Inspired By: Artist Karina Bania (+ A Completely Killer Giveaway)

Karina's "Summertime," 12x12, acrylic on canvas.

Every single time I read one of the inspiring, thought-provoking posts on artist Karina Bania's blog, Curate the Day, I find myself nodding in vehement agreement. In fact, many times I've silently declared her my soul sister, so moved she is by the very same things that make me tick/feel alive/just plain happy (e.g. Big Sur, simplicity, slowing down, creating with her children, the desire to be "present"). Heck, even her "About" blurb resonates for me in a way that very few things on the interwebs do:

"I see things in things that are not always about those things and they inspire me. I am a collector, a painter, and deeply interested in how people leave their mark in the world. I love moving things around and wandering through words + places to feel alive."

So when I was pondering subjects for this latest "inspired by" post, the immensely talented painter was the very first person to pop into my head.

Karina posing with her work

In addition to agreeing to share the things that inspire her creatively, Karina has gone way above and beyond and offered to giveaway one of her beautiful paintings, Summertime, pictured in the first photo above.

To enter, just sign up for Karina's newsletter at: karinabania.com/newsletter and leave a comment on this post telling me what's inspiring you of late by next Thursday, August 15 at midnight CT. 

I'll announce the winner on next Friday's "inspired by" post. Good luck!

1/Debbie Millman Look Both Ways 2/ Karina on a camel in Rajasthan 4/ Magazine tears 5/ Trevor Triano 6/ Landon Metz's studio

1. Words. I read a lot, and if I have a compulsion to buy anything, it's usually books. The perfect book title, a few words on a page, poetry, the oddly phrased sentence or thought, can spark a whole series of paintings. Words are very visual to me.
2. Travel. Exploring new corners, taking unknown roads, and living in different cultures is definitely at the top of my list. I spent a year living in India where I volunteered, studied and deeply soaked in a different sense of place.
3. Structure. I often see the lines of a dress, a layout in a magazine, or the composition of a photograph abstractly. Structure, balance, proportion, pattern, color, and the play of light all catch my eye daily. 
4. Empty Spaces and Solitude. Alone time. I like a lot of it (not that I get a lot with two littles). I like it so much that I even enjoy looking at pictures of it. I have a pinterest board named 'alone' and one named 'empty spaces.' Even looking at other people being alone makes me feel good.
5. Artwork. I grew up in a house with a lot of original art. Many pieces hold really good childhood memories. I love galleries, museums, and spend a lot of time looking at how artists create and am constantly inspired by other artists' work.
6. Nature. I am a total nature girl. I love camping, kayaking, trekking, and simple meandering walks in nature.
7. My Family. They're my everything. A constant source of inspiration, chaos, and laughter.
8. Yacht Rock. There I said it. If I'm uninspired or stressed, there is nothing that brings on that carefree feeling like a little Summer Breeze. Sailing, by Christopher Cross's is music to my ears.