Whispers of the Muse: Listening to the Studio’s Voice

By: Linda Joyce Ott

Nov 28 2025

Tags: ,

Category: abstract art, Art, Conceptual Art, Creativity, Dance of Life, Fine Art, Inspiration, paintings, Spiritual, zen

2 Comments

Aperture:f/4.5
Focal Length:35mm
ISO:100
Shutter:1/0 sec
Camera:Canon EOS REBEL T5i

Every painting begins with a pause, a moment when the studio itself seems to breathe. Whispers of the Muse (18X24”) emerged from that pause, a meditation in oil pastel where shapes overlap like thoughts, and colours shift like emotions. The vertical composition feels like a pathway, a gentle ascent toward clarity.

For me, the muse is not a loud presence but a subtle one. It arrives in whispers, in the quiet insistence of a line, in the harmony between warm and cool tones. This piece is a reminder that inspiration often comes softly, asking us to listen with patience and openness.

In this work, interwoven curves and angular forms create a dialogue between stillness and movement. Warm reds and pinks meet cool blues and purples, guiding the eye through a vertical flow that suggests presence, reflection, and inspiration. The title evokes the quiet yet persistent voice of creativity, a muse that speaks in colour, form, and silence.

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My Optimism of Color Blog

Every Tuesday and Friday, I post a photo or piece of art that I’ve created that reflects what I call the Optimism of Color. Through vibrant colors and bold visceral forms, these works shout out my joy at being alive, and my good fortune at being able to continue to make art after surviving five cardiac arrests in one night in 2011.

Each of the images I post brings a smile to my face. I hope they bring you similar joy and laughter through the Optimism of Color.

All photos © Linda Joyce Ott 2025

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2 comments on “Whispers of the Muse: Listening to the Studio’s Voice”

  1. I love this pastel and especially your narrative about its creation–at 3:45am, in my studio, looking at it on my screen, it speaks of the inner transformation from solitariness to solitude. Lovely way to start my day, Linda, thank you.
    Lance


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