what inspires you?
in your life?
in your day?
in your art?
i am thinking about that today. and ill post my thoughts later.
updated 9:12 pm:
for me-what inspires me. life…
first and foremost, my children in every way. the things they say. the way they look. the way they sound and smell. they inspire me to photograph, write, create, smile, try harder, be healthier, be nice and be kind. they inspire me to take care of the world so that they have a better place to live. they inspire me to be a good example.
light inspires me. looking at light. shadows. looking at the way things are lit. the way people are lit. sitting in light. feeling the light, the warmth. the way it glows behind people, lights up their hair and their eyes. the way it changes the way the world looks.
music inspires me. everyday, i listen to music. if i could, i would listen to it all day. in many different forms and manafestations. music for my every mood. my every activity.
color. color combinations. repetition of color. surprises of color. unique shades of color. peeling color. glossy color. vibrant, muted, any color.
love. love inspires me. feeling love. giving it out. watching others around me in love, feeling love, giving it out. being touched by love. love makes me want to try harder for it, work harder for it. make sure other people feel it. make sure my home is full of it.
in my daily routines
the things that inspire me are the surprises. the things that make me pause. take note. mental or literal. make me smile. make me cry. make me feel ALIVE. from a sweet conversation with a little girl. to a race between boys. to the smell of my favorite candle. to a song that comes on at the perfect moment. to a laugh between us before we fall asleep.
in my art
color, the things the kids say, lyrics, memories, happiness, commercials, music, texture, pattern, words, letters, fonts, photographs.
light, laughter, families, love, eyes, smiles, emotion, ideas, shapes, texture.
You do! You do!
RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!
That is by far the main one! They inspire me to rant, scribble and scream….as well as boast, create, and find joy!
Othe little things like, colors,weather,organization (or lack of),and music.
you.
various other scrapbook artists.
the dw series.
magazines. esp. CK
in my life: other people who are my role models. who live their life like i want to live mine. people who are good examples of being mothers, wives etc.
books…
my girlies. for sure. i am inspired by their story of their lives. the things they say and do each day. the stuff i want to remember. the stuff that years from now will bring me to tears remembering it….the stuff i wish i knew about my childhood but is forgotten….no good photos. no journals. nothing. 7th child lost in the shuffle kwim?
you most definately inspire me and i bet 100% of the people that come here will say that toO!!!!!!!
tara
Mmmmm– experiences that are so vivid that you are totally in that moment– the taste of perfectly ripe fruit, or the crisp cold at sunrise, an especially big squeeze from one of my boys– the stuff that blows away all the pieces of my mind that are trying to multitask and makes me just BE. And then trying to translate those into color and placement and photos and words.
Missy
my husband, my kids, the beauty God gave this earth, and then STUFF….it could be the latest pottery barn cataloge, a photograph, a song, a book with a good quote, etc. AND A NICE CLEAN HOUSE can do wonders for my mood that usually leads to finding inspriation is practically anything! lol.
Lots of things around me, the kids, our pets, but also the birds in the trees and other people. Sometimes a flower of just the sky. And I love to be inspired by other photographers like you. You don’t know what kind of inspiration you are to me ( and lots of others) Said it before, you rock T. Such a great photographer and such a lovely and great mom :)
hugs Alette
Hmmmmm – music is a big inspiration for me.
Things my son Evan says to me are a big inspiration as well.
Went to the Botanical Gardens here today and they are totally blooming. Big inspiration!!
It’s always changing. Sometimes, the cute $1 stuff at Target (love it!). Right now music is have a huge influence on me. Esp. Kasey Chambers. The beautiful colors of spring are inspiring as well right now.
Mrs. Tara Whitney
Ali Edwards..all the time!!
Pottery Barn catalog
Scrapbook mags
Two Peas
My children most definitely
the color green
the seasons
Target
a loved object
photographs
MUSIC!
my own feelings and desires
and whatever makes me tick…makes me “ME”!
about to be the ocean on our beach vacation
magazines of all kinds, mostly decorating though
smells
the past
my best friend
antiques
traditions
heritage
love
hate
desire
hungry!
That’s daily and for my entire life. Overall I’d say the inspiration for my “life” is to be a good person, thoughtful, to love and be loved, to be smart and considerate in my actions and my intellect. To be HAPPY!!
Now what about you?
