Friday, May 22, 2009

Inspiration Everywhere

Traveling is like a long-running Artist's Date, as described by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. You get to feast your inner artist on beautiful things, coming away refreshed and inspired, full of ideas. This past trip I was less tuned in to my Inner Artist than usual for some reason, but here are several things that struck me.


Rinder by Franz Marc, in the Pinoteca Moderne in Munich. Doesn't this make you think of a quilt? I should even be able to say whose style is is, but I can't; maybe someone else can. Does comparing this painting to a quilt belittle Marc, a painter I like very much? According to the museum information card, he was killed at the battle of Verdun in 1916; what a tragedy.


The palette of neutrals in these paintings by Murillo is stunning!


This is a major department store in Munich. Wonderful patchwork design, isn't it? I like the silhouettes too.


I'm always fascinated by the patterns on inlaid wood floors. This one, in the Prince Archbishops' Residence in Salzburg, is an interesting variation on the six or eight pointed star you often see.


The shapes and colors of these buildings beside the river in Innsbruck make a wonderful silhouette against the mountain. I found a postcard featuring a painting of a similar view, so I'm not the only one who liked it.


Something about the shapes of these arches as they change with the curve of the porch struck me as beautiful, especially with the lines of the palace in the background. (My husband thought I wanted his photo; I didn't disillusion him.)


A little stream is in the English Garden in Munich. I tried using the cut out filter in Photoshop to simplify it, as described in Elizabeth Barton's blog, and that worked really well. It would be fun to do something from this photograph someday.


But first I have to finish the Hoffman Challenge!

7 comments:

dee said...

Thank you so much for this travelog. I can't tell ou how much I enjoy seeing these wonderful pictures of Germany.
I'm so glad you had a great time-couldn't imagine that you wouldn't. Danke

Debra Dixon said...

Great photos! Did you notice the "5 bars" in the right hand corner of the 3rd picture? *wink*

Aw yes, I need to buckle down with my Hoffman soon too or just forget it!

Deb Geyer said...

Very nice Kay!! I see quilts everywhere too! Looks like you had a wonderful trip.

Barbara C said...

I also find architecture very inspiring. Thanks for the great tour of the highlights of your trip.

Candace said...

Fantastic trip, Kay! Looks like the weather cooperated as well. Like you, I always see quilt ideas in art and architechture - Europe is an incredible place for that. I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves and I look forward to whatever might come of this inspiration in your quilt art!
Cheers!

Libby Fife said...

What a treat to see those photos. Thanks again and definetly ideas enough for quilts.

PS-my word verification is "gernym"

*karendianne. said...

I've returned again and again in hopes I could find the right words to express something worthy of these photos. I thought I might find a favorite but each one carries with it it's own movement and stillness simultaneously.

I can easily agree that this is the ultimate ultimate Artist's Date and I imagine your spirit is infused with a new energy. My, what we all wouldn't give for that!