The Power of Colour: Exploring its Influence on Art and Psychology

Vincent Van Gogh 'Sunflowers' c.1888

As you may have noticed from my previous posts and paintings, nature, especially flowers, is an ongoing theme in my creative work.  I love the rich source of metaphors and storytelling it offers, adding further dimension to my practice.  It also lends opportunity to study colour, and its impact on psychology, emotions, and artistic expression and that’s what we’re going to look at in this post.

Despite the dreich (dreary or bleak) tendencies of our wonderful Scottish weather, I still walk on most days.  Sadly, the warm autumn colours are past and wet leaves litter the ground, but there are still pops of colour that grab my attention. Against the winter’s muted tones, those small colourful bursts draw the eye, a timeless technique artists have been using for centuries.

I’d like to share with you how colour can affect our psychology, how we can use it to our advantage and expose some artists’ tricks in using colour to draw us in and make us feel a certain way.  And, of course, a bit of science to make it all more believable or not 😉.

Cracking the Chromatic Code: A Historical Perspective

Colour psychology is the study of how colours can influence human behaviour, emotions, and perceptions. It aims to understand how colour affects our moods and decision-making.  When it comes to business, research shows that the proper use of colour increases brand recognition by 80% and 85% of consumers buy because of colour .

The formal study of colour psychology is relatively new, starting in the twentieth century, however, the belief in the power of colour dates back to ancient times as cultures around the world recognised the impact of colour on well-being.  

A True Story

The Egyptian God Thoth, born from the lips of Ra at the beginning of creation, was the founder of colour therapy.  This form of therapy was connected to the Egyptians' worship of the sun, and they believed that harnessing the sun's rays through coloured crystals had healing effects on the body.  They took this knowledge further by building temples dedicated to healing through light.  These temples featured different rooms, painted in specific colours that related to their healing properties. 

Avicenna, a Persian polymath, born in 980 AD, is credited with advancing colour's role in diagnosing and treating diseases, expressing the view that ‘Colour is an observable symptom of disease.’  He observed that a person with a nosebleed should not gaze at things of brilliant red and should not be exposed to red light because this would stimulate the sanguineous humour, whereas blue would soothe it and reduce blood flow.

In 1810, German poet and artist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published one of the earliest works on colour psychology, in his book ‘Theory of Colours.’  Here, he explored how colours could induce specific emotions. Despite initial scientific rejection, some of Goethe's insights, particularly regarding the impact of colours on mood, have been validated by modern research.

Kurt Goldstein, an influential German neuropsychologist, expanded on Goethe's ideas, conducting experiments in 1942 that suggested certain colours could affect motor function. Though Goldstein's specific colour hypotheses faced challenges, his work significantly contributed to the foundation of modern colour psychology, popularising the concept that colours can stimulate physiological responses, a theme still studied today.

Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875-1961) expressed, ‘colours are the mother tongue of the subconscious.’  His studies in the field led him to develop art therapy, emphasising the use of images and colours as a means for patients to express themselves and recover from trauma or distress.  That must be why I am so sorted.  Jung also connected cultural perceptions with the idea that there is a universal, bodily response to colour stimulus, contributing to our understanding of the psychological impact of colour.

Modern Colour Psychology

Modern colour psychology research looks at how colours impact our bodies, influence our emotional and behavioural responses and our favourite colour choices.

1. Bodily Reactions to Colour Exposure

To understand our bodily reactions to colour exposure, researchers measure indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, and brain activity. Red emerges as a stimulant, while blue offers a serene respite. Warm tones ignite excitement, while cool tones offer calmness.

2. Colour and Emotions

To measure the emotional effects of colour, researchers use psychological tests such as semantic differential scales.  This is a scale like a customer satisfaction questionnaire, 7 means fantastic and, 0 means bloody awful.  Instead of numbers, emotional words like Happy = 7 and Sad = 0 are used.  Participants are asked to choose where a colour belongs on the scale.  However, doesn’t our mood of the day or time of enquiry dramatically influence how we answer?

