Inspirations

Admittedly, one of the easiest places to find inspiration is in the work of other artists. For that reason I love browsing through the local galleries here in La Jolla after a good meal. One gallery in particular caught my interest-- the Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery-- by showcasing contemporary and abstract works. These are not your run of the mill crowd pleasers featuring half-naked women. These works were sculptural, incorporating a variety of media from wood to copper and paint. The artists weren't afraid to play with the traditional canvas opting for three dimensions instead of two. Three artists stood out from the rest:

Weiliang Zhao- a mixed-media artist born in Shanghai, China and currently lives in LA. The vibrant colors and underlying textures of his work make you want to touch and caress it. I was charmed by his smaller (under a foot square) life studies. It is nice to see an artist who is capable of both massive abstracts and intimate life painting.

Taraneh Mozafarian- also a mixed-media artist who draws inspiration from her Persian heritage. The oxidized copper with its interplay of organic and geometric shapes speaks to a jeweler's skill, while her experimental pieces hint at a curious and playfull nature. My favorite-- the installations-- combine both aspects of the artist's creativity.

Pascal- a mixed-media sculptor born in France and currently lives in Santa Fe, NM. The artist's use of natural woods and rusty metals invites the viewer to interact with the work. Pascal writes that wood has a character, which he skillfully brings out in each shape, harmonizing with the media.

I hope that like these artist's, my work may someday inspire others.

Inspirations