Finding Inspiration for your Art
Inspiration can be found everywhere and in anything. It is less about finding inspiration but, what you do with that idea you have from the inspiring moment.
As an artist or creative person I think we all strive to be unique, to have our art stand out form others. This is the tricky part coming up with a never been done before idea. It seems that everything has been done, and that might be true.
Therefore, it is more about putting your own spin on the same thought or idea. The idea may not be new but the way you interpret and express this concept can be new and unique because it's your personal interpretation, which then makes this an original piece of art.
Getting back to how I find inspiration. My number one way is to get outside - whether it is in my own back yard or traveling to another area. Getting out of the house and exploring always helps.
You can document these adventures by taking lots of pictures. My memory card is always full. I also like to try to jot my ideas down. I think as a creative person there are always a million ideas coming into my head. It's not a matter of a lack of inspiration or ideas. Sometimes it's about sorting thru them all to focus on just one.
Getting into the studio and making a lot of art can help spark inspiration. I try really hard to get into my studio everyday - especially when I'm in the middle of a big project. Some times it's just to clean up the space, or prep some panels. It doesn't have to be to start or finish a big painting. Usually what happens though is once I start something in the studio, I find myself creating and painting.
Having too many ideas can be overwhelming and is often a problem for creative people. Making sure these ideas align with your core values and personal opinions can help narrow down the choices.
Taking a look at each project and eliminating ones that I am not personally connected to helps from getting overwhelmed. That's not to say that they were bad ideas or that I can't revisit them at another time.
Lastly, not being afraid to fail helps. I learned pretty early one that paint can be covered up. And it's only paint - you have not done any harm if a painting or an idea does not work out. If something does not come out the way I was imagining it, I try to take a look at what didn't work. What can I do differently next time? And also what did work? Most of the time there are areas in a painting that did work - the entire painting is not a failure. Then I think how can I incorporate those lessons into the next painting or idea?
If you are interested in seeing a few more insights in how I find inspiration, here is a short video on inspiration. .
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