3. Colour Preferences

In the area of preferences, studies often involve asking people to rank a series of colours.  Blue consistently takes the lead as the crowd-pleaser, closely followed by red or green. We lean towards bright, vivid colours, with darker shades such as brown, black, and murky greens receiving a cold reception.  

4. Seeing Red - Colour and Behaviour

In behaviour tests, researchers stage scenarios.  In a study published in the ‘Journal of Experimental Psychology,’ researchers found that red negatively affected performance on a test. When participants were given a red participant number (rather than green or black), they scored 20% lower than their peers. 

What Are You In The Mood For? Feeling Blue? In the Pink?

As mentioned above, colour can have an impact on how we feel.  Research suggests the following, but feel free to make up some of your own because we also make colour associations based on our experiences:

• Yellow: Cheerful and optimistic, happiness and smileys 😄. It can bring a sense of positivity and optimism.

• Orange: Happiness, enthusiasm, warmth, energy.

• Red: Bold and passionate, love, anger, and energy. It can symbolise warmth and intensity.

• Purple: Regal and mysterious, often associated with luxury, royalty and spirituality. It can convey a sense of elegance and creativity.

• Blue: Calming and serene, often associated with tranquillity, depth, and introspection.  Also, sadness and loneliness.

• Green: Nature and growth, balance, harmony, and renewal.  It can promote feelings of freshness (think menthol) and calm. 

• White: Purity, innocence, cleanliness, coolness.

• Black: Strength, elegance, mystery, darkness, fear, death.

How Artist’s Use Colour to Grab Attention

The colour we tend to notice first is yellow. This is because yellow is at the centre of the visible spectrum of light, and our eyes are most sensitive to wavelengths around 555 nanometers, which corresponds to yellow-green light.

While I imagine Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890) was unaware of this phenomenon, he painted five large canvases of sunflowers in a vase using three shades of yellow and nothing else.  The paintings were created in Arles in the south of France from 1888 - 89.  He proved that he could create a series of beautiful and impactful paintings of the same subject using the same limited palette, while maintain expression and intensity.  The paintings held a special significance for Vincent; they symbolised ‘gratitude,’ he wrote.

Art Bite: Vincent painted a variety of flower still lifes, like many other artists of the time.  However, he then chose to take a different approach and chose a specific variety, the sunflower.  Sunflowers were considered unsophisticated by his peers but Vincent enjoyed their rawness and also liked to paint them when they had gone to seed.  After he died, friends brought sunflowers to his funeral, and the sunflower became associated with Vincent, just as he had hoped.

The Red Trick

Even though we notice yellow first, red is often the money shot.  This is because it creates the strongest contrast against many other colours and artists use this to draw attention to specific elements of a painting or to guide our eye around the composition in the way they intend.  Our eyes are drawn to contrast.  For example, while walking this morning, I was quickly pulled out of my reverie by the site of red berries.  They were in contrast with the green leaves of the foliage and the muted tones of the surrounding trees and shrubs.  It felt uplifting, a pop of colour along the damp, dark path.

Do you remember this?  What do you feel when you look at this image?

Scene From The Movie 'Schindler's List' (1993)

French artist, Jean-Baptise-Camille Corot (1796-1875) was rather opposed to colour, instead focusing on the harmony of tones and a muted palette.  However, in most of his landscapes, there is a small spark of red or scattered dots of intense colour to enliven the painting and enhance the grey tones, see the image below.  Can you spot the red?

Fisherman Moored at a Bank, c.1870, oil on canvas 

Conclusion

As we wrap up this exploration into the world of colour, we've journeyed through ancient practices and modern theories, but is there really a conclusion about colour’s influence on our psychology?  How much of it is subjective?  I would suggest a great deal.  

