There are several things which fuel my paintings and overall creative engine. Here's the list:
1. Acting like a silly clown, literally! :)
2. Love. No, seriously! I'm with an amazing person named, Misty, and she's my LOVE and art agent. She inspires me everyday with her strength, comittment, caring, and understanding. She's also a hellava cook! ;)
3. Music. Oh, so much...
4. Sleep. Ha ha...yup!
5. Walking outside.
6. Looking at nature.
7. Smelling nature.
8. Hearing nature.
9.Listening to nature.
10. The people that love my art. They inspire me every day to flow with my own unique, artistic way and allow emotion and ideas to come out in my work.
11. My inner-most mind.

Here's recent work to get an idea of my flow. I hope you enjoy. 

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   This one, Night Rink, is currently hanging in the Ontario Legislature's In Camera Dining Room. That's quite an honour, I must say! 

   If you like art and look at various styles of art, you likely have a good idea of how broad the types are. Take mine, for instance, it's unusual and unique to me. Those who don't care for my art probably find it strange. That's okay, different strokes for different folks. For those who like my style and it speaks to them, this blog is for you.

   When I go to the canvas, it's almost a religious or spiritual experience, an urge, like a voice in me telling me it's time. time to paint. It really is an amazing experience. Then, when one of my paintings speaks enough to someone that they want to own it, that's the whole cycle, the completion of something extraordinary. This is something I never take for granted. 

​   When the blood, guts, sweat, tears, experiences, and ideas go into a painting, and then someone understands that and wants that, that's the honey in the jar, the scent of the flower, the icing on the cake, and the filling in the pie. Poetic? Perhaps, but so is my way of painting... X

   Every now and then, a person will go out in the country. In this painting, it's a woman. She's far, far out in the country. There's hardly any people around. The only sounds are birds and a bubbling brook close by. It's hard to imagine anything much better.

   This woman is feeling the freedom, the power of nature, and the healing sky above. One time, I heard a beautiful expression that I think really captures our love and need for nature, "mother Earth and father sky". Well, there we go...

   A woman, rough water, sinking sun, storm coming in, all things that can represent her heart. 

   In this piece, I Want to Stay, there's a very deep and serious subject involved, the decision to stay on this planet, to remain in this life. 

   For those of us that have never been faced with overwhelming depression or the blackest of days, I say we're so fortunate. For those that have looked down that dark and terrible hallway, I'll say that I truly hope that strength comes in. 

   Imagine for a moment that you're someone who has clinical depression. Imagine living in this world, a world with so much beauty and potential for joy, yet you can't really grab that joy or feel it? What must that be like?

   Never judge that person with depression. Never think you know exactly how they feel. Never, EVER give up on them. 

   Ah, the sea, it contains many secrets, and I reckon ravens do too.

   This woman, strong, in her power, fine by herself, empowered, independent, and a friend to the ravens. 

   To some, the raven is a dark and sinister thing, a creature of lonely castles and eerie skies. To me, they seem strong, smart, and industrious. They are a fine example of what nature can do.

   This woman by the emotional sea, waves of desire, sky of melancholy, and her wise friends. What will they share today, this woman and these birds? Only time will tell, but it may very well never be known what is shared with her ravens by the sea...

   On this Halloween, I completed this painting, The Night Ravens. I'm very pleased with it. It conveys what I'm trying to say. It speaks of the big, wise ravens, curious people of the city out and about, or as we say in in Canada, "Out n' aboot."  He-he-he...

   For me, ravens are very unique. They look powerful and rather mysterious. They seem to watch intently. I don't think I'd want to mess with one. ;)

   This Halloween, if you're out and about, take a look, up in the big trees, look closely, you may see a black shape. It might just be a watcher of Halloween, it may just be, the night raven.

   This painting is called, The Magic of Being. It deals with a woman that has gone through far more than most people, yet can still smile, enjoy the beach, the experience of being alive, and is not bitter. Oh, she has so many reasons to be justifiably bitter, but has chosen to be happy and excited for the future.

   When I was younger, I went through difficult periods in my life. It threatened my ability to be happy and fulfilled. As time went on, thankfully I had the insight to look at myself and life. I did a lot of personal work and came out the other side. I was able to get to a point where I could be okay with Carl. I could have my wonderful art career. I could live life to the fullest where each morning whispers, "be excited for the day." May YOU feel this each day. X

   Crows. Who can say they're not interesting creatures. They've been with me for a long time. It's almost as if they are whispering to me to paint them, appreciate them, celebrate them, and show people that they matter.

   With my way of painting crows, some whimsy comes out. To me, they're not evil or negative. In my opinion, crows are a good reminder of the world around us, the more wild things, a world we sometimes take for granted. We often go about our daily human business, hustling and bustling, forgetting what is around us. 

   Sometimes, I look out my patio windows and watch the crows as they sit on the big, old pines. It's a great experience. You see, we are lucky to have crows around, and all the other creatures from the natural world. Remember, we too, are connected to this natural world.

   

   Photo I took out my patio door window

     So, I got the coolest email today from a person.  I won't use their name, but I do have permission to use their initials, so thank you, S.A.  The email went as follows (I've copied and pasted it):
        "Dear Mr. Parker
       I just ordered the paperback about how to make money and stuff as an artist.  I am S.A.  I'm 26 and an artist from Washington State.  I have quietly followed your work for a few years now and greatly admire you and your art. It sounds like an honest book. I very much look forward to reading this.

All the best to you,
S.A.
www.amazon.com/Successful-Artist-Keep-Sanity-Money/dp/B08KSPX27F/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1602641660&sr=8-2

   I'm so glad I decided to write books about my life as an artist. It's likely a form of therapy for me. I get to talk about things that linger in my mind. I relay things that are important to my art career and me as a person. When people collect my books, I get a concrete feeling that I'm doing my job as an artist that is fortunate to have collectors around the world. When someone reads one of my books, I feel validated for what I do. 
Here is the link for my Author Central on Amazon: amazon.com/author/carlparker