I was unable to paint today! I think it is because I have been working fiendishly for several days and just needed time to refill my resources. Most mornings I start the day by looking at art, listening to music, reading--but mostly looking at art. I just like to see what others are creating. And I feed off of their ideas. I see techniques, shapes, colors and subjects that impact my own creativity. For example, I came across this painting Isumi Kogahara that grabbed my attention:
I have an image that I have been manipulating that this reminded me of.
Look at the background of the Izumi painting. To me it implies a sidewalk cafe and a table with a reflective surface. There are places where a dominant line creates a reference point. And there are others where a swath of color or a scrape or a drip create an illusion. More interaction is demanded of the viewer than if all of the details were supplied.
Another thing I have been studying is a series of portraits by Robert Delaunay. I think his influence on my work is readily apparent.