Art Inspiration

As an artist, I am always looking for art inspiration.  When time stands still I know I have found some.   To an outsider, this may appear to be an unproductive period, as I stand in front of a painting staring and taking it all in.  However for me, by digest what is in front of me I find it extremely valuable.  Inspirational art often triggers thoughts that often leads to new works. I hope this collection of art inspiration is also inspiring for you.

Art Inspiration

In my writing, I hope to explain why artists paint, how artists think and work.  At times I may I get overwhelmed and excited thinking about the way they throw the paint around, as I try to convince you of the importance of the artists work.

Stuart Bush Studio Notes, Melissa Corbett, contemporary artist

An interview with Melissa Corbett

Interview with Australian contemporary artist – Melissa Corbett I recently had the pleasure of discussing the inspiration behind the works of fascinating young Australian contemporary artist – living in Spain, Melissa Corbett. Melissa is studying an MA in Arts Practice and Visual Culture at UCLM University in Spain.  Make sure to follow Melissa on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on her latest work at MelissaCorbettArt.com   Stuart Bush – It is definitely about time I got round to interviewing and inviting other artists to participate in my blog. Thank you for being willing to participate. My first question is, as an Australian artist, how did you end… Read More »An interview with Melissa Corbett

marlene dumas paintings, the painter's life, stuart bush

Marlene Dumas: the painter’s life

Marlene Dumas: the painter’s life In 2004, I started to make a visual diary.  It is a great way to tune into what feels important. My visual diary has slowly developed and transformed over many years into a multifaceted body of work.  This body of work, like Marlene Dumas’s work, has recorded many of the moments in life that felt relevant and significant. It helps me understand and consider the things l am doing a bit better.   Writing about Marlene Dumas’s artwork enables me to articulate what l see and then go deeper into what l, myself, want to achieve when l stand in front of the canvas.  Painting… Read More »Marlene Dumas: the painter’s life

©Charline Von Heyl, It's Vot's Behind Me That I Am (Krazy Kat), 2010 all rights remain with the artist

How Charline Von Heyl inspires me

How Charline Von Heyl inspires me The next Picasso or Braque will not invent cubism.  The next Peter Blake or Andy Warhol will not invent pop art.  And the next Jackson Pollock or Willem de Kooning will not create the Abstract Expressionist movement.  If you are copying these guys, you aren’t learning from them.  I realise that of the many successful artists following their path, however, Charline Von Heyl has figured out the real definition of success on the canvas.   Von Heyl understands how highly successful artists through the decades have been volleying the ball between themselves.  In order to create a meaningful and significant occurrence on the surface… Read More »How Charline Von Heyl inspires me

Stuart Bush Studio Notes, contemporary artist blog, Chuck Close, chuck close process, Process painting

Chuck Close’s process

What I learnt about process from Chuck Close To someone who loves art, walking into a gallery and seeing stimulating art is inspiring and uplifting. However, at times, it can be intimidating when you’re trying to emulate success for yourself. When Chuck Close started his career, like a lot of artists he was affected by the best art of the time. De Kooning became a massive influence on Close’s earlier work. De Kooning stirred Close into practising his style and technique.   It all started so well. After several years, Close had De Kooning’s style and technique down to a tee. However, Close struggled when he realised that when people… Read More »Chuck Close’s process

Stuart Bush Studio Blog, Henry Moore, Appreciation of form

Henry Moore’s appreciation of form

Henry Moore’s appreciation of form In my previous blog post, I mentioned Michael Craig-Martin’s interest as a child in the shape and form of American cars. From a very young age, Michael Craig-Martin had the ability to identify every make and model of an American car. I found this profound because as a child I also had this ability, but with British cars in the 80s and 90s.  This foundational understanding and appreciation of form is clearly something that many artists unconsciously encounter from a young age. This week l stumbled on a black and white BBC documentary about Henry Moore (1898 – 1986) and my appreciation of form was enhanced.… Read More »Henry Moore’s appreciation of form

What I learnt from Philip Guston, Stuart Bush Studio Blog

What I learnt from Philip Guston

What I learnt from Philip Guston, Stuart Bush: Studio Notes It is well known that during Philip Guston’s career and throughout his life’s work, he toyed with two opposing forms of art. There was the figurative cartoon style of his earlier work in the 1930s and abstract expressionism in the 1950s. Philip Guston’s career highlights what he believed to be the central concern in the career of an artist. No matter what anyone else says or does, Guston believed that “A painters first duty is to be free.” Free to make their own choice, that is said, “unless you’re the kind of an artist that gnaws on one bone all… Read More »What I learnt from Philip Guston

Stuart Bush Studio Blog, Adrian Ghenie, Nickelodeon, Adrian Ghenie: The fuel of failure

Adrian Ghenie: The fuel of failure

Adrian Ghenie: The fuel of failure It’s no wonder many people see failure as the most painful moment in their lives, school wrongly teaches us we need to do everything we can to avoid failure.  However, Adrian Ghenie makes it a central power source. Having to face humiliation and shame by returning to home to Cluj, Romania, after trying to start a new life in Vienna drove his artistic ambitions.  Returning to live back at his parents home at age 27 in 2005 he had no future to look forward to. However, Ghenie used his difficult set-back as fuel rather than limitation.   The fuel of failure is a common element… Read More »Adrian Ghenie: The fuel of failure

Stuart Bush Studio, Etel Adnan

Etel Adnan, Colour is all a painter needs

Etel Adnan shows colour alone is all that the painter needs Viewing Etel Adnan’s vibrant paintings, it is surprising to discover that when Adnan grew up in Beirut, colour only found its way into her home in the form of decorative rugs.  Adnan’s childhood home had no paintings on the walls and there were no art museums nearby.   Nevertheless, she became interested in making art.  Unfortunately for her and us, Adnan was discouraged by her mother’s nullifying comments about being clumsy. So instead, Adnan found her creative outlet through writing.  In 1977 she won the France-Pays Arabes award for her novel Sitt Marie Rose. Many years later after Adnan moved to America and she… Read More »Etel Adnan, Colour is all a painter needs

Stuart Bush Studio Blog Tal R Red House, What I see in Tal R's paintings

What I see in Tal R’s paintings

What I see in Tal R’s paintings Tal R’s painting practice follows the traditions of oil painting.  The artist walks the streets in Copenhagen near where he lives and works, looking for people, places and objects that appeal to his curiosity.  He looks for the moment that he feels is slipping away and paints its soul in vibrant and colourful paintings that at times float into abstraction.   Tal’s passion and exhilaration for paint clearly materialise throughout his work.  In each painting, he is learning about the endless curiosities with life and paint.  I see the pictures like a window into the inquisitive thoughts that are bouncing around in his head.   When I… Read More »What I see in Tal R’s paintings

The ultimate experience - Crashing Wave, Mary Heilmann, Stuart Bush Studio Blog

The ultimate experience, Mary Heilmann

The ultimate experience – Crashing Wave by Mary Heilmann At the Whitechapel Gallery in 2016, many thoughts rushed through my mind the first time I saw the painting ‘Crashing Wave (2011)’ by Mary Heilmann.  As I looked at the painting it evoked a special moment.  I remember being out on my bodyboard on Manly beach, Australia, at complete peace with my surroundings.  The air was crisp, and the sun was bright as I pitched forward. I kicked with my flippers while paddling hard with my hands as I took off down into a crystal clear barrel wave. I rode the perfect wave, a foaming mass of white water.  The ultimate experience!  … Read More »The ultimate experience, Mary Heilmann