Do you have any artists that have influenced you? I am not interested in photographers for this exercise. But in visual artists.

I want you to share a couple of artists that really move you, and tell us a little about them as artists. Post two of their artworks. Tell us how they have influenced you? Go as far as to post a photograph or two that shows this influence.

Now, if you haven’t ever seen a painting and really struggle with this weeks exercise you need to start researching artists. Perhaps a visit to your local library will make it easier. I am sure you can look through virtual exhibitions at major art galleries atm. You could also take an artist from my talk to use as a starting point and then explore them more. It is amazing what you can find on the internet.

You are introducing the rest of us to someone that we may not have seen before. So rather than go with the obvious why not be a little more obscure. We don’t need the famous ones to be inspired.

My first example is Andy Goldsworthy. He is an installation artist. He is often confused as a photographer, so much so he now hires a photographer to document his work so there is no confusion about what he is doing. If you search Andy Goldsworthy, Rivers and Tides, full length movie. You will find a fantastic documentary about him and his work… There is this lovely seen where he is with his family and then he is going to work, and he says he doesn’t know what he is going to do today yet. I am also inspired by his patience and commitment to his constructions, despite how ephemeral they are. Many only last a few minutes.

Another artist that I found influential when I was a teenager is Albert Durer. His drawing of some turf struck a chord with me and I spend many hours drawing flowers and grasses held in my hand. So much so that I went on to draw many Banksias and Proteas for my final assessments in high school.

His eye for detail in the mundane still sticks with me today. I search though his work and most of it is portraiture. The example below is perhaps a much rarer artwork, but it is the one that speaks to me the most.