Finding Inspiration
Inspiration may be considered the energy force of creating art. Endless supply of inspiration allows continuous creativity, yet no supply inhibits us. This article is to help us keep inspiration flowing, on demand!
Using Your Eyes Correctly
Firstly, I thought I’d post a little note on this topic. I’ve noticed many times that people ‘look’ in different ways. Many people look at a work of art, view it correctly, but lack the proper mental process. It’s surprising how many people do this; they’re looking, but they’re not really seeing. Keep your mind open, look at the painting, but do this consciously or intelligently. A good way to do this is to break down parts of the painting, examine the subject as well as anything it may remind you of. A great way to consciously look at work is to consider point by point and apply it. The contrast, black compared to white, shadows compared to highlights. The colours used, do they complement each other or do they contrast. Why has the considered point been used? Many decisions would have been made by the artists, and we may break down the work by considering the reasoning for said concepts. Now, apply this process to your own work, once inspired!
Don’t just ‘look’ : Conscious viewing should be applied.
Art Galleries & Museums
Sometimes it helps to take the obvious option. It’s nice to visit your local art galleries and museums that most town centres have. Know the content of your local galleries and keep up with the changing exhibitions. When visiting other countries, it’s very good to look up their local galleries and museums. It can be a great hub of culture and, other than inspiration, you get to know the country better.
Online Websites
We are quite lucky to have a pretty much endless supply of artwork online to view. There are many, many websites containing lots of work. Consider the fact that some websites screen what they showcase, whereas other websites allow anyone, at any level of skill, to post on the website. I find looking at websites where amateurs post to be interesting. We’re not looking at the quality of the artwork, we’re just drawing inspiration. Quite often, amateurs post crude quality work with really good concepts that can be drawn on and built into a more professional outcome. For more polished and ‘mass societal’ work, look at websites which have application required to show and sell art on their sites. Artfinder is a good example, with an ‘inspiration’ link on the homepage.
Go For A Walk!
When a creative block occurs, going for a walk can really help us. Take a new route. Consider your journey and how you could document it on a canvas. Consider your surroundings, look consciously around, shapes, colours and textures. You walk past a run down closed old building, for example. Take a picture of the rustic door, with flaking paint falling off, and apply this texture to your work. Perhaps you pass a modern glass building. Consider all the reflections, the manipulation of light.
Draw Inspiration From Nature!
Many people who live in a very nature-rich environment don’t realise how lucky they are. Consider living in a city centre for example, where nature is often sparse. Still, any nature can be a very good source of inspiration. Look at the shapes the tree trunks make, when they overlap. Take in the colours. Perhaps it’s autumn, leaves all on the ground. Take a picture of the colours, the shapes the leaves make on the floor. Perhaps it’s been raining, consider the reflections.
Keep A Dream Diary
Many great artists and creatives have claimed to have been inspired by their dreams. This is especially the case for the old masters, as they had no access to the internet, social media steams and TV to inspire them. If you’re someone who does have vivid dreams, it can. be handy to keep a small notebook next to your bed. As soon as you wake, record your thoughts in the notepad, your dream diary. Write point after point, recoding every event, before considering them together, as a whole and the meaning behind them. Personally, I hardly ever remember my dreams. I do envy those who have such vivid and interesting dreams.
Hopefully, I have helped suggest a few ways in which a creative block may be resolved.
Thank you for taking the time to read any of my posts!