Caution:Artist at Play-Artwork by Shana Rowe Jackson

I have to say Autumn is my most favorite season of the year!! The gorgeous leaves, no humidity, even temperatures. The colors are wonderful, the smells are intoxicating. Pumpkins, Candy, Apples, I love everything about this season.  This year I have been particularly inspired. From Halloween, to fallen leaves, here are a few of my newest fall paintings done this year, and there are more on the way!!! "Free as Autumn Leaves" "Trick or treat?" "Fallen from Grace" "Morning after Autumn rain" "Pumpkin Palooza" "Life is Golden" Here are a few of my old favorites inspired by fall!! "Self Portrait 2" 2011 "New England Drive" 2011 "When October Comes" 2012 "I'll be the teachers pet for sure!!" 2012 "What's for dinner?" 2012 "I want THAT one Mom!!" 2012 "Thanksgiving Dinner" 2011

   Inspiration is an artist's best friend, but at times it can also be an artist's worst enemy. When I am inspired I feel like I am on top of the world, but even being inspired has its down sides, like lack of sleep, and an obsession with a certain project that can take over my life. The only thing worse than being inspired is being uninspired. When I am uninspired, in a slump, I don't even feel like myself, I'm depressed and irritable. I second guess my artistic talents. It is one of the worst feelings a creative type can go through. These ups and downs on the roller coaster of creativity is one of the main reasons I think artists have a history of mental illness. Just saying ;).  "Inspiration-The Musician" Part of my "Be Inspired" series © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2012   So how do you get out of it? How do you break out of the slump? The best way is to keep on keeping on. It is so easy when in a slump to just give up and say you are throwing