My List of Inspirations

1. Bright, Vivid colors

2. Songs that get me into a certain mood - Classical, Jazz, Oldies and some newer stuff

3. Victorian things

4. Audrey Hepburn or Vivien Leigh photos

5. Dramatic Clouds

6. The hour of midnight

7. A feel good movie (classics always get me in the mood to be creative for some reason, lol)
8. Art Galleries
9. Museums
10. Documentaries on the creative process
11. Looking through old photos
12. Looking at my past art work
13. Hearing others ideas
14. Reading about Love Stories
15. Certain times of day, esp. early morning I love and late and night (wish I could have the best of both worlds)
16. Certain good memories and good times
17. Outdoors, esp. at my Grandma's property and being at her house.
18. Antique shows
19. My niece
20. Visiting new places

The Inspiration That Makes or Breaks An Artist

Inspiration is such a fleeting moment. You can have it one moment, and yet it can be entirely gone by the time you're ready to plop yourself down and actually accomplish that wonderful idea you had. Why does this happen and why does inspiration become such a driving force behind any art, whether it be music, drawing, writing, etc?

I think what it is, is that to be in the arts, you truly need a certain amount of "mental" space to actually churn out this thing we call inspiration. John Denver is a wonderful example of inspiration motivating most of his work.

When he went to Colorado or West Virginia, his inspiration ran high. I think what causes certain inspirations are when we're in our most pensive state. It's hard to become inspired when you're constantly on the go, without really setting aside "real" time to inspire yourself to do something out of the ordinary.

I know my inspiration levels have dropped so low because my mind has become so crowded with so many things. If I only had just a few weeks of no work, no money woes and no health woes, I think my inspiration would be at an all time high and I'd accomplish SO much! Now, just thinking of pulling out my oil paints begins to feel like pure drudgery for me and all I want to do when I get home is eat and sleep or go on the computer.

Ahh, yes, the computer - my little half devil, half angel. I mean this because the computer can make one accomplish many, many things - paying bills, writing friends and keeping in touch at lightening speed, making new connections and being able to find anything and everything I ever wanted to know about anything ever before. Yet, before I had a computer, my life just seemed a little less complicated. I would write people letters by hand, I'd personalize them and make them special. I'd make more art and use my creativity. I'd challenge my brain to draw and paint, rather than use a mouse to do such a thing. My inspiration, again, was at an all time high. Yet, I didn't have a job, I was homeschooled and I had hours upon hours to pretty much daydream my life away. I'd write stories or think up new ones. It was all a fantasy world I was living in, but it was fun and creative and my mind seemed so free and full of so much potential. I had so many less worries.

Yes, inspiration is hard to come by when money is a driving force. Yet, I am determined to continue on working on my inspiration and to not let it go. From now on, I will follow through. It's like exercising for the brain. You need it to keep you going and to live. If not, our brain will lose any remnance of that child we once were inside at one point in time. We need it to thrive and to grow. It's important.

Just as important as a running stream or the rustling winds. It's relaxing. Inspiration moves us in directions we never thought we'd go.

Let's keep it going.

Color Photography Before It Was Mainstream

(Photo taken in 1877)

I find it really interesting to find photos taken prior to 1950 that were in pure color, as they just weren't very common, especially for middle class Americans or even upper middle class Americans, at that. It was still quite a novelty and not very cheap.

Here are a few amazing pictures prior to what became Kodachrome:

The first known color photograph from (gasp!) 1861. It shows ribbon from a tartan.

The following pictures were taken by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky from the early 1900s.

When Kodak came around, they began to make a mainstream 35mm and Slide film called Kodachrome, which became popular amongst amateaurs and professionals alike. It was still pricey for the time, but for those who got to use it saw color in a whole new way. It was as if Technicolor had reached inside their camera and taken it over. Please see some beautiful images using Kodachrome film from the 1930s to 1940s:

Well, lets just say color photography has not been the same since.

These timeless early color images will tell a story for generations to come.

"Kodachrome" by Paul Simon (1973)

They give us those nice bright colors

They give us the greens of summers

Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah

I got a Nikon camera

I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

---------------------------------

Sadly, due to the lack of interest by most of today's digital camera consumers,
Kodak discontinued Kodachrome film in 2009.

