74 ways to be inspired: talking with …

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The 74 ways to be Inspired series is all about finding inspiration and applying it to your creative life ~ whether it be for your own satisfaction or as part of the process of setting up and maintaining a small creative business.
These interviews aim to inspire by gaining an insight into the inspirational and creative process of those who are doing exactly that. Today, the lovely Kylie from Chasing Purple Dreams is stepping up to the proverbial microphone.

First off, an introduction, tell us a little about yourself, what you do and how it came about.

I’m Kylie, an artist and a blogger.  I’ve always harboured a dream to make my living as an artist.  And now in my late 30s with a two-year-old son and less time for myself than I have ever had; I have given myself a kick up the backside and started really working on it.

{pastel on paper works}

What was the inspiration behind the name of your shop/blog?

My first blog was called Created by Kylie.  I was never really comfortable with the name, but I was so keen to start I just went with it.  When it was time for me to branch out into Etsy and other arenas I decided to change the name before it was too late.
This time I really put some thought into it.  I brainstormed for weeks, talked to everyone who would listen about it.  I wanted something broad that I could showcase all of my creative whims under. Then one afternoon it just came to me. My favourite colour is purple, this blog and shop where about chasing my dreams and Chasing Purple Dreams was born.
Now that I am more focused on pursuing just my painting I realise I should be using my name as a blog name, as I am the “brand” I am selling – but you live and learn and I really like Chasing Purple Dreams and for now I am sticking with it!

{Pieces from the "Adrift" series}

Now this series is about inspiration, so where do you find inspiration? Either online, in the “real world” or from whom? What kind of things inspire you?

I am often inspired and awed by nature, the beautiful colour schemes and stunning textures that Mother Nature comes up with are unsurpassed.  I am sure a lot of the fabulous things I see while blogging impact on my subconscious as well.  In fact just the act of blogging myself is inspiring, the desire to have something new to share keeps me motivated and accountable.

Where do you find the inspiration for your pieces?

My truest inspiration, from which my best paintings are born, comes from sitting quietly.  Just trying to clear my mind and wait for the next idea to form.   It amazing when it happens and although I know I can’t force it I still often try, but the work is never the same as those special pieces that just come to me from no where.

Where do you work? A spot in your home, a studio, outside?

I have a little home studio, the room that should be our spare bedroom.  It is my place to mess up as much as I like, to stink up with the smell of turps and to hoard all sorts of things that might be useful one day.
It’s not stylish, organised and inspiring like some of the studios you spy around blog land.  It’s cluttered and splattered with paint, with a dodgy old radio and a homemade easel. But I am so happy in there and so lucky and grateful to have this little space.

How do you find juggling the creative life with your home and/or work life?

It’s really tricky, especially with a boisterous and demanding two year old. My Little Guy goes to family day care one day a week and that is my painting day, it’s a challenge to be creative on demand, but I am getting more used to that.
The house work certainly suffers from the other sides of establishing myself as an artist, the laundry piles up while I’m blogging etc.  I try to keep in mind that I don’t actually want to be remembered for having a clean floor, I hope to leave something a bit more meaningful behind, by creating my artworks and if that means I don’t win housewife of the year, so be it!

Do you catalogue your inspiration in some way, either virtually, clippings in a notebook or perhaps an inspiration board?

I have a notice board in the studio, that I would love to be one of those stunning, photogenic, inspiration boards, but I just can’t do it!  Even on the times I have tried to cover it in beautiful things, stray business cards or little scribbled notes find there way amongst the lovely things and it is once again a notice board – not an inspiration at all!

I have lots of little sketch books on the go for jotting down my inspiration in scribbles.  One that is for fairly finished painting ideas, another called the “sketch book of nothing” is exclusively for doodling and scribbling with no purpose.  I have found a lot of inspiration while playing in the “sketch book of nothing”.   I have another where I scribble my jewelery ideas and a beautiful notebook that is supposed to be my art journal that is quite neglected and a little bit intimidating with its beautiful paper and cover!

And because we are in blogland, can you share a couple of your favourite or most inspirational blogs/sites.

AGGGHHHH you are not seriously going to make me choose favourites?????
I love so many blogs, for so many different reasons.  My reader is overflowing with blogs that I just can’t live without!  I suppose if I had to choose a few favourites, I would have to pick Curly Pops, Tinniegirl, ArtMind, 74 Lime Lane and Empty Easel.  I know that when I get behind in my blog reading these are always the ones I have to catch up on first.

{oil and acrylic works}

What’s your dream for art?

I only started giving voice to my greatest dream for my art in the past couple of months; I’ve held this dream inside most of my life, afraid to share it with anyone.   I have sent it out into the universe and been brave enough to share.  As yet no one has laughed in my face!  So here goes, once again baring my sole….

I hope that one day my work is good enough to hang in a public collection.  My initial desire was to be hung in the Tate or MOMA, but I think I would be quite chuffed to have my work included in any of the major Australian galleries!  Not a scaling back of my dreams, just more of a think local mentality!

As for more medium-term dreams, I would like to be ale to make an income from selling my art.  So that by the time my Little Guy is ready to start prep, I can ditch the plan to return to the work force and just stay at home and paint.

My present short-term dream is to have my expression of interest for an exhibition accepted.  Please cross your fingers fro me on this, I hope to hear soon and I really, really want this opportunity.

Thanks Kylie for sharing your inspiration and an insight into your dreams. I don’t about everyone else, but I often found myself nodding and going “uh-huh” with so much of what you said. I love finding out that I have things in common with new friends around the blogosphere.

You can find more of Kylie at:

blog | facebook | flickr | etsy