Okay, totally scarey. At lunch today, I also started a list (that is in my pocket right now) of things that inspire me. Weird that I checked this site after that and this was your post. Weird because YOU were on MY list. I’m usually just lurker, but had to post after this coincidence. Here’s some more on my list…
the view of the beach and river at my cottage…..just about any beach I go to….”Garden State” (both the movie and the soundtrack)….my friends with incredible fashion sense….my flower garden…taking a picture that takes my breath away….working at a summer camp for 8 weeks every summer…..memories….journaling….blogs..a good song (Joshua Radin at the moment)…the Anne of Green Gables books…the Bible…Urban Outfitters….a boat ride at sunset….just to name a few
inspires me..
you..your photography, your scrapbooking
life…it seems that things always come along at just the right time and change me, inspire me to change.
people…people inspire me to do a lot.
new products and mags inspire me to create.
home decor inspires me.
dreams inspire me…I always have my best ideas in a dream
Are you surprised by how many people are saying that you inspire them?
YOU – would be on top of my list right now -Firstly because of the love you show for your children. (whom I might add are all just simply gorgeous) and secondly because recently i’ve become REALLY interested in photography and you are my ultimate role model right now! I would just about give anything to be able to take such terrific pics as you do.
other things that inspire me:
MY MOM – who was recently told she had advanced aggressive lung cancer and attended chemo treatment, only to be told the doctors made a misdiagnosis and that she only has a removable benign tumour. She’s lost all her hair – and hasn’t even thought once to cover up her bald head!
THE CHILDREN THAT I TEACH – because they are just so honest and they do what makes them happy no matter who is watching.
ANYTHING USA – because I live in South Africa, it’s difficult to get the really awesome scrapbook supplies here in SA. we wait for ages for new stuff to come in, and then it’s so expensive that I really have to pick and choose what I need. also other arb things from USA – like the massage ball my brother brought back with him from the states. such a simple item for you all, but so captivating to me!
CANDICE GREENWAY – our very own South African scrapbook guru! I just love her work!
RAIN
MIST/FOG
MUSIC
THE SEA AND BEACHES
GROWING MY OWN VEGGIES – which i’ve just started! onions of all things!
BEING ANYWHERE NEAR WATER – love to waterski
MY FRIENDS
These are just a few of my inspirational things…
I just posted about inpiration on my blog today! I get it from so many places. It is a great feeling when you see something and it just clicks off an idea. Love that! You are a big inspiration also! Love your truth in your photos Tara.
uH.
YOU.
And your photos.
It’s a daily inspiration thing.
:)
what doesn’t inspire me in some way? i am a giant sponge soaking up the world around me in attempts to capture it all as a record on my brain to remember in the future.
:)
You. Your photography. My camera. The world. Words. Writing. Books. Music. Lyrics. Movies. People. Friends. Love. Life. Living. Inspiration.
color
texture
the change of seasons
words… oh the power of words…
fabric
paper
letting go
appreciating
soft puppy tummies
the giggles of little ones
i love you’s
hugs
old photos
stories — mine, yours, theirs…
nature
my three sweet canine companions
walks in the woods
sunset
sunrise
the glory that is being alive
YOU! your photography makes me want to be better!
My camera and photos!
My kids!
My Husband!
COLOR! Bright colors!
Blogging
Scrapbooking Publications- ANY AND ALL
FRIENDS!
NEW PRODUCT!
New technique!
Sunny Days!
I love your blog! Thank you for being here! :O)
What Inspires me
My Husband
My Children
My Grandchildren
They make me a better person
My Camera
Photography
inspires me to look at the world and capture that special moment
Tara Whitney
Her Photos-her wit-her inspiration to all of us
Mountains (Mount Whitney one day I will climb again) The ocean and all that God has given us and glorifies.
The time to really reflect our life
I love that you post these kind of posts in between your photo shoots!
I am inspired by so many things that make art – ART (color, design, shape, artists….) But even more so, I’m inspired in the everday things of life…things that *I* make art.
Like:
– My perfectly imperfect kids
– Photographs that capture moments as they truly are – as it’s meant to be. Unstaged and unrehearsed!
– Lately because of some nonprofit work I’m doing, I’m completely inspired by those who have gone before us and are losing their memories to Alzheimers. People who have experienced life to the fullest and yet – can’t remember that life they lived. It has been through their lost and untold stories that I have a renewed sense of purpose for my work. And that is powerful for me. It’s stirs a passion in me.
– And lastly, but most importantly, I’m inspired everday by this scripture: “Be still and know that I am God”….in other words….God is in control and there is nothing in my life that is more inspiring that this.
perspectives from others through…
art
photography
the written word
the spoken word
love seeing how our world is interpreted by others
love bringing that with
what I see,
what I read,
what I create.
can’t wait to read your perspective :)
my 5 kids
my husband
my parents
your photos tara…I’m always touched
a sunset
a rainbow
the ocean at night lit by the moon
the mist that rises from the hot pavement
after a summer rain
the smell of cut grass as I’m driving with the windows down
I have been a lurker on your blog for awhile now, thought it was time to finally post. Thank you so much for doing what you do! Taking everyday life and turning it into spectacular frames of greatness! You inspire me. Watching my daughter run at the park today inspires me. Choreographing for 120 kids in a musical and seeing that they finally get it inspires me….magazines, conversations, music and dance…blessings…
“to a laugh between us before we fall asleep.”
wow…i cried at that. i feel that. i love when that happens.
should have also said that i loved reading what everyone wrote. so fun to read what everyone sees in our world and what it means to them…
thanks for adding your thoughts. :)
tara
Jotted this down while I was still at the office (we have odd limits on what we can do online there).
