Living Into Art Every Day & Consciously Supporting the Community That Grew with You

This Art Every Day Check in post has three distinctive parts. If you solely want to see the visual art imagery, the photos/editing of the hotel room will be for you to see. To understand my entire creative process, you may want to read along in my commentary and narrative. Either way delights me.

Once again, I didn't have the intention to take this particular photo and have it be the focus for today's creative endeavors. I had a crazy busy day and snapped a shot and it started haunting me as images have been known to do.

I took a photo early yesterday morning and it has continued to inspire. First, it helped me to write a first draft of a poem. (To read that poem, click on this link.) I have also edited it in several different ways.

Side by side of the original (on the left) and my first edited photo. I couldn't tell on my phone how effective the first, unedited photo was....

I was reminded of Edward Hopper's lonely hotel room paintings. Interesting to me is that one word which has been hovering about my subconscious lately is "subtraction" and Hopper's paintings feature... people being lonely. My hotel image shows the absence of people OR the absence of people in the image (knowing the artist is the only person present.)

One of the Hopper paintings - Pensive lady in Pink - Sometimes when art begets art, our conscious mind doesn't realize it. That and there is universality at work, too.

I used the Paper Artist editing app for this one which I like a lot, too.

One of the most important activities for me as an artist is actively supporting other artists. Yesterday I went to an art show of a pair of artists I who I have bene loved and inspired by for a long, long time.

It is important for me to consciously support members of the community that grew alongside me, those people whose work impacted mine and vice versa.

Jen Raven returns tothe Empty Space in the Gallery where (burn the witch) - an all women's art show extravaganza - forged our friendship.

Jen Raven, the woman half of the duo, is one of the original (burn the witch) artists who pushed (cajoled?) me into furthering myself as a visual artist. I would not be where I am today with any of my visual art if it wasn't for her encouragement.

Reviewing these photos Todd took of me, I am reminded how much I want to work with him again.

Todd Powers, the man half of the duo, taught me to be comfortable in front of the camera. He helped show me "I am who I am is just right."

From 2009 - Jen and I with Matt Munoz, who is now with the Bakersfield Museum of Art

I could choose, as a human being, to neglect supporting their continued evolution as artists, but I as an artist and a member of this community would feel remiss to do so.

What's up with your creativity?

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This post is inspired by (and a reflection of my participation in) Art Every Day Month, a creative adventure hosted annually by the incredible Leah Piken Kolidas. Join us and be inspired!

Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming Fall and Winter, 2014 and beyond.

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