Today we get the low-down on what inspires the work process of Brian Donnelly, an impressive artist living and working in Toronto, Canada. Check it out here…

Inspiration comes from a couple of places for me.  The first is the challenge of painting.  Whenever I see something that looks difficult to paint I go after it.  This approach keeps painting exciting for me, always pushing my limits, staying fresh and exciting.

The second is deterioration.  It’s something that’s easy to take for granted but a lot of the world around us is slowly falling apart. When a seed finds its way into a crack in the sidewalk and manages to take root, grow and expand that crack, or when a sharp-cornered brick gets softened over years in body of water. That’s simple deterioration that we don’t really consider, but I find it fascinating.  Whenever I see these remnant objects I always think of how I can apply it to my work as a painter.

I find myself happiest when I get lost in a detail.  Painting is a quiet and introspective place for me, where I can find a real peace with the world (despite listening to a lot of news radio).

Last month I painted an ear the size of a thumbnail.  It took four hours, but it turned out perfect.

Come face-to-face with more of Brian’s amazing art on his website, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and Twitter.