Inspiration.
August 04, 2008
Happy monday everyone! I have to first say…WOW! What a weekend I’ve had! I was featured on ETSY’s homepage, and I will tell you, I have made so many great friends and met so many incredible people because of it! I heart ETSY!!! It’s like this amazing art gallery shop full of incredible products, but even more, really cool people! I love that ETSY encourages so much communication between artists for support, advice, etc. So, thanks to all of you who popped in to say hello! I have loved looking at your shops, and hearing your experiences! I have tried to reply to most all of you, but if I haven’t replied, I will be soon. In the mean time…know I have loved meeting all of you this weekend! I love the internet, but honestly, I would much rather throw a BBQ and meet all you in person:) You are all an inspiration!
Speaking of inspiration, I have been thinking “what made me want to become an artist.” There is never one single answer to this, and the one that I gave in the interview is the most true to experience. I don’t remember a time that I wasn’t an artist. But there are always supports a long the way, and I wanted to share one of mine (there are many).
My Grandpa Knell was an artist. He was an architect professionally, but I think that a lot of architects start out as artists. He loved design and the functionality of design. But he also had a big imagination. He died almost 3 years ago, but he instilled in me a great love of drawing and somehow gave me the confindence to pursue my talents. I often remember him at the kitchen table sketching out designs with his sons, or drawing with the grandkids. This weekend, we had a family reunion and my aunt had brought some drawings grandpa had made on paper lunch bags who knows how many years ago. How precious! Not only because he is gone now, but also because they are doodles on lunch bags which to me represents that a true artist will draw on just about ANYTHING!! His caricatures were always so artsy/funky. I love it!!
My grandfather was one of my many inspirations, but something about being his grandaughter gave me permission to live my dreams.
So, I would like to know…who has inspired you to do what you love? Family? Fellow artist?
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I loved your post about the inspiration your grandfather gave you- with me it was my sweet but hardheaded grandmother! I was trying to decide what I was going to study in college and she told me “art of coarse”! I told her that I would never be able to make a living with a degree in art and of coarse she told me I was wrong- I ended up graduating with a degree in Graphic Design and it has changed my life forever. Thank goodness for hardheaded grandmothers! Thanks for sharing your journey!
Melissa
Those paper bag drawings are so cool! My dad was an architect and he was known to draw on napkins in restaurants. I think that’s where a lot of architects’ ideas come to life. Anyway, he was my inspiration. I changed my major 5 times in college, finally settling on graphic design. He gave me permission to live my dream, no matter what it was!
Not only did he pass on some artistic talent, I can also see a resemblance in looks! Those paper bags are quite the treasure. Reminds me of a story about Minerva Teichert drawing on the underside of tables and chairs. An artist’s canvas can be anything!
I agree with Cocoa – you look so much like your Grandfather! And funny thing about Melissa’s comment, totally opposite in my case. I wanted to pursue ART & my hard-headed Grandma was the one that told me “you won’t be able to do anything with that.”
So I chose the route of “Visual Communications” – just dabbling in art. Most everyone in my family is creative in some way, shape or form. Painters, Engineers, Knitters, Cake Decorators, Floral Arrangers, Card Designers, Creative Thinkers … I truly believe it’s in our blood. My parents’ house is filled with framed artwork that we did when we were little – which always made us feel special. I grew up with an instilled appreciation for ART & I can’t imagine a life without it.
Thanks you guys! I love hearing all this! Funny you say I look just like my grandpa! I take on my grandma’s looks much more, but they always say people start to look alike over the years:) anyways…isn’t it funny how grandparents have such an influence?
You resemble so much to your grandpa! What an inspiring story! I am sure you already know, but I too am an architect and I think you are right a lot of architect express their creativity on things/projects other than architecture….I know a lot of architects who are great musicians…i guess we need to vent in other directions…
Unfortunately there is none in my family who has the same background i have, most of them were professors ….
