Inspiration is always floating around you. In my case it is most activated when surrounded by people; something I greatly missed not teaching my students in person. I share with you a work I recently completed that was inspired by my students and our school custodian.
To appease my custodian’s request of not sending acrylic paint down the drain; I asked my students to place extra paint in a lid. Once dried they would often enjoy the satisfying action of peeling the dried paint off the lids and as they did so, I noticed beautiful swatches of colour reveal themselves on the back side.
Those beautiful swatches of dried-up acrylic paint sat on my desk for months. Until one day, I started to arrange them and what emerged was a bouquet of flowers.
I titled the work “Thank You”. “Thank you” because a bouquet of flowers is something you give someone as a symbol of gratitude. Each of those circular flowers represents one of my students, now graduated from St. Joan of Arc and living their life, yet a part of them is still here.
My students and my custodian have given me tiny conversations and random actions that spark within me ideas and inspiration. These moments connecting with others and insignificant conversations continue to inspire my personal body of work.
