Here are a couple of new drawings I did recently. This drawing of the buttons is an exercise in basic elements of composition. The large button dominates due to its size, but competes with the other button, which has color and is in the foreground. This creates vectors of energy between the two, which are highlighted and diffused by the unravelling thread.

This little drawing led to another drawing using more compositional complexity and a bird’s nest we found in one of our trees this winter.

Bird’s nests seem to be very popular with the handmade movement as exemplified by trends on Etsy. Something else that seems to be popular is embroidered art and vintage buttons, which brings me to the main point behind this post. I will make no secret of it. I’ve found myself looking around Etsy quite a bit since I joined a couple of months ago and I’ve found artists doing inspired things that I never would have thought of myself, but which seem to ring so true in their art.

Now, as an artist, it is so difficult not to be influenced by the art that you love. We are each like the surface of a lake that ripples with every breath of wind. Every cloud, every storm, and every clear day with its unique seasonal light plays on the surface of the water. Critics and cynics might say most art is derivative, but any artist will tell you that creativity requires a little imitation and homage to others.

Here are some of the Etsy artists who’ve been inspiring me lately (click on the pics to go to the Etsy pages):