Inspiration Sources — Pamela Loewen

I am often asked where I get my ideas. Honestly, getting ideas is not my problem. Having time to explore the ideas I have is my big issue. So I will share some of my photos from the last month and write about how these inspire me.

These lovely little plants are right outside my front door. I love the leaf shape and simple white bloom. A reminder of quiet beauty. I also love the impact of many of them together. Simple form, neutral color palette, repetition. This could be a starting point for a great composition.

Sailing with Patrick and Henry on Dino’s wooden sailboat Port Townsend, WA 2025
© Pamela Loewen

I love all of the line elements in this photo of my son and grandson on our friend Dino’s wooden sailboat. The ropes, the boards, the ripple of the waves, the wrinkles in the clothing, the fingers, lips and strands of hair — all lines. The lines have different thicknesses. Some get interrupted. Some are taught, rigid lines. Others are more loose, draping and dangling in the composition. A more abstract composition playing with lines could be fun to explore.

Also spending time with my family refreshes me. Taking breaks from working is restorative. Traveling away from the familiar gives you new images and experiences to draw on as an artist.

Sitka Spruce on Spruce Railroad Trail, WA 2025
© Pamela Loewen

I have many photos of trees! I took this on a hike in the rainforest with my family. I love the moss on the limbs. It accentuates the limbs and makes it look more otherworldly. I also love the many shades of green, and how the light highlights the texture of the moss. So far my tree series are compositions of singular trees. What if I made a composition that had many tree figures — like a forest?

Bigleaf Maple on Spruce Railroad Trail, WA 2025
© Pamela Loewen

This is so majestic and dramatic with the backlighting. This would be amazing to achieve in a composition!

Western Red Cedar with curving limbs on Spruce Railroad Trail, WA 2025
© Pamela Loewen

Again, the line elements draw me in. I love the curving limbs covered in moss. I find nature so deeply inspiring.

Great Basin bristlecone pine or Ancient Pine on Rialto Beach in the Olympic National Park, WA 2025
© Shawn Loewen

A little confession time. I use an app called “Picture This” to help identify the plants I take photos of. When I used the app for this particular photo it not only gave me the name of the tree, but also told me the tree looked healthy! Since the tree is clearly NOT healthy, I wonder if the identification is actually right. If anyone can confirm for me, please let me know in the comments!

Living in New Zealand I learned to love beaches as much as my husband does. (Beaches in New Zealand have a lot more variation than the New Jersey beaches I knew from my childhood.) This beach was covered in pebbles and HUGE tree carcasses. I never saw anything like this before. We also saw seals playing in the waves. A rejuvenating place filled with unusual beauty.

Sunset Port Hadlock, WA 2025
© Pamela Loewen

I will never tire of the beauty of the rising and setting of the sun. I love to watch the colors fill the sky. I aspire to create something as beautiful as this.

And then I am back almost to where I started. This is the barn I see when I go to get my morning coffee at the Starbucks in Lititz, PA. (I know, Shawn, I have a serious addiction.) I love the simplicity of this structure. I love all the long black hinges and the lines created by the boards of the barn. It is always so clean and tidy.

Yes, I would love to create something as gorgeous as a sunrise, but I would also be pleased if I could create a composition as peaceful as this barn. Simple form, neutral color palette, repetition.