what are my primary sources of inspiration?

This is one of the questions that I am exploring during the artist talk for the private view of 'Landscapes of Identity' on Wednesday 5th June 2024, at Gun Brewery, Gun Hill, Heathfield 17:30 onwards, with the talk at 19:00.

What are my primary sources of inspiration when making work? 
 
To start to unpick this question, I looked back over my work. My aunt, Lita Albuquerque, who is an international renown artist of many years advised me to document my work and thankfully I listened to her. When I started I thought it was a waste of time, mainly because it is not half as much fun as the creativity itself, but I diligently did it and now I am sp grateful. It allows me to contemplate the direction I've been heading in and to assess the implications of current, as well as future work. It is also a great way to stay in touch with what the art-making ultimately means to me.  It is not for public publication, only for my individual use. 

When I look at these documents, I am instantly struck by the difference in my work that was before and after I changed from being only a landscape artist, to not giving myself this as a set boundary.  At the same time I also started learning more about colour, colour mixing and I stuck to the practice of using a limited paint palette.  

This limited palette is:.

French Ultramarine Blue - warm blue
Phthalo Blue - cool blue

Permanent Alizarin Crimson - cool red
Cadmium Red - warm red

Lemon yellow - cool yellow
Cadmium yellow deep - warm yellow

I can proudly say, that I can make most colours with a mix of any of above, including titanium white and Phthalo green.


Inspiration can come from anywhere, different art forms, visiting galleries or museums, reading books or articles about artists, engaging with other artist. At the same time, remembering to expose myself to new ideas because other peoples' creative work can spark motivation, importantly to me is the peer reviews I have with other artists.  
Mainly, I find myself coming back to a very close circle that is my inspiration, it is my family, my experiences and myself.

But I can only do this if I slow down, reflect and trust.

​Slow down - I do not see or hear the inspiration if I am busy or fast

Reflect - I need to constantly pause between responses and actions

Trust - if I don't trust, I don't find the reason to paint