Artists, do indeed use colour to create impact, mood and so on but, at the end of the day, it is you, the audience who decide what it means to you and how it makes you feel.  When you next look at an image, focus on the colour palette and ask yourself, ‘what am I feeling right now?’  You can try this on a different day, when you are in a different mood and see how your feelings compare.  Subject matter can also play a significant role so, for this experiment, I suggest selecting an image that is innocuous and isn’t going to trigger a barrage of emotions and memories; perhaps a flower painting 😉

Speaking of, I’m working on abstract flower paintings right now. Abstraction doesn’t come naturally to me at all so it’s a learning process, longer than I’d like.  You can have a peak here.

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Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity and storytelling.

What's On The Easel?

Flowers, flowers, flowers. I'm experimenting with different styles and media with the aim of moving towards a semi-abstract approach. It's best to understand the subject matter before attempting abstraction, and this can be done by painting realistically first. Below are a few examples.

Flowers in Watercolour

Watercolour can be very loose and have an abstract quality to it. It kind of has a mind of its own if you let it. It was a good place to start.

All That You Desire, mixed media on canvas board

I was going for a street-art vibe with this one, a bit grungy, using a blend of painting and illustration techniques.  I like how it turned out 😊.

Master Study of 'Flowers in a Vase' c. 1866 by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. 

A master study is always helpful, especially when you're stuck and not sure what to paint next. I love this painting by Renoir, and it offered quite a challenge. Although this painting is realistic, I had to move beyond that idea as attempting to paint so many individual flowers would be overwhelming. Instead, I had to think of it as abstract shapes and masses to be able to pull this off and not end up with something tight and overworked. I painted this in acrylic just to torture myself a little further - I find oils so much easier.

Lillies and Peonies, oil and acrylic

For this piece, I used acrylics for the underpainting, which dry really quickly. I then moved to oils so I could achieve greater variation in the colours and values. Oils also allow me to blur and soften some edges, which helps the eye to focus in and out of different aspects of the painting.

Thanks for reading this post and for following my abstract journey.

As always, have a wonderful weekend.

Janee x

For more art, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology, and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity, and storytelling.

Flowers and Flirtations: Nature as Inspiration

Sweet Dreams | Jane E Porter

I've always had a deep love for nature, and it's been an ongoing source of inspiration. But, after a quiet dalliance with landscape painting, I quickly realised it wasn’t my forte. However, the natural world offers a rich source of symbols and metaphors, which provide a plethora of opportunities to add them as storytelling elements.

One of the most poignant metaphors I find in nature is the cycle of impermanence. Just as flowers bloom and wither, everything in life has its season. Deepak Chopra once referred to being, ‘in the Autumn’ of his life which I found very meaningful and endearing.

Just like the natural world, life is filled with periods of growth and dormancy, light and darkness. In the bitter chill of winter, nature rests, conserving energy for the rebirth of spring. She reminds us that no matter how dark or challenging life can become, there is the possibility to start over, to bloom again.

And nature is everywhere. As humans, we are inextricably linked to her, as we depend on plants, animals and microorganisms. As artists (and humans 😉) she generously offers an endless source of material to study, paint and write about. The flower doesn’t mind if I photograph her or capture her best side unlike painting a portrait where the stakes can be very high.

My latest painting 'Sweet Dreams' led me to research the symbolism associated with the flower and come up with the title. Symbolism can be subjective; attaching your meaning is as important as the artist’s intention. Below are a variety of interpretations of poppies I think you’ll find interesting:

Poppies: Facts, Fiction and Symbolism

Papaver somniferum L., commonly known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, is a medicinal plant known to the human race since ancient civilizations. Inside the seed pod is an opaque, milky sap. This is opium in its crudest form. Opium is a powerful narcotic whose derivatives include morphine, codeine, heroin, and oxycodone. ‘Narcotic’ refers to opium, opium derivatives, and their semi-synthetic substitutes, used therapeutically to treat pain, suppress cough and induce anaesthesia. They are some of the most addictive substances known to man.

Sleep

In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead and used as emblems on tombstones. They symbolised eternal sleep because of the sedative qualities of opium.

Hypnos, the god of sleep, often holds a poppy or places poppy flowers on someone’s head to help them sleep. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, also used poppies to help people sleep and find rest from their troubles.

