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Discover the benefits of a familiar haven where creativity runs wild and free.
Recently I’ve found myself painting at a particular place again and again. This secluded location, which I’ve lovingly named Willow Pond, is a couple of hundred yards behind my house. At first it was just an interesting and convenient area to paint, but over time it has become so much more.
I’m drawn to this beautiful pond, surrounded by willow trees and providing home to beaver, fish, turtles, birds, and butterflies. Here, I’ve found my muse.
Close to Home
Have you ever wondered what drew Claude Monet to paint the lily ponds in his gardens for so manyyears—or why Andrew Wyeth painted so close to home in the ordinary setting of his neighbor’s Kuerner Farm? For many artists, the pull to certain places is like a magnet. A familiar painting spot is like an old friend—always accessible and always there for you. Although the place may seem the same, there’s something new and invigorating to paint with every visit.
So how do you find the spot that will be your muse? It’s often a matter of happenstance. Your muse finds you. Think of the places you’ve painted repeatedly or those nearby areas you like to visit. Is there a favorite landmark in your vicinity that you’re drawn to—such as a lake or mountain? Maybe you have a lovely backyard flower garden. The key to finding your special place is to look for a spot of land you love that you can visit easily and often.
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Benefits to Finding Your Muse
I’ve jotted down a list of the many benefits this kind of “special location” muse can offer you as an artist:
- It will begin to provide a just-for-you feeling. There’s no pressure to create a masterpiece or perform for an audience.
- You’ll find inspiration all year round as you observe the changing seasons and colors.
- Immersing yourself in a natural setting provides so many benefits for the body and soul.
- You’ll learn the flora and fauna of the area.
- When you don’t know what to paint, your muse can refresh your mind while providing an endless supply of subject matter.
- You’ll begin to learn the color palette of this special place, and painting it will become second nature as you repeatedly return.
Try This
Chances are you already have a special place where you enjoy drawing and painting—or you can think of a nearby place you’ve been meaning to visit for an artist’s outing. Over the next few weeks or months, embrace this place as your muse by following one or more of the creative prompts below.
Creative Prompts
- Experiment with different views. Zoom in and out to find intriguing compositions. A leaf might be of interest one day, a distant horizon line the next.
- Do a 360-degree painting session during which you paint a view from all directions.
- Paint a series of works. You could create a new work for 30 days straight or paint the same view during different seasons. You might concentrate on a certain subject, such as trees, water reflections, rocks or snow. Make a list of the various series you’d like to paint, so you’ll be ready when inspiration strikes.
- Create a collection of on-site sketches that you can use as references for studio paintings. Date and store the sketches with associated photos and notes.
- Try different media: watercolor, pastel, pencil, oil, and gouache. Vary your substrates: panel, canvas, paper or sketchbooks. I love using kraft sketchbooks to make quick, little oil paintings for composition and color notes.
- Practice your photography skills, then use those photos as references for paintings. Capture all the seasons, different times of day and varied weather conditions.
- Collect elements from your special site and use them to inspire you at home. Display a rock, flowers, dried grasses, a feather, a twig, or a shell. Press a leaf in a book or make a leaf print. Keep items together in a vase or on a tray. Show a few treasures in a grouping on a wall.
Engage All Your Senses for a Lasting Impression
Over time, you’ll naturally engage each of the senses with the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings associated with your personal painting spot—and these sensory experiences will become special memories.
Aside from painting what you see, you can document things like the feeling of warm sunshine or a cool breeze, the honking geese flying overhead, the texture of grasses, the sound of frogs jumping into the water, and the smell after a gentle rain. You could keep a diary along with your artwork, perhaps writing a poem or a description ofthe way you felt the day you painted a particular scene or element. Maybe on some days, rather than paint while visiting your painting spot, you’ll simply sit with a journal.
I’ve found so much enjoyment and satisfaction from my beloved Willow Pond. I hope your muse willfind you soon, if it hasn’t already done so, and that it will inspire you for years to come.
This article was originally published in the January/February 2022 edition of Artists Magazine.
Michelle Wooderson lives in Kansas and gains creative inspiration from surrounding herself with nature. She’s a plein air painter and enjoys encouraging others to begin their creative journey. Follow her onInstagram @mishwooderson.Use the hashtag #willowponderings to view work inspired by Willow Pond.
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