Not-So-Guilty Pleasures.

"Life is too short to pretend you hate something for the sake of being cool."

I skimmed past this phrase one day whilst reading the woooonderful blog Yes and Yes. They weren't those exact words, so don't quote her on that! Regardless, the idea stuck with me. Whether we admit it or not, every day we publicly frown upon certain bands, books, or movies. Privately, you tell yourself it's nothing more than a "guilty pleasure." I ask you...what's the point in that? Why suffer another day telling people you think Star Trek is for squares, only to go home and read your "Klingon Word of the Day" E-mail? Today is the day to stop being so consumed with keeping up a certain image of yourself and just BE!

So...here we go!
-- I have always enjoyed studying Marie Antoinette and Georgiana Cavendish -- I love ALL classic Disney movies. I don't care how bad or corny, they just make me happy. Pocahontas is my personal favorite -- The same applies for Pixar -- The same applies for anything and everything Robin Williams has ever been in -- I am watching Johnny Quest as I type this. -- I love Ms. Lady GaGa -- I play EverQuest II to a potentially unhealthy extent. -- On iTunes, my most played song is "Hedwig's Theme" by John Williams -- On that note, my most recently played song is "Right Back Where we Started From" by Maxine Nightingale -- I have Bookmarks folder specifically reserved for things like this -- I own all complete mega-mega collector's edition box-set of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy -- I think the show Modern Family is absolutely genius. And I have been slowly but surely converted to Seinfeld...

Your turn.

Getting Inspired

Like most people, I tend to work off of the fuel of inspiration. I will see or hear or watch something I like and then try to emulate that in my own way. Whether we like it or not, each of our creations are (sub)consciously influenced by something we've experienced, even for a fraction of a second.

When painting, I'm always searching for things to inspire. Music is a huge inspiration, but as a visual artist, nothing gets my working more than visuals. That's why I started keeping a sort-of scrap-book. The binder is a 1950s photo-album I found at a flea-market a few years ago. Inside, I tuck print-outs of pictures or things I've torn out from magazines into plastic covers. It's very handy for reference and jumping-off points...

Take a look...it's in a book...on Reading Rainboow!

Lot's of photos from The Satorialist...They're good reference for clothing, but I also love some of the faces he captures.

 

The black and white section. As you can see, it usually ends up being early pictures of The Beatles...

Lots of tear-outs from Rolling Stones. I don't know why there is a CD in there! I'll go find that after I finished typing...

Of course I am inspired by so many things, but this is just one of my favorite sources! What about you? What get's you inspired?