Reading while Painting

I almost never make art in silence.   There is always music playing in the background, unless I stream television and/or read.  Read?  Well, to be exact, I read by listening to audio books.   While I am working on my Chaekgeori-inspired series and painting books — listening to audio books seems appropriate.

I am not sure the books I listen to influence the actual works of art.  But something does happen after spending hours working on a painting and listening to a book at the same time.   There is some art I have done that, for me, will always have an association with what I was listening to at the time.

This latest painting of another artist’s shelves and workspace will forever be linked with Paul Binding’s The Stranger from the Sea.  There is nothing like getting lost in an engaging tale while absorbed in the minute details of pens, pencils and paint brushes.  

Who needs souvenirs when you can buy art supplies?

When I travel I always have an eye for some inspiration and often find art supplies on the road.  Oh sure, I could go to an art supply store anywhere, that isn’t quite what I mean. I’ve been picking up things down in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  After a trip to the arts and crafts aisle of Woolworths, I now the word in Spanish for googly eyes — ojos móviles.  The 25 Pesos store had Loteria de Los Estados – Mexican geography-themed loteria cards. Had to have them.  And I could not resist these sheets of neoprene at a fabric store, the plain ones were 2 pesos each, the glamoury glitter ones were 5 pesos a piece.  And shopping at the fabric store was amusingly bureaucratic, three separate counters to make a purchase.  Now, what am I going to do with all these supplies?  Hmmm….