An Abundance of Inspiration

My husband’s Michael Southwest collection has a timeless treasure that I’m proud of. This piece was painted on location by my gifted husband, Michael Hodnett. My favorite piece from my husband’s Michaels Southwest collection is a timeless treasure created through teamwork. It’s a painting of a wall edge built in the seventeenth century at the national park in Pecos, New Mexico. Michael Hodnett, my gifted husband, painted it on location.

The reason I share my inspiration is to help readers appreciate the story behind the work, the teamwork involved, and the beautiful synergy that results from it. Every creation has a background and purpose, even if it’s not immediately apparent. It’s important to remember that all things are created twice. Below, you’ll find the foundation and beginning of this beautiful piece, which serves as the seed for the abundance of love that followed.

New Mexico discovery

Where it came from…

I took my daughter to Santa Fe & Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a Mother-Daughter
trip in the spring of 2015.

We went up to Sandia Peak, taking in all the mountain side, went hiking,
climbed hills, took in all the landscape of desert & snow, learning the
culture, the vibe & trends, soaking in a spa day at Ten Thousand Waves,
appreciating each cactus and flower at The Botanical Gardens in ABQ.

 We stayed at whimsical B&B’s with adobe-style homes, homemade breakfasts, and stories of the matron who gathered from her garden. The table was beautifully set up with vintage collectibles, teapots, figurines, and fresh cut flowers.

We went shopping, visited art galleries, indulged in eating and savoring & sought out all the best restaurants told to us by locals & followed by smells that whisk you away in a cloud of seared, flavorful, roasted chilis! We even went to a hands-on cooking class & learned how to make homemade chilis.  The whole enchilada basically.

We had a wonderful time in New Mexico. I truly cherished and adored the experience, and I already knew that I wanted to return sooner rather than later. The colors of the state are rich, natural, peaceful, powerful, and subtle, and I was inspired to bring this beautiful vibe and creativity into my home and decorate it with the same aesthetic.

Colorful Memories

From childhood, I knew that I loved Southwest colors; it was introduced to me by my teachers. As early as Pre-K. I remember making an art/craft of the stratum. We were asked to bring in a clean, empty glass (baby food jar), and we were to create a colorful sand dome. I recall staring into those glass jars and being in harmony with earth, I wanted to see those colors outside of Galveston and go soak it in.

I never anticipated my trip’s profound impact on me and my future self. During the trip, I fell in love with the history and heritage of the land and the way of life that it embodied. This experience inspired me to decorate my home with southwestern decor and to help my future husband choose places to paint and create art in New Mexico. The experience has become a sacred and special memory for me, with numerous journal entries to commemorate it.

When I gaze upon the deserts of New Mexico and all the heights, depths, and distances between the buttes and plateaus, I feel an overwhelming desire to climb, run, bask in the sun, listen to the birds, watch the sunrise, sunset, and stargaze. Most people think I am crazy, but I find it exhilarating. I have two favorite flowers. Can you guess what they are? My first favorite is the lotus, which is also my logo. But my super close second favorite is the cactus! Although the lotus discovery is for another story, it shows that sometimes our favorite things can change unexpectedly.

And so it begins, the SW art journey!

Michael & I’s first trip together to New Mexico, he painted a Cactus; its colors are brilliant and quench thirst and look so natural and smooth, like you can just reach up and pluck a leaf, being careful not to get pricked. He painted that piece from the botanical gardens in ABQ that I visited prior with my daughter; I couldn’t wait for him to see all the beautiful flowers and designs of the gardens. I asked him if he would please paint me a picture of this plant; he found the best one to capture, and just like the Church painting, it was not even the whole plant, just a part of it, but it spoke for the whole.

Well, that was my favorite piece of his SW art… That was until he finished The Mission Church! Yes, just the outside part of a wall is all it took, not even the whole church; he had found the perfect angle that would simply complete the design. Then, just like the flowers, the Agave he painted became my close 2^nd favorite.

Once Michael begins to stroke the many brushes he holds in his hands on the canvas, he covers and blends colors, fills the background, and creates a foundation upon which the image will appear. It is not long before you can see and appreciate his God-given talent. During this phase of his work, I explore, ponder, contemplate, and take in all my surroundings. I’ll sing a song in my head or make one up; I read, research, write, and enjoy the moment wholeheartedly with all my soul. I truly glean the work and God’s design around this work as if I have been there all along in the beginning and through time with all the components, people, and changes until this very moment of the painting.

