Artists of all kinds experience an incredible feeling of anticipation and hope as they begin a new work of art. Each new beginning is much like the freshness of springtime—a chance to start again. The feeling of anticipation and starting anew gives artists a sense of optimism and hope. The feeling comes from something new being born—of something to come.
Vincent van Gogh painted white almond tree branches against a blue sky —Blossoming Almond Tree—to celebrate the new life of his newborn nephew. For van Gogh, flowering trees of spring were appealing and represented awakening and hope.
If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
~ Vincent van Gogh
Blooming and flowering announces the beginning of spring and new life. Many other artists have been inspired by the colors, textures, and rhythms of spring: Sandro Botticelli painted Primavera, Igor Stravinsky wrote the Rite of Spring, and Aaron Copland composed Appalachian Spring. We can all experience this sense of renewal, awakening, and hope that comes with the changing of seasons from winter to spring. The Spring Equinox is a time of rebirth. It’s symbolic of starting new projects, sowing new seeds, and moving forward. You can use this time as the creative artist of your life to start anew with fresh perspective and break free of things that are dragging you down or stealing your energy. You can choose to start over as the artist of your life, only bringing along from the past the wisdom gained from your experience.
Artists explore the concept of spring—rebirth, renewal, regeneration, resurrection, and regrowth—in a variety of ways.
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- Through their works of art, artists often speak of their own personal transformation in various aspects of life.
- An artist may choose to reuse materials that were previously tossed out and give them a second life in a work of art.
- Materials from nature such as stone, wood, or natural metals are often used by artists to create something new.
- Artists sometimes seek to influence change through their art by infusing their works with humanistic thoughts and values.
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Growth as an actor and as a human being are synonymous.
~ Stella Adler
If growth as an artist means growth as a human being, it requires action. In order to speak powerfully through an art form, artists must become engaged with the world at large and with other forms of artistic expression. In a similar way, we can all explore the ideas of our own personal growth and of cultural and aesthetic conflicts in our world to create our art as human beings.
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth; it gives us a wonderful feeling of anticipation and freshness. Consider how you use the artistic materials of your life for growth and renewal. Remove clutter from your living and work environments, reorganize your highest priorities, and reevaluate your commitments. Explore your creativity. Believe in yourself. For some artists, the path means presenting an earth-shattering view of something. For others, it simply means portraying what was right in front of them all along.
To be an artist is to believe in life.
~ Henry Moore
Van Gogh’s Blossoming Almond Tree offers the feeling of spring—a sense of something new coming forth. Whatever you begin this spring, I hope it’s a magnificent and beautiful work of art—starting again informed, but unencumbered, by the past.
— Pat