What is an artist’s muse?

Looking at Art:

In mythology, a muse is a goddess. You may think of the artist’s muse as a person, perhaps a lover, but the word also suggests that any source of inspiration can be a muse. Did you ever look at a work of art and wonder how the artist could imagine such a thing? How do ideas come to an artist? There is a bit of mystery to the answer, even at times, to the artists themselves.

Work in the Studio:

There was a time when I would run several miles to stay fit. With the exercise came a feeling of freedom and letting go. At a certain point in the run, ideas would pop into my head and often they would lead to work in the studio. Sources of inspiration can be a surprise, appearing when they are least expected. My grandchildren have been an inspiration and events in my life can spark ideas for the art. One thing is for sure, once the work begins and a painting or sculpture starts to materialize, the piece speaks to me. In other words, the part that I see before me suggests where the work should go from that point. So perhaps the muse is forever present, at the inception of the idea right through the final moments of creation.

Muse on Call, ceramic sculpture, 12” x 4” x 8”

The muse in this little jack in the box is like a circus performer who magically appears. The child’s toy is always enchanting because of the element of surprise. The colorful patina on the surface of the piece is achieved with layers of acrylic paint.