In The Wizard of Oz, poppies had a memorable story element:

‘And now my beauties, something with poison in it I think, with poison in it, but attractive to the eye and soothing to the smell . . . poppies, poppies, poppies will put them to sleep.’ The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz (movie, released 1939).

‘Now it is well known that when there are many of these flowers together their odour is so powerful that anyone who breathes it falls asleep, and if the sleeper is not carried away from the scent of the flowers, he sleeps on and on forever...’ Excerpt from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (book, published 1900)

Sleep and Dreams

Morpheus, meaning transformation, was the son of Hypnos and the god of dreams. His attributes included a horn of sleep-inducing opium. Morphine, an opium derivative, gets its name from Morpheus.

The Greek gods often chose him as their messenger to appear in the dreams of mortals. Dreams could liberate the desires, hopes, and imaginations of the sleeper and, upon waking, would motivate them toward action. However, some dreams could portray false realities, manipulating the receiver into untoward action.

Remembrance

The most common association with poppies today is remembrance, particularly for those who have died in war. This association is linked to historical events where scarlet corn poppies grew in soil disturbed by war. Poppies grew in fields across Europe during World War I, despite the destruction and death caused by the war.

Hope

Poppies are a metaphor for hope of a peaceful future. They thrive even in the poorest soil, rest during the winter and bloom again in the spring, the season of rebirth.

Resurrection

In Christianity, poppies symbolise the blood of Christ, his resurrection and his ascension. Poppies often grow where the earth has been disturbed and are connected to new life emerging from death or destruction. The Bible refers to the ‘flower of the field’, which could refer to any flower however poppies became part of Christian belief in popular culture and art.

Magic and Witchcraft

This is a true story! Poppies were used in spells and charms to create mental confusion and prevent rational thinking. The seeds are connected to the astrological sign of Gemini, the planets, Neptune and the moon, Ajna, also known as the third-eye chakra, associated with intuition, insight, spiritual awareness and feminine energy.

Thanks for reading until the end. I got quite lost in the symbolism research but learned a lot, pretty good for a late Friday afternoon.

Did you find the symbolism behind poppies intriguing? Do you have any thoughts or experiences of symbols and metaphors in art or other media you’d like to share? Please leave a comment below and keep the conversation going!

As always, have a wonderful weekend.

Janee x

Be The First to Know

To discover new works, insights from art history and the power of storytelling, Click here

For more art, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity and storytelling.

Resources

The Wizard of Oz

Greek Gods

Transforming Opium Poppies

Poppy Flower Meaning

Art and Alchemy: From Disenchantment to Empowerment

Renegade Rose 2023 | Jane E Porter

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”  Brené Brown

So, here goes 😬 …

Ever since I was a child, I have been both fascinated and terrified by the absolute absurdity of human beings. What started out as hope, almost unwittingly transmogrified into a cacophony of disenchantment.; Only a resonance of how I believed life was meant to be remained and the dawn of a new reality emerged.

The departure of love is not as painful as one might think, as it quickly becomes the status quo, the new you.  Adorning the robes of the rejected adds weight to the creative endeavour, giving licence to do, whatever the hell you like.   

Yet the unrelenting pull towards a warmer life, unconscious though it may have been, left an aching emptiness that no amount of creative output could soothe.  Slipping into the abyss, I can only describe as the most horrendous, and later transformative time of my life.

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”  Brené Brown

There was a certain fear of relinquishing the dark matter – who will I be, will I have any substance?  Will I be left with the remnants of a limited capacity to only produce pastiche?  Isn’t misery the essence of great art?  It may or may not be, but eventually, misery leads to death, either in physical form or in spirit.  

The depth of my experiences, from childhood to each new moment, dark and light, still seep into my work without invitation. I could, of course, suppress them, but I’ve found that truth finds its way out through a myriad of media. And isn’t that what real art is about, expressing what can’t be said in words, however light, dark or inappropriate?   

I believe we all share the desire for innate expression, connecting me to you and you to me.  Our stories may be a perception or constructed reality, but they still live intently within us longing for a means of message.  

