What Inspires You?

Inspiration comes in many different forms.  As an artist, I know what inspires me.  It's the inspirations of other artists that intrigue me.  Almost every year I attend a benefit for the Assistance League of Cincinnati called Books and Brunch.  Each year they invite several authors, artists, and illustrators to come and talk a bit about their experiences.  For some, their work is a process, for most it's a journey.

The following images are a small representation of what inspires me.  At times, I'm so moved by something that I have to act immediately and head to the studio.  Other times, I tuck the idea, or nugget of inspiration, into my right-sided brain and save it for later.  Although it's much easier to keep track of these via my camera and my computer.


Naturally I am drawn to flowers.  Most of my work includes flowers.  I believe it's the colors and forms that make me want to translate them into watercolor paintings.

Light.....whether it's early morning light or late afternoon sun, the small miracles that occur during this timeframe are amazing.  Most photographers will attest to this.

Sometimes just looking at something from a different angle can be inspiring.

Colors can really get my creative juices flowing.  These VW beetles at a local car show inspired me to paint "Slugbug Green".  Greens and blues are particularly pleasing colors to me.

My love of animals provides me an endless supply of ideas.  I'm also inspired by artists who paint animals by trade.  I particularly enjoy painting horses.



Sometimes it's not the item as much as the shadow that is cast by the item that catches my attention.  I found these oil cans bathed in the morning sun at a local flea market and immediately knew I had to paint them.

Rounding out my list of inspirations are my children, providing me with daily inspiration to not only continue doing what I love, but to hopefully inspire them to be creative as well.

What inspires you?

Wax On....

The image above is about midway through the batik process. 



After applying 5-6 layers of wax along with subsequent washes of color this is what the painting looks like so far.  The final touches of paint were the darkest values in the composition.  I have placed my final layer of wax over the entire piece and will wrinkle the paper slightly....just enough to allow the wax to form cracks, but not enough to cause it to come off.  Next I will coat it with one last dark wash of my choice.  Then it will be time for wax removal with a hot iron and lots of newspaper.

A close up image of the wax and color combinations.



Spring Batik!

I've acquired a new tool in my studio.  It actually serves a dual purpose.  So after I finish using it to apply paraffin to my painting, I can pamper my hands with it as well!

My latest project is watercolor batik.  Something I've been wanting to try for awhile after seeing examples of it in my Watercolor Artist magazine.  Batik is not new to me.  I was first exposed to the craft in my high school Senior Studio class.  Traditionally, batik is a way to decorate cloth and is a centuries old art form.  The process involves applying hot wax onto the cloth and dipping the cloth in dye.  After allowing the cloth to dry, another layer of wax is applied over areas where the color is to be preserved.  Again, the cloth is dipped into yet another dye, allowed to dry, and wax is applied over the areas where color is to be preserved.  After a final dip in dye, the wax is removed by ironing the piece between sheets of newspaper. 

Watercolor batik is basically the same process, however instead of dipping into dye, color is applied using watercolors and a paintbrush onto rice paper.

The image above shows my sketch of tulips on rice paper.  I used a Pigma Micron pen for added interest in the painting.  The reference photo is an image I captured at the Franklin Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.

This final image is my first wash of color after applying the first application of wax which will preserve the whites.  You can't really see where the wax has been applied in this photo.  The tulips that are still white will be painted a light pink today.  Later, I will go in with another application of wax to preserve the areas of color I choose remain.

It's quite a tedious process, but I'm confident my end result will be very rewarding.  In addition, I can give myself a nice paraffin hand treatment!

If you would like to follow along with my batik process, come join me on Facebook.  I will be frequently posting my updates for this piece on my Facebook page at Gretchen Bjornson ART.

It's The Little Things

I recently sold one of my ocean paintings.  Water is not an easy thing to paint and neither is a cloudy sky.  However, after a few failures and some practice I was content with what I had accomplished.  The warmer weather has prompted me to dig into more beach and ocean scenes.  After all, it is a favorite place of mine.  If I had the choice to go anywhere, it would be somewhere warm with salty air and sand.

I had to hand deliver this piece.  Since it wasn't being shipped via snail mail I opted to accessorize the packaging with something to indicate what's inside.  Making my rounds throughout the house I found twine, a sand dollar, some sticks, and moss left over from a school project.  After tying the twine around the package I hot glued the remaining items on top and finished it off with my name in stamps.  I had just as much fun packaging the piece as I did painting it.  I hope the recipient has just as much fun opening it.

"Waiting Patiently"

"Waiting Patiently" watercolor by Gretchen Bjornson

It seems appropriate to post this painting for those of you who follow my blog.  Since my last post was early January, I assume most of you have been 'waiting patiently' for an update from me.  I do apologize for neglecting my blog for such a lengthy period.  It seems to be the case lately with my busy schedule.  I will continue to update my blog and visit all the wonderful blogs I follow as well!

In 2010-2011 flowers were very common in my repertoire.  Late last year was a period of deviation for me as I moved away from the usual and expected florals and widened my painting horizons with some new subject matter.  What a refreshing change of pace!  I've painted VW bugs (cars), abstract trees, vintage dolls, and another one of my favorites.....horses.  It seems horses have been most inspiring lately.  I know I've said it before in a previous post, but painting horses in watercolor reminds me of working with clay as I add layers of color and slowly mold the shape and curves of the animal with my brush.  Not only is color laid down.......I also lift color off to create highlights and reveal the undertones of the painting that were created with an early wash of glowing colors.  The process takes time, but in the end is very rewarding.

I hope you all are surviving the last (hopefully the last) bit of winter.  It's been a mild one here in Ohio, but I'm definitely ready for sunshine and much warmer days.

Busy Morning In The Studio

Why is it when inspiration hits me, it hits me hard!  I suppose part of it is my lack of painting time due to the holidays and kids being home from school.  Now that school is back in session, all those creative juices are over-flowing.  In addition, Pinterest has given me a new found enthusiasm for trying new things.  All those items pinned on my "Art That Inspires Me" board are no good unless I take action, right?  So this morning, I took action.  Naturally, I had to have a neat working space so I pushed aside containers I had emptied earlier in the week.  Then I had to vacuum, because for some odd reason the resident mutt is shedding profusely mid winter.  After that I spritzed my paints with a bit of water and got to business.  These are the results of my morning.....

I found this lovely specimen while cleaning out boxes this week and knew right away I had to paint her.  For a Raggedy Ann, she is VERY raggedy. But still lovable.  I want her weathered and worn look, or as I prefer to say, very well loved look to show through in the painting and I think it will.  She still needs her red striped stockings and shoes as well as eyebrows before I can call her finished. 

As I had stated in my previous post, I'm trying to do more art journaling.  It may seem like a lot of doodling, scribbling, and scratching, but believe me, there is a whole different thought process that goes into this.  I try not to take it too seriously.....I leave that attitude for my watercolors.  Art journaling is my way to let loose, unwind, and just have fun with all kinds of art supplies and newly found tools.  Art journaling is my time to experiment and be as creative as I want to be.