Nine Inspirations

Artist: Vian Borchert

1. Nature:

Nature has always been a great source of inspiration to me, be it the beautiful sunrises that wake us up from our slumber and sleep, or the sunsets that say goodnight till another day. The moons and the stars above allow us to dream upon them. Dreams of expeditions into outer space and future travels into the unknown Universe. Our nature, our world is full of giving, full of love, full of mystery, full of hope. Nature is part of us and we are part of it. Ultimately, nature for me is the mother of all, the mother that keeps on giving unconditionally from its daily bounties and blessings while mesmerizing us with its endless beauty from its rainbows to its forests, oceans and green fields. Nature is for sure a huge source of inspiration for me as a visual artist

2. The Seasonal Changes:

One of the biggest wonders of nature are the four seasons from Fall to Winter, to Spring into Summer. Living and growing up in climates that are affected by the four seasons where one sees the transition from one season into another is definitely a visual feast to an artist. I just had in September and October a solo exhibition in the Washington DC area titled “Autumn Transition” that celebrated the changes that occur from the sweltering hot Summer nights transforming into the crisp air of Autumn as the temperatures fall into Fall. Winter is by far my favorite season to paint. I love the thickness of snow depicted in my Winter Woods’ paintings with the intention of turning these canvases into Winter Wonderlands by creating the illusion as if the viewer is walking into a freshly snowed in forest. I’ve also painted many snow mountains’ paintings that are mainly all sold as soon as they are created, and are on the walls of many art collectors' residences throughout the world.

3. Cityscapes:

I am a city girl, although the countryside does appeal to me in its pastoral panoramic landscapes. Yet, the city with its magnificent architecture holds a special place in my heart like no other. There is a certain fascination in looking up at skyscrapers and discovering amazing architecture that takes one’s eyes up and up to the sky. Cities such as NYC and Chicago for me are something else in regards to their skilled architecture. A walk on NYC’s High Line between minimal edgy buildings designed by the giants of architecture such as Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Renzo Piano, is an absolute exaltation to devoted architecture fans such as myself.

My latest line of artwork has been to bring my love for cityscapes and architecture into my art, while still executing my signature painterly touch that I am known for. In the exhibition “Abstract Gravity” a number of my monochromatic cityscapes were exhibited in a NYC key gallery where my art was praised by renowned art critic and beautifully written about in an acclaimed art review.

4. Art History:

In my art education, I’ve had extensive courses in Art history that greatly contributed to my knowledge in the field. Moreover, I have worked in museums such as the National Gallery of Art and The Phillips Collection Museum both located in Washington DC that furthered my knowledge and got me face to face with the actual master works of the most celebrated artists in history. From Monet to Degas to Diebenkorn and Rothko. I stood there for hours studying their work, every brush stroke, what they felt and how they translated their feelings into their skilled works of art. My favorite pastime till today is to visit museums wherever I am in the world. Also, museums are hubs of great architecture. Museums such as Glenstone museum in the DMV area is a great example of the marriage of architecture and landscaping mixed together in creating a great immersive museum going experience.

5. The Big Blue:

My love for the sea and the ocean inspires many of my works. You see, I was born by the Mediterranean sea. So, for me, the sea, the Mediterranean, is part of my intrinsic making. From its salty sea breeze to its deep azure blue, the sea is in my blue veins so to speak. Therefore, naturally I would create one seascape after another due to my deeply rooted love for the sea which embodies my heritage and my Mediterranean identity. I am nevertheless a lover of all oceans and all seas around the world. On the East coast, I greatly admire the Atlantic ocean and yearly go on vacations by the sea to energize and rejuvenate myself for months to come. For me, the annual trip to the sea is more than just an escape from the day to day noise, but a great source of meditation and artistic inspiration.

The sea from its sandy shores to its squawking seagulls and its special smell all exude excitement and energy like no other.

6. Cinema:

For those who don't know me, I actually studied the history of cinema back in college. For me, cinema from its birth till today has been the same as fine art. The difference between cinema and art, is that art is “still” where cinema is the moving picture – the moving art so to speak. The reason why I have always been fascinated with cinema ever since I was a child is because cinema beyond giving us the emotions and visuals – movies tell a story. Moreover, cinema engages us in so many ways through the film’s production and its editing. Good cinema stems from a visionary director and of course a team pulling it all together to make it work. I still dream about making my own films, and I feel my films upon creation will also revolutionize the art of cinema much like my signature abstracts have resulted in movements and trends within the art world. Good art moves people much like good cinema does. Some of my favorite movies and directors are: “Amarcord” by Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard’s “ À Bout De Souffle (Breathless), A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune) by Georges Méliès.

7. Birds:

Birds have always been a source of pleasure and joy to me. Ever since I was a child, waking up to the tweeting birds gave me much needed energy for the day ahead. Until today, I open the windows daily in the morning just to hear the birds, and let the fresh air circulate within the rooms. My love for all types of birds from blue birds to seagulls and crows is rather clear in my art teaching and in the projects I cover in my art classes. Throughout my art tearchings, I engage my students in creating artwork from all sorts of subject matters, not only still-life and scenic landscapes but birds of a feather are also a staple in my teaching as well. In my art courses, artwork illustrating birds have been done in pen and ink and in watercolor. Birds, remain a great source of inspiration to me as an artist and as a person who loves to see other beings singing and loving nature and flying freely from one tree to another happily.

8. Flowers and Herbs:

Last Summer, I created works of art that were inspired by my love for my lavender plants. You see, in the beginning of COVID, I had planted lavender plants in my garden and ever since I had seen the plants grow and flourish within my garden amid such a challenging time of living in a pandemic. The resilience and strength of these plants throughout these difficult times of quarantining had given me so much strength. Seeing these delicate purple flowers bloom and fill the air with their aromatic smell brought much pleasure to my heart on a daily basis. The beautiful lavender color had inspired me to create my new lavender hue themed artwork and the “Lavender Fields” paintings’ series that have been widely written about and a source of so many art articles and interviews. I am grateful for all the herbs and flowers that grew in my garden during this time. Their beauty and strength had inspired me so much not only in my work, but also in my life’s journey as well.

9. Poetry:

Perhaps this is one of my more hidden talents, yet poetry has been an integral part of my life for a very long time. As a child, I grew up keeping journals partially as diaries, partially as a sketchbook but mainly to write down my poetry. I have journals over journals full of poetry. Poetry that was inspired from love lost and love attained, melancholy, happiness and hope all affected my poetic voice.

Some of my favorite poets include Langston Hughes, Mary Oliver, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Rainer Marier Rilke and Pablo Neurda.

I end with this poem that I wrote at the end of 2020 with a hopeful look into 2021 titled “Dare to Hope”. Enjoy!

Dare to Hope

By: Vian Borchert

In the heart of all of us

There lays a hope

desiring to be free

from the sadness

from the grim

and the depression

and the wallowing.

This hope is big

This hope is great

This hope will break barriers

and sing

This hope will shine

This hope will bring forth happiness and care

A community of sharing and love

This hope is love

for a bright future

which will be

at our doorsteps

if we allow it to be

if we are allowed to see

our hope within us

For it will take us

flying high

above all troubles

to a nurturing place

a sound place

where love and dreams come true.

Take it, embrace it, love it

for hope will be yours.