My story is your story, my medium is art. 

If you found this article helpful or you can relate, I'd love to hear from you.  Please leave a comment below or reach out to me by following this link.

Image: Renegade represents a rebellious spirit, strong and resilient. The flowers symbolise femininity, passion and growth.

Be The First to Know

To discover new works, insights from art history and the power of storytelling, Click here

For more art, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity and storytelling.

Fifi Trixabelle: How to Capture Expression and Personality in a Portrait

Fifi Trixabel aka Mimi | portrait commission | Jane E Porter 2023

I’d like to share one of my favourite portrait paintings, Fifi Trixabelle. It’s a commissioned piece of Mimi, the daughter of one of my closest friends, Daisy Jo Bear. The story begins with Daisy Jo announcing, ‘By the way, I don’t really like portraits…’

Well, that was a kicker 🤪! How was I going to paint a portrait she’d love when she doesn’t like portraits? However, I love problem-solving; it’s like a drug to me, so I was up for the challenge.

Luckily, I was given carte blanche when it came to choosing the reference photo so I opted for the one that was the most ‘out there’. As artists, we have a trained eye to see potential in what may be considered a risky or even bad choice. Daisy Jo was a bit surprised by my choice but after, what felt like a long ponder said, ‘Go ahead. I trust you!’ And that was that.

The Portrait Painting Process

I approached the digital painting process in a similar way to how I’d create a piece in oils. I started off with sketches, then I did a watercolour and ink painting before moving to digital. I mixed the colours on the canvas (see the process video below) before applying them to achieve variations of the hues. The colour and textures were built up in layers, some transparent, others more opaque.

Mimi | watercolour painting

I try to emulate traditional methods when painting digitally, for example, using grainy pencil brushes to create hand-drawn elements and the use of broken colour, a kind of impressionist style I love. That’s achieved by using dry, textured brushes so that the hues underneath shine through. I think of it like scumbling in oils, a technique I have used traditionally for years.

In her true form, Mimi is a strawberry blonde. However, I cranked up the heat as I did with all the colours in the palette to make the painting really pop. Orange and blue work really well together because they are opposites on the colour wheel. When you use opposites, each colour stands out against the other. Conversely, when you mix opposite colours together, they become neutral, cancelling each other out. That’s not relevant here, but an art tip for creating neutral greys.

Art Bite: To make your paintings really pop, use opposite colours on the colour wheel. Each colour will stand out against its opposite.

The glitter on the hat and the sparkles in the background finished off the piece, adding a bit of a theatrical vibe, reminiscent of Mimi’s personality.

Capturing Expression and Personality

When painting a portrait, capturing expression and personality is paramount. It brings the piece to life and helps create a narrative.

In real life, Mimi has a captivating character. She is funny, creative and determined. Because she’s a child, she still possesses those qualities most of us desire; wonder, playfulness and authenticity. Expressing those qualities in a painting is a major component of its success. Mastering colour and composition we can learn and it only takes, a million or so, hours of practice. However, portraying personality takes a bit of research.

Here are a Few Tips

If it’s a commissioned portrait, we need to ask questions, for example, how would you describe his or her personality? I’ve put a link at the end of the article with descriptive words, but here are a few examples. 

Is he or she: 

• Quiet and introverted or the star of the show?
• Very feminine or more a tomboy?  
• Fiery and heroic or more of a bookworm?
• Laid-back or energetic?
• Gentle or mischievous?
• What are their hobbies and interests?

Because Mimi is energetic and vibrant, I chose a colour palette to reflect that. Using props can be another way to portray personality. The sparkly hat gives this piece a playful touch, another one of Mimi’s traits. The expression on her face, with her tongue out, adds attitude - carefree with a touch of cheekiness. It’s really important to consider all these elements when it’s a commission and check with the client. 

It is also a good idea to ask how they want to be portrayed. She may be quiet and reserved but would like to be expressed as confident or heroic.  You may be thinking of a calm and gentle personality, pastel hues and flowers 🤔, when in fact, she wants to be portrayed as a superhero. All of these features also add to the narrative.

