Simon Schama’s The Power of Art

If you  haven’t yet heard of or watched The Power of Art stop what you are doing right now and find a copy. Stat.

After each and every episode I felt empowered to change the world with my art. The presentation is inspiring and educational. I learned new perspectives on artists I thought I understood. Watching these documentary shorts is completely and totally worthwhile. Yes, it is very Western in scope as well as very male but Schama selects key artworks and characterizes these pivotal artists in such a way that you feel like you are sitting next to them in their studio. I would I could show every episode to my students but it is definitely for mature audiences, with nudity and profanity thrown in the mix. I will say, however, I don’t find either to be gratuitous, rather each are pertinent to the respective artists we follow on their journey.

Great quote from Rothko in film: “When I was a younger man, art was a lonely thing. No galleries, no collectors, no critics, no money. Yet, it was a golden age, for we all had nothing to lose and a vision to gain. Today it is not quite the same. It is a time of tons of verbiage, activity, consumption. Which condition is better for the world at large I shall not venture to discuss. But I do know, that many of those who are driven to this life are desperately searching for those pockets of silence where we can root and grow. We must all hope we find them.”

Royalty Free Imagery Books

Other new purchases are 3 books on Arabic and Islamic geometric designs. Some of the books even includes CDs of the images for easy printing, as they are all royalty free images for artists to utilize in their work. I can’t wait to create some paintings that play with these designs! Its about time I pay some homage to the city I live in, I just wish I had a projector so I wouldn’t be doing it all longhand!

BE COURAGEOUSLY CREATIVE: What are your recent sources of inspiration? Do share!