AVM Hawkins exploring New Orleans art galleries.
“The inspiration to be an artist is not merely to survive on one’s art, but to live the life of an artist — to live a life fueled by inspiration and to seek it in all things. To express freely, across all mediums and creative forms.”
Inspiration can be found in a cup of coffee or in a child’s eyes. It lives in the embrace of a loved one or the experience of live music. Art is everywhere — it lives in everything. The key is to be open to find inspiration and the willingness to receive it. An artist, merely codifies it into physical form.
To be an artist is not only to create, but to live life fully.
Pursuing the things that bring joy, enthusiasm and inspiration, while also expressing love, kindness and compassion for one another fuels art.
Living life fully, experiencing all emotions, good and bad, and deciding to channel these emotions into something creative and productive transmutes energy, however dark or difficult into something pure, truthful and beautiful. It provides us the opportunity to share it communally with one another, exposing our vulnerabilities to realize we are not alone, but are one.
Memoirs are writings and photographs by AVM Hawkins that fuel her creative endeavors.
“ My vision of living a life of an artist is fueled by living in a state of seeing constant inspiration, with a preparedness to express that inspired thought or idea on paper, or in some physical form.
When I see this vision in my mind’s eye, I feel euphoric. I want to jump to my feet and find a journal, a fantastic pen, and live that scene in real time. Reenact being an “artist” in real life.
I am like a child again. I am my original self again. My mind open with wonder and imagination. My body pulsating and radiating pure joy.
I don’t question my desire. I don’t question my feelings. I don’t question my thoughts or my actions. I instantly exude and embody the energy of a creative person, not because I want to prove anything to anyone, nor requiring permission or validation from my peers, but only because it brings my heart joy.
This is what I seek everyday. This is inspiration.
’Memoirs’ is a blog where I seek inspiration and document my reflections as I live and create.”
All of my most fondest memories growing up as a child were created in this home, a home my grandpa built.
I come from a great family—not because we are perfect or better than anyone, but because the love is real—unconditional and overflowing.
I am so very lucky.
Read MoreA trip is an opportunity to seek inspiration and create art.
When it comes time to packing for a trip, I over pack—or as I like to think of it, I’m over prepared.
Here are a few inspirational items I packed for this recent trip.
Read MoreEarly this week, I delivered an original painting, “Unified” as a donation to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation as an auction item for this year’s Gala.
I am very proud to donate this work to help raise funds for this cause.
Our ability to read and write is how we codify and transfer knowledge—and this ability is so very powerful and vital for our success as a species.
I was very happy to learn more about this foundation and the former First Lady’s passion and commitment to this cause.
Read MoreLast Friday, I attended GloryLand—a two day art event for artists, art lovers, and art collectors in connection with Untitled Art Fair, Houston. GloryLand consisted of panel discussions, Q & A’s, film screenings and social gatherings at Hotel Saint Augustine.
I signed up for The Glory Pass which provided me full access to both panels, all social events, as well as a guided tour of Untitled Art Fair Houston.
Read MoreLife, media, the online world feels more and more isolating and negative with each day, without really any hope of seeing a shift in consciousness, leaning towards unity, kindness, respectfulness or shared values.
Interpret this blog, to give yourself permission to do what feels good—feed your soul, prioritize doing something that brings you joy.
You deserve it.
Read MoreMy studio sessions have been far and few in between—definitely not as consistent as I would like, and certainly nothing like my art practice in the past.
Yet, paradoxically, I believe its been a good thing.
Ideas need time to contemplate, resonate, so they can be adequately translated.
Read More“Resilience requires happiness,” is a quote by Jimmy Butler, I found in Architectural Digest magazine, November 2024 edition.
During a time where I often hear how balance, especially work-life balance, is not achievable, this quote resonated deeply.
I often hear entrepreneurs declare the impossibility of balance, often eliminating the word from their vocabulary. Given this popular stance, it was incredibly refreshing to read Butler’s quote, “ I can’t be serious all day, I need balance.”
Read MoreWhen I think of Hurricane Katrina, I experience and feel deep grief.
