Ever since I was a very young child, I have taken an invested interest in art, and have been producing my own since the day I could first pick up a pencil. Fortunately, my degree allowed me to take a number of art-centric classes in college, from art history and issues of contemporary art to advanced painting. But as I neared the end of my coursework, I veered away from the realism I once preferred in favor of abstract expressionism, an artistic discipline that remains one of my favorites to this day.
Years later, I feel just as fortunate to be immersed in Atlanta’s fantastic art scene and to be inspired daily by the works contained in our local galleries. Creating art is just a hobby for me, but it has allowed me to truly appreciate the talents of those that far exceed mine. Until my budget allows, I will continue making my own artwork or sourcing it second-hand from antique stores, but I eagerly await the day when I can purchase large-scale pieces by the artists I so admire.
So naturally, when I was creating an original art piece for my bedroom, I was very much inspired by many local artists’ works, even just peripherally. (Probably the most valuable lesson my painting professor taught me was to be mindful of my influencers, because even subconscious inspiration from great artists is an inevitable and wonderful part of the creative process.)
Take the colorful abstract expressionistic paintings of Sally King Benedict, who is based in Charleston but represented locally at Gregg Irby Fine Art. I might describe them best as "stunning," and "gorgeous," but as pretty as they are, they're also perfectly in step with modern aesthetics, making them well-suited to a range of interiors. The fact that this young artist also graduated with me at College of Charleston just makes me doubly supportive of her work. I took the above photo at an art show for her work as well as others represented at the gallery.
Delightedly, I discovered the next artist on my list, Tina Steele Lindsey, via her comments on this very blog! Her acrylics-on-canvas, especially, are vivid, intricate and pleasing to the eye, but the examples shown here are only two of many that have recently captured me.
Lindsey works mostly on commission and specializes in media such as acrylic, oil and charcoal. Even her wedding portraits are imbued with energy and seem to tell very interesting stories. Lindsey posts her works—and the stories behind their making—on her blog, tinasteelelindseyart.blogspot.com, which is without a doubt one of my favorite new places on the net. She produces pieces on commission and also shows at Gallery 4463 in Acworth, Georgia.
Perhaps one of my favorite rooms we've ever published—the living room of interior designer Courtney Giles—features a large abstract canvas by Will Cay, represented through Carter Kay Interiors—which unequivocally demonstrates how art can make a room.
The works of Lorraine Christie, a world-renowned artist who's known for creating romantic street scenes of lovers and friends meeting, most often in the rain, are both beautiful and moving. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and now residing in Roswell, Georgia, Christie's work has soared in popularity in Atlanta thanks to local representation at Huff Harrington Fine Art. More Impressionistic than abstract, I love the linear qualities of the figures in these urban scenes and how well reflections are rendered in luminous oil pigments.
At last, my handiwork in oils below:
As you can see, I broke the cardinal rule of photography by capturing this image at night in incandescent light, but I intend to snap another shot in the daylight soon!
What artists inspire your own creative pursuits? Let us know in the blog comments below!
