There is a lot of art I love. I mean really, having studied art history, this should go without saying. However, choosing a portrait that inspires you, is a very different thing.
For myself, I feel like inspiration should be something that draws me out, that leads me to create something new, to use different media, different methods. I love colour and tend towards an illustrative style. Watercolour has always been my preferred medium. So, to find an inspirational portrait in the vastness of the web-verse, I began with black and white photography. This is the piece that caught my attention and held it.
Gravity by Vladimir Perfanov (500px.com)
I love the movement in this piece. I love its grainy quality, its grit.
The photo, Gravity, was taken by Vladimir Perfanov and I find all aspects of the work inspirational. The subject material is so simple and raw, it hasn’t been overcomplicated in any way. It portrays sensuality and passion. Sex without being overtly graphic. It’s a topic I generally avoid, probably from my youth and lack of life experience.
Altogether the piece inspires me to experiment with new media and new subject matter. Perfanov’s work shows me that subtle imagery can better express a message than a piece that is overworked and explicit. Romantic and real, what I’d like to see in my own work.