Finding Inspiration in 2025

Travels Through Time, 12"x12," acrylic on wooden panel, © Lynn Goldstein

As the year comes to a close, I have been reflecting on all the wonderful things that have inspired me artistically and personally. Our lives and our art-making are intertwined without doubt.. This past year has been filled with creative growth as I prepared for my solo exhibition at The Zebra Gallery in Easton, Maryland. I have always found that the more that I paint, the more inspired I become to try new approaches and think outside my own box.

Leaf Constellations, 12"x12," acrylic on wooden panel, © Lynn Goldstein

I was again fortunate to travel far and wide. Travel is a sure way to find inspiration because we are in a place that is so very different from our usual surroundings. Don’t believe me? Take a look at some of my images from travels in 2025.  I started the year in Singapore and will be ending it in New Zealand (where I look forward to having my socks blown off in landscape lovers paradise). In between, I was fortunate enough to visit Austria, with its stunning museums and historical sights, and also was able to return to Italy to paint with students from both coasts of the US.

The blue light was riveting  bouncing off the leaves and trunks of these trees in the
world- famous airport in Singapore.

This photograph, of an unremarkable metal fence was spotted in Italy.
​I love the colorful stickers placed on the fence as "decoration."

This marble wall caught my eye in Vienna, Austria. I was glad that my husband had to run to get our tickets, and I had time to take multiple photos of the beautiful organic shapes.
​Can't you see this as an abstract painting? 

Teaching is also inspiring for me. I love to see what my students do with the information that I share with them. It was particularly fun to share new exercises aimed at helping my students loosen up and feel freer in their work. I intend to share more of that type of thing with my students into 2026 and beyond.

Me with my students after working on experimental art practices.
​I am looking forward to more teaching in 2026.

Making changes to my color palette was the highlight of my painting experience this year. I finally made peace with pink, and that change alone has made me look at my use of color in a new and exciting way. When you shy away from a specific color the other colors that you choose to utilize are affected by the absence. Intuitively I knew this, but I had yet to put it into practice. I am excited to see what 2026 will bring in terms of more color explorations.

Courageous Perseverance, 12"x12," acrylic on wood, © Lynn Goldstein

I am looking forward to a solo exhibition in November of 2026 and will be working on a new body of paintings with that in mind. I am going to be continuing to teach and provide demonstrations in the coming year, a highlight will be my workshop in Venice, Italy in October. It's not too early to sign up for that here. All this will be punctuated by even more travel, and I will share it all with you.
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I couldn’t be more grateful to those of you who have taken a class/workshop with me, purchased my art, or simply engaged with art in some way. I love welcoming visitors to my studio, and I hope to see you in 2026.