Searching for Guatemalan Inspiration

As an artist I’m always in search of something that usually turns to inspiration later down the road. I don’t consider myself a photographer but I do love photography. The beginning of most of my artwork begins with a photograph. This is why I’m always increasing my collection of photographs to work from. I only work from my photographs, I do not cheat using other people’s photographs or Google.

At this moment in my life, studio and art career I’m only working on one project and that is a special series. Without giving you too much detail it has to do with me. So naturally I had to brainstorm, rummage through my photograph collection and when that wasn’t enough, I set out on a research trip. Where to you ask, to the place where it all began for me, Guatemala.

I didn’t know what I was looking for, I just knew that when I saw it I would know. That’s how it usually works with my photography. I try my best not to delete photos anymore. I’ve had to invest in a large memory cards because of this and that I work with photographs in RAW format. This allows me to play with my photographs later without any worries. Again I’m not a photographer but I’ve picked up a thing or two along the way. I try not to delete photos because while one photograph may not inspire me at the moment, it could open my eyes a week or a year later.

As much as this was a research trip I still had to stop by and see family. I have very supportive family that although they have yet to see my art in an exhibition here in the states they are always liking, sharing and helping me promote my art. Just on this trip alone I think I picked up over 100 new followers and all Guatemalan. I’m working on that Guatemala exhibition, hopefully soon. Just in case a Guatemalan Gallery owner is reading this…

So while multitasking a research trip for art, drop in on family and network with the Guatemalan art world I managed to get some interesting images for my series.

You can read all about my Multitasking Guatemalan Trip, in the Life with Salsa post A Getaway to the Country of Eternal Spring. 

As tiring as this trip was, I’m excited to get started on the last part of my series. While all my friends ask how the vacation was, I have to remind them that it was a research trip. When a doctor goes to a conference do they call that vacation? No, it’s work related. I just happen to be a visual artist and my work involves photographs and my subject usually involves parts of the world.

I have to say that I saw a different part of Guatemala and I hope I captured that in my photographs successfully. I hope everyone enjoys the series as much as I’m enjoying working on it.

If you haven’t done so make sure you LIKE ,FOLLOW & INVITE your friends to my Facebook Page, I post works in progress & about what will happen with the series I’m working on.

Better yet sign up to my Newsletter, you will know before Facebook.

My INSTAGRAM is all about the behind the scenes action.

LIFE WITH SALSA, is the stories about the travel, plus there is an INSTAGRAM

Guatemala will have me back sooner than later. I have new places I have to go investigate with my camera. I heard of things I can only see in Guatemala but I need more than a few weeks to explore.

UPDATE:

The year is half way through, you can see how I’m handling it all as THE day is getting closer, HERE.