Dana Barbieri

In the current issue of O magazine some of the contributors shared how they stay inspired. I thought it would be fun to do the same. I hope you will share your own answers either in the comments or on your own blog.

I’m most creative when…I do creative work consistently. The more I work the more the ideas seem to flow.

If I were a color, I’d be…Aqua. It is soothing and tranquil,reminds me of the ocean. Plus, it looks good with everything!

I often imagine myself…Designing and decorating a new home and studio. Without a budget! Oh, wanted to add using a really nice camera, having a day totally alone with hubby, going on a nice family vacation…

I really wish I knew how to…Speak another language. There are some awesome foreign magazines I really wish I could read. Plus, I really want to travel outside of the US. I studied French in high school and in college but somehow that is all forgotten.

I’d love to spend a lazy Sunday…Reading, relaxing with the family, drinking tea, walking, making art.

My secret talent is…I really have no secret talent. I know how boring.

Yesterday things were going wrong. Not in the way of complete undone, more in the way of frustration.

Patience was strained, things broke, upsets were had. In short it was just an off day. And I didn’t even get to work in my sketchbook.

I really just wanted to go to bed. Get up and start fresh. Wipe the slate clean so to speak.

I mention this here because this bit about life mirrors how art making can sometimes be.

You start out with the best intention. You pull out your paints, your favorite paper. You have a really great idea that you can’t wait to try out.

Then the colors get muddy. That really nice paper buckles this time. That really great idea you had just isn’t so great anymore. It just isn’t turning out how you planned.

Do you keep going? Of course. Maybe not right then.

Maybe you, like me with my grumpy day, go to sleep and start fresh the next day.

Today is my new day and as I write this I feel better. Maybe it was sleep. Maybe it was just recognizing that sometimes it just happens. It is the way of life, the way of art.

Things get muddy, things buckle. Everything changes, everything passes. The point is to get up and start anew.
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*P.S. I am working a new something that I am super excited to share here. Very soon!

Have I told you that even though it is only 9 days into the new year that I have been working in my sketchbook everyday?

I won’t go and say it will last forever. As soon as I do that then it won’t. But I will say I am having tons of fun doing it.


I have been dating them and noting what works/what doesn’t. It has become my time alone, my time with my daughter. She climbs up with me and the things she creates I only wish I could.

And how was your weekend? Was it a good one?