taking bike rides to the Dairy Queen in the Spring.
– Sitting in my front yard, under the big tree, with a quilt, a beer, and a good book, in the Summer.
– The colors in the Fall can fill me up for days.
– My Boston Terrier, Chloe, makes me laugh on a daily basis.
– And knowing that I will be going back to my little house, in Portland, this May makes me terribly happy.

Stephanie Fizer

1. How do you describe your work?

Quirky and cute pretty much sums it up for me 🙂 I remember as a teenager, not really knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but thinking that I wanted to bring a little bit of beauty into the world. And now I get to do that everyday! I like to think that my work makes people smile and that makes me happy.

2. What are your inspirations in your art and life?

I’m lucky enough to live in an area surrounded by lush forest and mountains so I am and always have been inspired by nature, especially the thrill of new colors in each changing season. I’m also heartily inspired by vintage illustrations and beautiful fabrics.

3. What do you do to help feed your soul?

I like to fill my life with tiny, pretty things that just make me feel good–little vintage owl figurines that I keep on my workspace, pretty papers tacked to my idea board, tiny vases of flowers sitting around here and there, and of course lovely artwork scattered about. And of course reading is a big part of feeding my soul, I love to be surrounded by stacks of books and am always thrilled when I have a new stack of unread books sitting on the end table.