Why is Narrative Important?

I’m inspired by artists from history such as Toulouse Lautrec, Frida Kahlo and Francis Campbell Cadell to name a few. I greatly admire the narrative element, a prominent feature in their art. Their paintings ignite stories in our imagination from first viewing, a concept I try to embrace and convey in my own work.

As humans, we love stories, we are hardwired to respond to narratives. Stories trigger our emotions, and imagination and save ideas to memory. They can even shape our beliefs and behaviours. When we see a story in a piece of art, we interpret it based on our own experiences, uncovering personal meaning. This is a good thing! Each such experience offers a little nudge forward on life’s journey. Anything that sparks our imagination is a little deposit in our self-discovery piggy bank.

The narrative behind Fifi Trixabelle is one of wonderment and the innocence of childhood. The lack of self-consciousness and embracing life as it is, are all key elements in the story. The painting can remind us of those latent qualities within ourselves, perhaps hidden but still there. I believe that owning our true self and our story can help to set us free. And that's a massive deposit in the piggy back.

Conclusion

To wrap up, we went from, 'I don't really like portraits' to OMG! how am I going to pull this off to crafting one of my prized pics. Oh, and Daisy Jo loved it - TG!

I hope you found this article enjoyable and engaging. If there’s anything you’d like to ask me about my process, narratives or anything else, please leave a comment below or reach out to me by following this link.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Janee x

Be The First to Know

To discover new works, insights from art history and the power of storytelling, Click here

For more art, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity and storytelling.

Resources

Helpful Adjectives

The Inspiration Myth: How to be a Creative Conqueror

Have you ever found yourself waiting for that elusive moment of inspiration when a brilliant idea will strike like lightning? You may ask or even beg your muse, which possesses the power to awaken even the sleepiest of senses and set your creative soul on fire, to please pay a visit. Or, you quietly hope she'll just show up unannounced, infusing you with a surge of optimism and enthusiasm. Hmmm, you are not alone, and it can happen, but it's somewhat romantic.

Sure, there are those rare instances when inspiration does strike like a bolt of lightning, but these awe-inspiring moments of creative genius can be a bit like finding a unicorn.

The truth is, inspiration comes from doing. If we want to be prolific artists, we have to make lots of art, whether our creative bird is in residence or not. Most of the time, she'll flutter in once we start spreading those creative wings. Of course, there will be days when the muse has taken an extended vacation, and that's okay. It might be a sign to take a break, explore different avenues, or indulge in a Netflix binge. As we grow as artists, we learn to understand and listen to our own creative spirit and respect that the ebbs and flows are a necessary part of the process. 

Ask any seasoned artist, and they'll tell you that the act of creating is what generates ideas and inspiration. It's putting pen to paper, brush to canvas, or fingers to keyboard that opens the channel to creative flow.  

However, rest is also important. According to Writer and artist Tim Kreider, 'idleness is necessary for productivity. Taking a break and doing nothing gives our brains a chance to sift through data, make connections, and creatively problem-solve using our unconscious mind.' 

Neuroscientist, Andrew Huberman posted, well everywhere, 'Neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to change & learn, is a two-part process: 

1. Learning is triggered by focused attention, especially to novel, emotionally laden or otherwise meaningful events. 
2. Actual brain rewiring occurs during sleep, and other forms of deep rest.'

I'm not sure if Netflix counts as deep rest, but I think I will go with it. To get back to art and us creatives - inspiration is a byproduct of action and rest.  Every painting can't be a masterpiece, some you'll be super proud of, others, you'll want to disown.  Loads of my work ended up in the trash, some I even burned (I'm not advocating torching your work). Yet with persistence (and rest 😉) we hone our craft and learn to navigate the ups and downs of inspiration and lack of.   

Having said all that, we can nudge our inspiration along. Below are some of the places I find inspiration. I hope they will help you towards your own ideas. Making a list can be really helpful.

