Are you an aspiring artist looking to grow your skills and show off your work? GSCO is hosting a contest for Girl Scouts across the state to submit their art ideas to be displayed at Girl Scout DreamLab! The first theme is "My dream for the future" and submissions are due April 12, 2024.
GSCO sat down with two professional artists to ask them about how they get inspired and deal with setbacks to help you prepare your submission. Margaret Hunt is Artist in Residence in the East Street School in the Arts District in Trinidad, Colo. and a visual artist working with painting, collage, and printmaking. Sarah Melching is currently Director of Conservation at Denver Art Museum whose focus includes works on paper and photographic materials.
GSCO: What are some ways you find inspiration when coming up with ideas for a piece?
Margaret: I begin by closing my eyes and resting my mind. Then I wait for an image or a color to show up for me. That is often my entry point for creativity. Another tool I use is capturing images on my cell phone -- sometimes they are screen shots of things I see online that inspire me. I also belong to a number of artists groups on social media, so I can be inspired by what other artists are creating. If I'm really impressed by a piece of art, I like to enter into conversations with the artist in person, or online, about their materials and their creative processes. I am always learning!
Sarah: I’m often inspired by things around me. A memory inspired by a photograph, a season, a quote, music, or a feeling.
GSCO: What is one thing that you think people often forget to plan for when coming up with an idea for a piece?
Margaret: It's very common for us to feel "stuck" when we're trying to begin a creative process -- so finding ways to trigger our creativity is very helpful. Some tools that help me are music I, lyrics that you relate to and photos of people and places you care about. Art is personal -- it's a way to express our "voice" by telling our story through art.
Sarah: The size and dimensions of your piece. The size of your paper or canvas, or the space where you create or place a sculpture will determine how much you can include in your composition.
GSCO: What is one common setback you experience when making art and how do you deal with it?
Margaret: If I'm not satisfied with something I've created, or I actually hate it, I set it aside. I never throw anything away. You can always paint or collage over it. I like to stress that you can make no mistakes. Some of my best pieces of art are "re-dos" over pieces I hated. It's important to realize that it is the PROCESS of being creative that is the most rewarding, not the product. So, I experiment a lot with lots of different colors and images and materials. Every once in a while, I have a happy "accident" and end up with something I really love!
Sarah: I have a tendency to overwork an area. I think it is important to stop, take a break, and sit with what I have made so far.
GSCO: What do you like to include in an artist statement? Why?
Margaret: People who read an artist statement are interested in the artist as a person. Include what inspires you, why you love creating art, and who you want to reach with your artwork.
Sarah: I include what has inspired me through my observations and sensibilities with the objective of sharing my creation with others.
GSCO: What do you enjoy the most about making or sharing art for the local community?
Margaret: I really appreciate learning what my piece of art means to someone else. If someone likes a piece of my art, I ask them why -- what about it attracts them. The most fulfilling thing for me is knowing that something I've created has a special or significant meaning for the viewer. Often the viewer will ask me about the meaning of one of my pieces and I'm happy to explain. But I prefer asking them what it means to them first before I share my own story. In that way, we forge a personal relationship through the art.
I find I'm really most creative when I'm working in a room with other artists -- we seem to really inspire one another and build friendships in this shared experience.
Sarah: Art captures the human spirit; it is a testimony to our shared experiences. We respect and cherish the creativity, ingenuity, and innovation of others throughout time, place, and circumstances. Art inspires our communities to reflect as well as to experience emotions that we may not otherwise be aware of.
If this inspired you to make some art and show off your creativity, submit an idea for Girl Scout DreamLab's first gallery! Submissions are due April 12, 2024
About Sarah Melching (left): In addition to a lifetime of learning how to make art, Sarah Melching combined her interests in studio art, art history, and science and pursued a career in art conservation. Her areas of focus include works on paper and photographic materials. Sarah is currently Director of Conservation at Denver Art Museum.
About Margaret Hunt (right): After a career working for an energy company engaged in community development in seven states, I began a career of public service eventually leading state arts councils in Colorado and Utah. Now I'm a practicing artist serving as an Artist in Residence in the East Street School in the Arts District in Trinidad, Colorado. I am a visual artist exploring and playing with painting, collage, and printmaking.