Typo…my name is Vana not Vama (note to myself)
I loved opening your blog and seeing that handsome picture of my dad. My daughter’s first question on seeing it was “Is that a prophet?” Out loud I said “you know who that is–Grandpa Knell.” But in my mind I thought yes, in many ways he was/is a prophet. Unfortunately that sometimes meant he was just ahead of his time–like when he bought the solar panels 25 years ago
Grandpa drew those pictures at a park during a family reunion in 1997 or ’98. They are all interpretations of one or more of either his children or grandchildren. There’s one that looks exactly like Mica. I think the middle one could be Robi. But Dad would never say who they were.
Dad drew on absolutely everything–most notably napkins and paper placemats at restaurants, but really on just about anything. It was sorta unfortunate because some of his best work is on junk paper.
I’m happy that, although I didn’t inherit any of his talent, many of his grandchildren did–including you. I love your work and your whole person.
My favorite thing about dad’s drawings are the beads of sweat that he frequently has coming off their faces–like the middle one that does kind of look like Robbie. He used to do the cartoons in yearbooks and there are lots examples of whiskers and sweat.
My inspiration is/was my my Grandma Flossy. I remember sitting at her feet while she painted and practising the stitches she taught me. I was four when my brother was born prematurely. My mom would go to the NICU to be with him and my grandma would have me sew to keep me busy while she painted, and I loved those days, the smell of paint mixed with gardenias, the feel of her hands, the sound of her voice. I miss her so much, but when I sit down with fabric and trims I can feel her near me.
A beautiful post Sarah. Your Grandpa would be so proud of you and everything you have achieved. I am so happy that you are living out your dreams.
When I was younger I always wanted to be a teacher, it was my mum who supported me in this and always told my sister and I that we could achieve anything we wanted to. My mum was right and with her guidance, love and support both my sister and I are also living our dreams.
The paper bag drawings that you Grandpa created are so very precious.
Lots of love
Elise
Your blog is wonderful. Your illustrations are beautifully drawn. I love your grandfather’s sketches on the lunch bags – what a treasure. My inspiration is my husband who can draw anything! We met in college, both of us art majors. He keeps me striving to be the best I can be. He is my best friend!
What a lovely tribute to your Grandfather.
My inspiration is in my genes as well…My Grandfather could sketch the most beautiful birds in just seconds, my Grandmother was a wiz with yarn, my Mother has the sketching talents as well, and my father is a fantastic photographer. So, I’m lucky enough to have inherited a bit from all of them and LOTS of encouragement too!
I didn’t really have anyone in my family encouraging me in art . I took a ceramics class in high school and was always trying to make jewelry in the kiln. (Never really turned out.) But I just knew I wanted to be a jewelry designer someday. I got discouraged but then decided to try watercolors in college. The teacher began the class saying, “This will be the easiest class you ever take in college.” It SO wasn’t. I think I got a C-. After I started having children, I needed a creative outlet. I started painting what was in my own head and found that others loved it! That gave me the courage to pursue jewelry once again. Everything just fell into place….I am so happy!
Thank you for sharing Sarah! I love the photo of Grandpa. He was so handsome. I also remember those drawings, although I think my mom some laminated ones on sticks. We used them as masks. I liked reading what Julie and Mary wrote. I wish I could have been at the reunion this year. I am glad you were able to go
Hi Sarah,
Amy
Like you I had family members who were artists. But, none had ever made it their only income.
But, they have all incur raged me to study and be an artist. We had books , lots of beautiful art books in my home.I would sit for hours turning pages and soaking up the beautiful art.
My Granddad also was an artist. But, his art was in the way he built things. He built most of my Granny’s house. Think 7 Dwarfs Cottage. He carved around the fireplace, he carved a moon on the bathroom door. He made dutch doors in the kitchen, carved them with vines. Everywhere you looked was his hand carved beauty.He found time to do all that & be a school teacher. Math & science.
I live in Va., we usually go to Topsail N.C., it really is a beautiful beach.Not all commercial & crowded.I am glad you had such a wonderful time with your family.
Thanks for asking “what made you an artist.” Art was all around me.
have a lovely day!
I knew your grandfather and he was so talented.
My father is my own inspiration. He would draw creatures and little characters for us in church to draw. At Halloween he would take huge lengths of butcher paper and draw monsters on them for us to color with a brand new set of markers. We’d hang them in the windows of our house. He reminds me to find the fun in art.