Inspirational Ideas

• Nature: Flowers, leaves, and gnarly tree bark catch my eye and I take photos for reference
• Movies: Especially those with psychological depth or moral dilemmas
• Comedy: We all need a good laugh. Comedy inspires me to add humour and joy to my work
• Humans: I'm fascinated by how we think and feel. I read a lot of psychology articles  
• The Media: What’s going on in the world, socio-political issues and injustices that can fuel and infuriate 
• Women: Inspiring women, activists, artists   
• Stories: Fact, fiction fantasy
• History: The tales of triumph and struggle 
• Technology: The world of tech and AI both fascinates and terrifies

Where The Wild Things Grow 

The inspiration for the painting above came from my ongoing research into the psychology of self-worth and the symbolism found in nature. The message is to dream big, even if we're feeling small and the flowers represent feminity, growth and transformation.

Thanks for reading until the end. If this post has sparked your inspiration, please consider leaving a comment or sharing the love by clicking on one of the social buttons below.

Have an incredible weekend, filled with inspiration, or have an inspirational weekend, filled with the incredible.

Janee x 

Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity and storytelling.

Resources

The Scientific Case for Downtime

Neuroplasticity - Andrew Huberman

10 Mavericks Who Rock the Art World

From left to right: Kehinde Wiley, Randerson Romualdo Cordeiro 2008 | Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled 1982 |Shirin Neshat, Women of Allah, 1993-7

Hey there, creative cousins, Happy Friday! As the weekend approaches 😁 what better way to kick it off than with a sneak peek into the worlds of ten extraordinary artists? These pioneers go far beyond the conventional role of creators; they're visionaries, provocateurs, and renegades who fearlessly challenge society's mainstream definition of what art should be. So, let's embark on this artistic journey together and get ready to be inspired. Let's take a look and get inspired.

10 Influential Artists Defying Conventions

Jean-Michel Basquiat: With graffiti-inspired art, Basquiat critiqued power structures, race, and consumerism, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary culture.

Art Bite - Jean Michel-Basquiat’s Untitled (1982) had a pre-sale estimate in excess of $60 million, and was sold by Sotheby’s in 2017 for $110.5 million 😮

Yayoi Kusama: The infinity rooms and polka dots of Kusama mesmerise, offering a lens into the realms of mental health, obsession, and the infinite.

Ai Weiwei: Through art and activism, Weiwei challenges authority and censorship, becoming a global symbol of resistance.

Frida Kahlo: In her vivid self-portraits, Kahlo delved into pain and identity, boldly challenging societal norms of beauty and gender.

Kara Walker: Her silhouette art dismantles racial stereotypes and prompts critical dialogues on race.

Banksy: The enigmatic street artist critiques capitalism and social injustice, his works hidden in plain sight.

Jenny Holzer: Holzer's texts in public spaces provoke contemplation on feminism, consumerism, and violence.

Marina Abramović: Through performance art, Abramović pushes the limits of the human body and psyche, questioning what it means to be human.

Kehinde Wiley: His reinterpretation of European portraiture with African-American subjects challenges historical representations.

Shirin Neshat: Neshat's art explores gender, identity, and politics in the Middle East, offering a nuanced perspective.

In their defiance of convention, these artists remind us that art is not just about aesthetics but a powerful medium that reflects our shared human experiences. It invites us to question, reflect upon, and reimagine the world around us through the captivating art of storytelling.

Join the Conversation

I'm eager to hear about your experiences and thoughts on these remarkable artists who challenge the status quo. Which artist's work resonates with you the most, and why? Have you been inspired to explore new perspectives on art and creativity? Your insights and comments are invaluable, so please share them below.

Have a wonderful weekend. Artfully Yours

Janee x

For more art, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Jane E Porter is a fine artist and illustrator from Scotland, dedicated to exploring and understanding the fascinating interplay between art, psychology and philosophy. As she navigates her own search for meaning, she shares insights and observations made over the past two decades with a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Join her as she continues her journey, delving into these themes, offering you fresh perspectives and insights on art, identity and storytelling.