I remember those moments like it was yesterday.
I can feel that time still in my body as I write.
And that life, I once had, and knew, feels very distant.
Read MoreArt can be a relic, transported into physical form…installed and positioned for an audience.
Or art can be consciousness, an experience that becomes infused into our being—-our thoughts, memories, and images (real or imaginary) in our minds.
Art is an appreciation for something, someone created. And it has the ability to transform one’s day.
Read MoreI seek the answers to these questions: “who am I, what is my voice,” and many questions through painting, through writng poetry, through creating things, through following my curiousity, and pursuing the things that inspire me. Inspiration is a great way to discover who you are, what you like to have or create in your life. Writing is a great way to discover what is hidden deep within ourselves that we often try hide or overlook out of fear or shame. Painting is a great way to channel energy inside, observe the thoughts that arise, as a moving meditation. “
Read MoreEarthing has become a small practice, that has led me to spend more time outdoors— meditating in the sun, watering the plants, and enjoying the night sky when it’s cool. When the sun sets, I sit outdoors to watch my son play on his swing set or at his sand table, and enjoy a cool beverage as I read or journal. These small decisions, bring positive closure to my day or a pleasant pause that enriches my mind and heart. These moments center me. And as simple as they may be, these moments really impact me, my mood, and my day, that inspires me to be creative, or miraculously, inspire me to separate away from my phone, to just be.
Read MoreMy sense of confidence as an artist comes from me being in the studio and spending lots of time there.
However, my new self as a mother, has other priorities that come first, that impede the luxury of time I once had to spend full days and full weeks creating as an artist.
This change is a gift, if, I am willing to accept it, and lean into it.
Read MoreDuring my law school days, I sought out various eclectic coffee shops to bunker down and “camp out” for hours. Salento’s was my way of finding inspiration when I did not have the time to express myself creatively.
Even then, Salento’s was my way of seeking, finding, and personally creating moments of inspiration in the mist of the day-to-day grind.
Read MoreFor me, this is what I’m seeking with writing this blog, and also, what I’m seeking everyday as an artist—when I’m in or outside the studio. Being an artist and pursuing as many moments as possible creating art, is really all about seeking to live as many moments as I did in Spain. Carefree, for the most part. Grateful, with a silent, present mind. Perfectly at peace to be in solitude yet open to experiences.
Read MoreMy husband and I share a an upcoming wedding anniversary in August, where we tied the knot in my home town, New Orleans. I couldn’t help but reflect upon a deeply favorited work I created last month: a commissioned umbrella for a New Orleans wedding, which of course, concluded with a celebratory second line of the wedding party and guests, with the new bride and groom leading the way.
Being from New Orleans, I know how special this commission was. This umbrella was not only going to be a work of art that would be experienced and enjoyed in real life, in real time, but also serve as an incredible relic to remind the viewer of how much fun, love and joy they experienced that special day.
Read MoreYou never know where inspiration may come from.
Through this particular edition, I’ve found a quote I particularly liked, and a poem (that was etched into a home) that was very fitting for me and deeply inspirational.
I share them below.
Read MoreThe ability to add texture to a painting, conveys the sense of time through the many layers that cultivate the piece. To add implies growth, but to take away aspects of this texture expresses weathering through hardships, developing strength testified through the visible scars on the canvas.
Read MoreMy work is evolving. Changing and transforming. And becoming more confident, expressive, and unapologetic.
Less cute.
Less trying to conform.
Less, creating for an audience in mind.
I guess it’s partially because I no longer have the time or physical and emotional energy to be anything I am not anymore.
Read MoreThe beautiful thing about painting, is that the more layers, paint, and history a work has, the cooler it becomes.
There are no mistakes.
Each action leads to the next, building upon the other, until it is ready to emerge.
Read MoreBoth paintings, completely different, were inspired by the same commission.
Their pathways become clear as I paint, and pursue further.
I love the wide brush strokes of Unified, and how their colors have a clear separation, an own identity to them, yet compliment each other so well.
Read More
