Ever have one of those days, staring at your blank sketch pad or canvas, waiting for inspiration to hit? For me, sometimes those creative juices just aren’t flowing. They say it happens to everyone, and it honestly really does! It’s okay, you can admit it, sometimes it’s just not a good art day.

But today I’ve taken it upon myself to help make you have a good Monday. Whatever is bothering you, whatever creative blockage you may be having, just let it go! Know that you are amazing and creative and successful!

Right now I’m pretty pumped because it was a good ceramics day. My first project of the semester is finally completed! It was inspired from Earlham College’s Call For Entry for an upcoming exhibit; Swords into Plowshares: Art Transforming Violence. This exhibit is based on Isiah 2:4 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. First, how awesome and powerful is that?! Second, how could I possibly do the verse justice with clay?  

My original idea was to hand-build a sword and cover it in flowers. However, my ideas evolved overtime and I ended up building a coffin to lay my sword in, then covered it with flowers. I was inspired by Ai Wei Wei’s work Blossom through his exhibition @Large: Ai Wei Wei on Alcatraz. I visited the exhibit over Christmas break and fell in love with the whole exhibition. However, Blossom (shown below) captured my heart with its quiet, delicate flowers.  

So what inspires you? A current art exhibit? Reading a book or exploring in nature? I’d love to hear from you. And, if you are needing some motivation, I recommend checking out Ai Wei Wei’s exhibition.

Happy Monday! Now go out and conquer the art world!