Following the Spark: Where My Creative Inspiration Comes From

One of the most common questions I get as an artist is, “Where do your ideas come from?” While I wish I could say there’s a well-organized mood board or some mystical method to the madness… the truth is, it usually starts with color.

A palette will just click for me. Maybe it’s something I see in nature, maybe it shows up in a dream, or maybe it’s one of those Tucson sunsets that practically dares you not to paint it. Bold color doesn’t scare me. It’s usually the thing that pulls me into the work in the first place, opening a door I didn’t even know was there.

Nature is a constant source of inspiration for me, there is something about the forms, the textures, the movement, and the quiet chaos of it all. Living in Tucson gives me front-row access to some of the most striking light and landscapes I’ve ever known. The desert has a rhythm and energy that’s hard to explain, but impossible to ignore.

And while nature gives me the raw spark, other artists keep the flame alive. I love looking at what fellow creatives are doing, how they solve visual problems, how they express emotion, how they take risks. Being part of that ongoing creative dialogue is energizing, and I always walk away with new ideas (and usually, paint on my clothes).

Painting has been a part of my life since I was a kid. It’s never been just a hobby, it’s how I process the world. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with a painting in my head, and by the next morning, it has to come out. I’ve learned not to fight that impulse. It’s part of who I am.

Inspiration, for me, doesn’t come like a lightning bolt. It’s more like an ongoing conversation between my inner world and everything around me. Tucson just happens to be the perfect place to keep that conversation going.