The Void...

I'm an Artist- but I'm also human

As artists, inspiration is sometimes not easy to find, sometimes we lack inspiration. Sometimes it's a lack of motivation, ever heard of the dry spell? It's not just an artist thing, it's an entrepreneur thing too and as I consider myself both an artist and an entrepreneur I get double whammy. Fortunately, Urban Fraggle Art isn't just a one man band, I the artist, have a few people who believe in me enough to want to help grow the Urban Fraggle brand. So, why am I not creating more?

Its not all fun fun fun

The average time spent on creating is 20%, marketing 80%. Because without an audience I would have no business- and lets face it, the majority of people don't really enjoy the marketing aspect of business!

Well, as yet this is not my full time career, I have a part time job. I also have a horse, and those of you with horses will know the time they take to care for... I also do the majority of the social media and writing, which granted, involves a creative element. I have to do this, as because being the artist I am the face of Urban Fraggle Art, and business is all about authencity. So, this leaves less time for actually creating new wall art. So, when dry spells and lack of inspiration happen, I go looking for it. And this how I happened across the stunning painting Kim McElroy's 'Heartfelt'.

Get a Proper Job

I had typed in Google 'horse expressions' and I came across the image. I instantly wanted to challenge myself.

As many of my followers know, my main body of work involves photo manipulation (personally I dislike the word manipulation, as to me it has negative connotations. I prefer photo 'enhancement'). As an artist it's important to stretch your skills, use new tools. I studied art at University, but that was 30 odd years ago. And methods/techniques have been forgotten, and I certainly was never taught how to create art digitally. As a child I would draw horses ALL the time and in school the creative subjects were my strongest. English, art, wood and metal work (all of which I was in the grades A-C range), but of course, in your career talks, these subjects are never explored as a future to make a living, as making money from creative means is considered a no no.. until you die of course, then you can make an absolute fortune! That said, with the rise of the internet I do think these things are changing for the better for creative people (and no, I'm not talking about Kim Kardashian)

Peer Pressure

Also, I felt had something to prove to fellow artists who believe that digital art is a game of cheating. The reality is, now I don't care what is thought of about my methods of creation, because what I create is unique and stunning, and loved by many people. And, it's not about the process but the creation after the process that is important. But, this need to want to prove that actually, I could draw/paint encouraged me to stretch myself. Family and Spirit of Steele were the first two I experimented with, and both pieces have sold. And the great thing about digital art is I can change some things.. it's not something I do on regularly, but with Spirit of Steele I couldn't decide which background I preferred, so I chose both.. if I had to choose the red background just tips it for me, which I have named Red Velvet.

Which would be your preference?

You may think this is is cheating, but one very famous artist Bob Dylan has done just that with his series of railways.. Currently exhibiting at Castle Galleries in Manchester. This is how I happened across Dylan's work, as I didn't even know he was a visual artist!

'That Burning Desire'

is what I have chosen to name my piece inspired by Kim McElroy's 'Heartfelt' and he was never a consideration for sale. He was purely a practice piece, but interest from someone pushed me to ask permission from the original artist if I could sell it.. she agreed, and although the sale never went through, he is still in my back catalogue of pieces to put on the website, because, I'm really really proud of what I did. I captured a real fire in his eye, a burning desire and intensity from him staring straight at me sends a shiver down my spine (or is that because the heating isn't on 😝).

I painted more of his face in the original, but as the focus for me was around the eye, I decided to make that my final piece, as I believe it holds more mystery and intensity to just highlight where his soul resides, and where his soul can be seen.

And because it's important, that you, the buyer, can envisage my Wall Art in situation, all my large pieces are placed in a room..

To view work currently for sale head here for Limited Editions or here for A3 Fine Art Prints

#horseart #modernart #equineart #equestrianart #horses