What influences your art?

What influences your art? Is it the Masters from the past? Is it a popular artist right now? Is it family, environment, circumstances, the boss, the voices in your head, the dog, comics, TV, movies, runny nose, lack of coffee, the next door neighbor who likes to sunbathe nude, the shoe that's too tight, the hard drive that never has enough room, that pencil set that is always missing the black even though you've replaced it three times, the monitor that keeps flickering, the lamp that keeps blowing bulbs, the shade of wall paint that offends your eye, the mouse cursor that keeps jumping to the upper right corner for some ungodly reason, the paint that dries too quickly, the phone that won't stop ringing, the phone that just stopped ringing 3 days ago, etc. etc. etc.

Short answer - yes, it all influences our art. However, we are in control as to what degree the influence. I think a successful artist is able to shut off distraction, and when that is impossible it's time to switch gears - work on something else for awhile. I know with my work, I have several different types of art I can work on. Some require alot of thought, and others not much thought but alot of skill.

I believe that we are not successful artists until we can deliver under less than perfect conditions. Am I there yet? I don't think so. I still have a tendency to say 'screw it' and do something else. My wife's pissed-off shrill voice pierces my brain and makes me wince. If her tantrum is for an extended time, I am effectively rendered worthless anyway. Sometimes my sons need my undivided attention, as they deserve. Sometimes the dog needs my undivided attention,....after the tenth time, I put her in the cage - gotta draw the line somewhere.

Life happens. Live it. Draw it.