What style of Photography Do I Identify With?

My leanings with photography are just as varied as they are with different artistic styles, as well. I love so many different eras throughout art history, that it's difficult to pinpoint my exact favorite. Yet, learning and defining my style has been difficult over the years. I know I have a "look" to how I photograph things, but I couldn't quite find another photographer who leaned towards that look that I was also trying to achieve. Then, one night, my teacher introduced me to a photographer named W. Eugene Smith. A very tormented, even a little crazy at times, photographer, in search of "truth." His photos immediately spoke to me. His torment to get the best picture in the most authentic way also spoke to me.

His images reminded me a bit of how one of my favorite artists, Edward Hopper, painted his images of very American scenes that were just ordinary scenes of daily life.

Here's a sampling of Hopper's work:

Here's a sampling of W. Eugene Smith's work:

If you'd like to learn more about these two great artists, please check them out on the web or in books. They are definitely an inspiration.

Recent Photography

Renaissance Lady

IMG_9814
Originally uploaded by Kristen Loftin

Girl chasing Balloon

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Originally uploaded by Kristen Loftin

Woodblock Print

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Originally uploaded by Kristen Loftin

2nd View

Drawings in Pen & Ink

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Originally uploaded by Kristen Loftin

In my drawing course this semester, we are drawing in pen & ink. For fun, I found these adorable woodblock prints that seemed to use lines in a very similar way that drawing in ink allows. These woodblock prints are from the late 1910's, early 1920's - so this is why the children have these bobbed hairstyles. I will try to draw more.

I also attempted to draw a more renaissance style portrait, but my hand was growing tired, so I lost a little enthusiasm for this one, and may have to add more ink to it later. Ink can be painful because there is no erasing. Once you've made your mark, it's there for good! This is both a challenge and a thrill at the same time. It can test your patience as an artist. I feel like, despite how difficult it can be, ink is by far one of the most enticing styles for artists to continue in. It's a good mastering of your skills and keeping yourself in line (no pun intended.)

See additional images above (I am using Flickr.com to post from and use my photos, so this is a new process for me and am still not sure if I like this style. May try it differently in the future.)

Old Sketchbook

I ran across a sketchbook I used to keep at the Newspaper when times would get slow; I could then draw in it. Doesn't sound productive for my employer, but Newspaper call centers are obviously hurting for business lately, lol.

Some of the earlier drawings were from way before I started working there, sometime near 2001.

Please enjoy!

San Francisco - A little Piece of My Heart

What can I say about San Francisco - The sourdough smell you get in the foggy air? The strains of the Golden Gate bridge while crossing that other great structure, the Bay Bridge (which is actually older than the Golden Gate)? The diversity of the people, food and culture?

Well, I've been lucky to live very close to San Francisco my whole life. I never went to the city too often when real young. Only the big adults would be able to go, and it usually was for legal stuff. Not until I was about 10 years old did my class go on a field trip to Pier 39 to take a fleet that went under the Golden Gate and passed Alcatraz (the Rock.) I LOVED this place. I couldn't wait to return again someday soon. My visits would be sporadic after that, but the more I got to go, the better each visit became. Trips to the Cow Palace for antique shows. Visting the Butterfield & Butterfield antique warehouse. Having dinners at sunset over Ocean Beach at the Beach Chalet. Looking at the Camera Obscura at Cliff House. Looking over the remains of the Sutro baths. Visiting the SOMA, Palace of Fine Arts and Legion of Honor.

Eventually, my brother met a girl who lived in the city. They married and lived off of Vallejo street (near Coit Tower) for about a year and a half. I visited a few times and got to familiarize myself with that area. I took pictures and saw a picture last night that inspired me to paint/draw it with pastels.

Here is the result:

It's not my absolute best. But, it's a start for what I call a long time since I've drawn perspective. This scene would capture where the Montgomery Steps are.

I might start a San Francisco series of paintings/drawings to inspire me to do more. I have tons of pictures of San Francisco I've taken which I can draw from.

Let's see how my progress works out :0)