Unlock the stories behind the artwork of Cassandra Gaisford & experience the influence of Mark Rothko. Learn the secrets of creative growth like a child.
People often ask where do I grab my inspiration from. So often my inspiration comes from the stories people share with me—their hurts, their pain…and their joy. But inspiration also comes from travel. It was in Paris that I first saw the works of American artist Mark Rothko and his large, spiritual, transcendent flow paintings.
In one of Rothko’s earliest essays, “New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers” (1934), the artist emphasized the creative benefits of approaching art like a child might—instinctively, without the guidelines of overbearing instruction. By watching children work, he wrote, “you will see them put forms, figures, and views into pictorial arrangements, employing of necessity most of the rules of optical perspective and geometry, but without the knowledge that they are employing them.” This may be why, he wrote, “their paintings are so fresh, so vivid and varied.” He added that an artist of any skill level should seek to “make his work arresting and provoking of attention.”
What’s more, Rothko advised artists to naturally express emotions and experiences, like children do, in order to develop their own unique style.
Te Ataroa, 2020 900 mm x 1200 mm Acrylic on board, framed in Ash by Peter Sharp.
Te Ataroa is one of my flow paintings, inspired by Mark Rothko. The name of the painting was inspired by a beautiful baby who was only three months old when I saw her while she was with her mum shopping for groceries. Her name was Te Ataroa, which her mum told me translated from Maori means, long morning. I love mornings—lying in bed gazing across the land toward the sea, then drifting up at heavenly clouds
The young couple had lost a little girl who, a year earlier, was stillborn. Their new daughter, Te Ataroa was such a special blessing.
As I painted the artwork I imagined Te Ataroa’s sister shining down from heaven, sending her family endless kisses across the morning sky. The colours were inspired by the pretty little pink, white, and green floral dress Te Ataroa was wearing when I met her.
I showed the young couple a photo of the painting and they told me that their mother wept. After exhibiting this painting in a group exhibition, The Beauty of Resilience, just as New Zealand emerged from the first Covid lockdown in 2020, I gifted this painting to the family.
My group exhibition, “Return To Love” featuring botanical photography by Jane Ussher and sculpture by Grant Gallager, inspired a flurry of colourful, heart-inspired paintings.
Return to Love opened Easter Friday and showed until Anzac Day, Monday 26 April 2021.
The exhibition’s name referenced the importance of love, beauty and art in these chaotic times and how needful it is for our mental health and resilience to have this love-inspired beauty around us.This is how Mark Rothko and his quest for beauty inspires me.
Festival of Colour was created in the studio during the full moon 2021 energy of Libra— joy, happiness, love, beauty…colour gives it all.
One of my great loves continues to be the joy and blessings colour brings to me, especially when I surround myself with colour in my home.
My other loves are painters that inspire me:
Van Gogh and his bold, colourful, healing creations that makes my heart ache.
Helen Frankenthaler and her large, innovative, flow paintings and her quest to capture and create beauty.
Inspiration for your place, at ours…
I am delighted that, while many of my works are inspired by tales of sadness and made during the lengthy periods of COVID-imposed isolation, people tell me that my paintings elicit joy and a remarkable sense of hope-inspired optimism.
To create and capture vibrant memories, past and future, and transform sadness into love-infused beauty is my grand passion.
I Bought You Flowers, 2023, Cassandra Gaisford
Pretty Gorgeous, 2021, Cassandra Gaisford
Reminds me of an iris in bloom” ~ Rachel Barber
Pretty Gorgeous is another of my flow paintings…my biggest yet!
The inspiration for the name came quite simply from the first remark the fantastic framer I entrusted with stretching the raw canvas onto her final frame, Peter Sharp. As he unrolled the canvas from its roll, he grinned and said, “pretty gorgeous!”
270 cm x 150 cm
Acrylic on canvas
Dm if you’d love Pretty Gorgeous to be yours, yours, yours.
You may enjoy this video, where I discuss getting started, expressing emotion, variety in color and composition, and why art offers hope, healing, and resilience. I share how I created my large abstract landscape, “Pretty Gorgeous,” – from getting started to the finish.
To learn more about the process of this commission you may enjoy reading my blog: https://www.thejoyfulartist.co.nz/how-to-commission-a-painting/
Posted in: Blog
ABOUT CASSANDRA
I am an artist, storyteller, intuitive guide, mentor and Reiki master. All my creations are infused with positive energy , inspiration, and light. I believe in magic and the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform your life. My greatest joy is helping your realize your dreams. That makes my soul sing!
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