Finding Inspiration

Lovely Lady - Sculptural Plaque by Anne Rita Taylor

I visit the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston for inspiration. They have a treasure trove of Impressionist art to rival museums in Paris.

The Sculpture Garden is very welcoming.  You can sit, bring your lunch or coffee & visit with friends. It is a lovely area with a few shade trees. Below is the walkway from the auxiliary parking.

I was surprised to learn - not everyone gets inspiration at museums - but that is where I fill up my well for my future creations. 

Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) was the architect for the Sculpture Garden which opened in 1986.

My favorite sculpture in the garden is actually a four part sculpture by Henri Matisse (1869-1954). A woman’s back is represented in a classical pose showing the history of art called Backs I - IV.  Below is one of my efforts at sculpting a back in clay:

When I was sculpting in clay in the 1980’s I would take the day off on my birthday & spend the whole day visiting the museum. See more about my sculpting here:
https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/12/sculpting-in-clay.html
I was in paradise just roaming around, visiting the exhibits, truly inspirational! 

I can easily become preoccupied all day looking at Adam by Émile-Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929), sculpted in 1889. What a beautiful human form! 

Although my favorite sculptor is Auguste Rodin (1840-1917).

When I was in Paris I visited The Rodin Museum which was a dream come true. 

Houston’s museum has his headless Walking Man sculpted in 1889.

Another Rodin in the Sculpture Garden, Spirit of Eternal Repose, was  modeled in 1899 & cast in bronze in 1982. 

You can see Matisse’s four-part sculpture in the background.

Leave a comment and let me know - Where do you get your inspiration?

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

My Woodcut

Several years ago I took a wood cutting class where I did not learn anything. I made this woodcut prior to the class as I tried out my new cutting tools. It is my only woodcut!

For the last two years I’ve been a member of the Rubber Amateur Press Society and we have a quarterly swap of hand-stamped images. Click here for my October blog:

https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/10/print-vibe.html

Since I had not carved anything recently and the due date of April 30th was approaching, I thought of my wood carving. 

I could have used the Press at The Printing Museum in Houston, but they are renovating due to a fire last May. How would I print? I tried printing using my Arnold Grummer Paper Press and it worked OK.

I carefully lined up the paper and placed the inked wood as close to the middle as possible and lowered the press.

I used water based ink and rolled it on a piece of copper side-taped glass before rolling the ink on the woodcut. My first one came out great, pictured up top.

The third time came out too light, so I added ink and rolled again, great images for 3 of them, so I added more ink - then it came out too dark.

It took me 24 prints to have 15 OK prints to swap. I'm experimenting with the lighter ones to add some color. I tried coloring in the circle to have the Sun but I like the black & white Moon effect better.

I bought the Wood Carving tools at Walmart plus I already had the extra V-shaped cutting tool in my carving supplies. The piece of wood is from Hobby Lobby.

All in all, I think they came out OK. Although I plan to do more experimenting. Any thoughts from any of my blog readers is appreciated.

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017