Inspirations from Tricia Guild: Matisse, India, Frida Kahlo

Inspiration: an agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or intervention. 

Carversville is full of visual inspiration, but even our uniquely gorgeous, little town can’t always quench my thirst for a steady stream of creative mind food.

A truly lovely book made its way into my senses yesterday, derailing my entire afternoon.

The opening pages of Tricia Guild’s Inspiration exploded with captivating photos. The cold, gusting, wet drizzle in New York was so unfriendly … well, I found a bistro on West Broadway and settled in.

Guild’s Intro focuses on her creative process: “People say you are what you eat, but in my view you are what you see — or how you see … Wherever we go, we are taking in glimpses, impressions, of the world around us, and I believe that these images go deep into our psyches, becoming part of our own energy and imagination…

This applies to any kind of image — a still from a film, the proportions of a doorway, reflections in the water, a misty evening when the light gives an extraordinary atmosphere — all sorts of things that we see every day, or on travels to out-of-the-way places … They build into a private pattern book of images, waiting to connect in some way. Much later on, one of these images will come into my head, suggesting a combination of colours, a pattern, an idea for a design. This is how inspiration works for me.” End of quote

I devoured the 200 pages of this visual feast, accompanied by mussels and a glass of white wine: Paris (of course), roses, Venice, India, Frank Gehry … the images piled up in a dazzling, creative panoply. Appetizers, maincourses, desserts … Guild’s images nourished my cravings.

Let me share just a few of my favorite stops on her inspiring journey.

Matisse

Guild writes: ” … he can so suffuse the painting with joy that you just want to be there. Immediately, you can feel the room, smell the fruit, taste the light — it is vibrant with life. “

As a colorist, I was always drawn to Matisse’s Nice paintings, where he used grey, smokey hues without losing the clarity and richness of his colors.

I remember now stumbling onto an Art Deco color card of Paul Poiret, while wandering around Clignancourt, the most famous flea market in Paris. Poiret had Matisse’s gift for creating sophisticated, smokey colour … greyed yet pure and never dirty.

India

“The colourful side of India is dazzling and always inspiring — the rituals, the textiles, the way flowers are used — but what one never expects is the cool calmness that also coexists there.” Guild

I’m the increasingly rare soul in design who hasn’t been to India. My only exposure to this life-altering country was a stop on an Air France flight from Paris to Bangkok. 

All of my friends speak of India with reverence, saying that their spirits are forever changed by a visit there. I offer you the visually spectacular India photos of Flickr photographer David Comas, to understand why artists are so impacted by India’s spirit and sensory tableau.

Frida Kahlo

“Her originality and eccentricity would have made her stand out in any age. When I look at her and her work, I see this unique creative spirit that was stronger than time and fashion, stronger than anything that life could throw at her. You can see the human qualities in everything she created. “ Guild

Frida Khalo “Roots”I’ve long loved the art and courageous spirit of Frida Kahlo. She lived a spectacularly artistic, sensual life, in the face of chronic illness and a challenging personal relationship with Diego Rivera. 

“Roots” reminds me that each of us has the creative ingredients for making our own life collage.

Your life painting — or crazy quilt, writer’s journal, perhaps an adventure to Africa is waiting for the making. Why not jump in your own little boat and get rowing. Trust me, you won’t drown, even if the waves crash on your head at times. Anne

More reading:

Frida Kahlo: Lost Love Woman in the Digital Age

Frida Kahlo and Her World