For any artist there is a constant need to create and push boundaries beyond those you have already established, to try new things, and new styles of art. I find now that I am creating more "production" art and I fall into the trap of focusing on what might sell and less on pushing my boundaries and finding new inspiration. I recognize that this can lead to burnout and stale art so these past few months I have been focusing on looking for inspiration in new places, creating new products and trying out new designs.
One place artists can find inspiration is other artists. I recently read all about Dog Mountain and Stephen Huneck. I feel like its a crime I grew up about an hour away from Dog Mountain and never knew about it! Stephen Huneck was an amazing artist who loved dogs, he tragically passed away a few years ago but Dog Mountain is still open to the public. If you don't know what it is read about it and I promise as a dog lover you will want to visit. I was very inspired by the simple clean lines of his woodcuts. I decided to incorporate that idea of simplicity and combine it with my style for my memorial stones. Next time I am home visiting Vermont I hope to make a trip to dog mountain and hang a picture of my dear Sookie in the Chapel and experience Stephen's art first hand. Perhaps I can find even more inspiration while I am there!