Art is Contagious: A Creative Exchange Across Continents
Every now and again
The sports art is of cricket players created by a 15 year old art student at Kingsley Academy, West London.
Occassionally you get one of those unexpected but delightful exchanges on LinkedIn. You know the kind—where you actually connect with someone, not just add them to your network. This time, it was with Gillian Turner, an art subject lead at Kingsley Academy in Hounslow, West London. Now, I'm based in Ventura, California, and we’ve never met in person. But that didn’t stop us from having a meaningful conversation about art and creativity. She mentioned how some of her students in her class she taught had used my art for inspiration. This painting was an example of one of her students being inspired by my sports art.
An exchange bwtween an art teacher on another continent and me, as an artist, about influencing students.
Artists inspiring artists
Gillian and I got to talking about how artists inspire each other. It’s like this never-ending cycle of creativity. One artist creates something, and it sparks an idea in another artist, who then creates something new. It’s a beautiful, contagious process. Surrounding yourself with other artists who inspire you can really ignite your passion. It’s like a creative feedback loop, and it’s what makes the whole process so exciting.
Analyzing the painting
Take this painting, for example. It’s a vibrant piece that captures a moment in a cricket game, set against the backdrop of a local pub. The colors are bold, and the lines are dynamic. It’s not just a painting; it’s a story. It’s a snapshot of a moment in time, frozen on canvas. And it’s a perfect example of how art can be influenced by the world around us.
Influencing each other
Gillian mentioned how her students at Kingsley Academy are always feeding off each other’s energy and ideas. They see what their classmates are doing, and it pushes them to try new things, to experiment, to take risks. It’s the same in my studio. I might see a piece of street art or a photograph, and it’ll spark an idea for a new painting. We’re all feeding off each other’s creativity, and it’s a wonderful thing.
The power of connection
So, here’s to the artists who inspire us, who push us to be better, who make us see the world in a new way. Art is contagious. Pass it on.