I am inspired by so many different things recently. Always on the list is awesome photography. The kind that makes you feel something deep inside simply from looking at it.
I am inspired by all of the mamas out there who are into their children. Who develop amd model good relationships and put their families first.
I am inspired by all of the folks who are blessed to work at something the love.
Well, that’s the short version. These are the things that I find to be constand inspiration, day in and out; and they inspire me across all areas in my life. They are my sparks.
My kids, my husband, music, emotion, a picture, a sound, a smell, an amazing artist (like you!), beautiful eyes, curly hair…inspiration is all around me. My challenge in life is to not miss the chance to be inspired by it all. And everything you said, too. Thanks, Tara.
I wish I wrote that, my list would look much the same as yours! I have been feeling frustrated, uninspired and you reminded me that I have so many sources of inspiration and joy around me, I have no reason to feel uninspired! Thanks for sharing your inspiration – it is a gift to have read!
At the moment YOU are my biggest inspiration, Tara ♥ It´s not only the beautiful pictures (with the most gorgeous colours and details) you´re taking, but the way you express your feelings in words is just heartbraking – BEAUTIFUL!!!
You are defenitely one of the reasons I sooo badly want to get better in my passion – capturing moments.
Thanks for beeing here and sharing moments of your life with us and so much more *sends BIG hugs*
Love, Jesse
I am insprired by people, mostly my daughters & husband to do better, be better, love better.
Things that inspire me to just be; nature, the pink sunsets, the clouds, fresh bright spring green grass, the beach.
My camera insipres me to look at things differently, like through someone elses eyes. I am seeing things that I really missed over before. I am so inspired to find something new, or something is new to me that moment in time.
Music, it make me think of time passed, time to come. Inspires me to dance, laugh, cry, and to be still.
Reading of quotes, profound or not inspires me.
Mostly I think I just want my kids to someday be able to look at my pages and know what I was thinking. What I thought about life, them, myself, their dad. I love the thought that I can make something that visually represents what I think and feel and who I am.
In my everyday… MUSIC inspires me. :)
I’m easily inspired :),
*clouds—I love painting clouds, capturing their many faces
*seeing artwork I love, whether in a gallery, online, at friend’s studios…
*my friends Scott and Lisa, they always seem to be just finishing up a home project, teaching project, woodworking project, or something that is so cool!
*other artists—photographers, fine artists, scrapbook artists…
*magazines
*books stores
*books
*photographs
*oak trees
*lighting—the glow of an evening; brightly lit trees with dark purple rain clouds behind; tree shadows falling on a sparkling stream; warm lamp lighting on a childs face reading…
*color
*silence
*traveling—seeing new things, places, architecture, people…
*unique shops
*greeting cards
*art galleries
*autumn
*the beach
*Ikea
*texture—old brick walls, multi-layers of peeling paint with flashes of different colors, mossy concrete…
*paper
*notebooks and journals
*sketchbooks
*new art supplies
*a finished painting
*people watching
*reading journaling on scrapbook pages
*love
*connecting with my husband and children
*flowers
*farmland…
*solitude
*grapic design
*paper
*fabric
*green plants (I have a whole room full of house plants)
*journaling
*Target
*color BLUE
*CK mag.
*Ali Edwards
*YOU (I wish I was as good at photography as you)
*reading BLOGS (the thoughts and feelings of others is very inspiring to me)
*Organization (gotta have it, clean house neat work space)
*silliness of my dachshund (his innocense and devotion)
You are a wonderful photographer, I just love your work. I get so much inspiration from you.
Thank you for sharing such a personal part of you. People inspire me. I love people all different people. I love the beauty of the world we live in from sunrises to sunsets and all that’s in between. I find inspiration in new places all the time! But I am blessed to be a mother so because of that I am inspired but runny noses, skinned knees, broken hearts, and mid- afternoon tantrums, by out of tune songs, misspoken phrases, silly new words, and sweet sticky kisses….. life is good. I sometimes forget the inspiration and then all at once something happens to pull me out of the abyss and I rejoice in that. You all inspire me thank you for so freely giving a little of yourself each time you create! Julie
my KIDS, my family, people. Feelings. Emotions.