Teamwork makes the Dream Work!

Upon my return, I clearly see his vision, and the shapes and colors have formed in a lifelike manner. He then continues to paint until it is time for us to go due to parks closing, travel, the light fading, and so forth. He has taken numerous photos by this point from his setup, and in between that, if we cannot return to that location the next day, he has plenty of resources to finish his work. This piece was about 50-59% complete before we had to pack up and leave the national park. Let’s call the work timeline 0-100 from beginning to end. 100% will be the finished creation, including custom frame and hanging hardware choice.

At about 65% into his work, I share my thoughts about his colors, shapes, and placement with a few comments about this and that… he considers them, revisits his view, and may or may not make a change or addition. About 75% into his work, I share my feedback again with a new perspective, and the same, he steps back and looks, changing the light on the canvas, changes, takeaways, and or additions may or may not take place at this time. Then, at 95% into an almost completed piece, I am with my eyes ever so detailed and share with him my thoughts and newer perspectives on the art from a close, distant, side view, lights, and overall appreciation review of his work. By this time, he always corrects a thing, changes a thing, adds to it, or something is made different from a slight to a noticeable change, at least for me. Even the details of where he autographs his new masterpieces to the color choice & custom frame style are all discussed and thought upon. This is synergy; it is genuinely excellent teamwork, and as a result, we have learned as a couple how to better appreciate one another with respect & courtesy.

Below is my original journal entry that helped create this piece of art.

What a beautiful day this was at the old Mission Church in New Mexico. Michael and I just walked on the grounds in a guided tour with a fully informed Pueblo descendant. Besides the “Stay on the Path” she reminded us so often due to rattlesnakes, it was a beautiful walk on reverent grounds. Here we are on the land of the Pueblo…, and boy, was it so hot. We rationed our water most carefully as the sun beat down with no shade in sight or any shade we could get due to the rattlesnakes. An excellent comfort was the Kiva, a room used back then for religious and political meetings. Once down the ladder, Michael was inspired to create art of the kiva; this is often how we visit New Mexico in all its various beauties, simply a lifetime of endless inspired work. We knew we would have these glorious moments. This time, it is at The Mission Church. After the tour, we went on our own self-guided tour, taking it all in and saving the best for last. With parched faces and sweat on our brows, we finally arrived at the church grounds. It didn’t matter to us that the workers were present replacing bricks to preserve this site or if the clay and mud machines were loud at that moment; it was still a most reverent site. I truly felt a sweet, even bold, and passionate spirit from these ancient ancestors as I imagined the life of the Mission Church and its daily service and love of people, the Pueblo.

Local Love

I stopped to chat with a worker as he shared his delight with the preservation exercises. I listened to him share his favorite New Mexico landmarks, one being this one The Mission Church. He pointed out his favorite place to sit while replacing the brick. At times, he catches himself gazing upon the land and wondering about his ancestors and the comfort it brings him. It makes him fall in love with his work even more.

The crowning Moment…

The air was clean, and I felt so refreshed and full of nature’s colors as I was also gazing at every crevice of what is left of the ancient church; these areas are paint-worthy…but not quite yet. I felt something calling me from around the corner. THERE!! Picture perfect! This moment sealed the deal…The open sky, the ancient timbers, the clay bricks, the wall shape, the height, and thebreathtaking earth colors had me at Hola! I called Michael to come quick, enjoy this moment with me, and take it all in. I said to him, “This will be your next Masterpiece”!

Michael recounts this upon looking:

“The timbers shooting out of the walls are hundreds of years old, and the mountains in the background make it real how old this place is. It communicated a blend of European and native American traditions. European architecture was built with available native resources. There was a great reverence, knowing the place was sacred to the native Americans and has been a religious site for hundreds of years. This painting here has allowed me to take that moment with me.” -Michael Hodnett.

In conclusion, travel can be part of one’s inspiration to create beautiful art, places you have gone, things you have done, creating an art piece, or simply telling a story about where something began. You, too, can have an Abundance of Inspiration in anything that fills you with Joy!

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For your Artistic consideration visit http://www.michaelhodnettart.com

His works of original, print as well as commission are available for sale.

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