HAMBURG HARBOUR
Nathalie Kalbach
Acrylic paint, acrylic ink, and spray paint on canvas
12" × 9" (30cm × 23cm)
Inspired by the daily changing scenery of the Hamburg Harbor, located in the middle of the city.
We all know the moment when we hit a creative block in a project. Many times when this happens to me, I leave my studio and go for a walk through the neighborhood to get a change of scenery, and I hope I’ll return with my mind refreshed and ready to let inspiration strike.
Frequently, during those walks, what I need emerges. As I wander, something will catch my eye: a manhole cover with a grid-like design, a door with unusual hardware, or graffiti on a wall. I take pictures with my phone’s camera, and when I look through the photos later, the manhole cover—or whatever—catches my interest once again.
I print out the photo and study the pattern; I trace it and let it sit on my desk. The next day, when adding a layer to the canvas that has me stumped, I incorporate elements of the pattern from the manhole into my painting—not by copying it, but by transforming it into something different. Combined with other sources of inspiration, I suddenly have something new that appeals to me and feels personal. I’m excited and elated about my idea and my work.
Moments like this happen over and over again, and it’s fascinating that something as simple as a walk can spark ideas for your artwork. So how does it work?
By combining skill and inspiration, we unleash hidden creativity and transform our artwork into something unique. While skills are the tools used to create, inspiration is the creative nutrition for our artwork. Skill is not a substitute for inspiration, but mastering our skills can help us when inspiration strikes.
But where do new ideas, the essence for inspiration, come from? For me, it all starts with observation, followed by the collection of ideas, then the transformation into something new: the artwork. I collect, note, record, sketch and write what I experience and see. Then I revisit and review my notes, often by turning them into blog posts, like the “Stroll Through the Hood” series. When I go to museums, I create “Art Stroll” posts, or after I travel, I write “Inspired By” posts.
These are personal ways of vetting the ideas these experiences can spark. While I write, I think about how to translate my observations into my artwork, oftentimes by leaving my comfort zone, and then, last but not least and most importantly, I make art!
HAMBURG HARBOUR
Nathalie Kalbach
Acrylic paint, acrylic ink, and spray paint on canvas
12" × 9" (30cm × 23cm)
Inspired by the daily changing scenery of the Hamburg Harbor, located in the middle of the city.
