3 Ways to Find Artistic Inspiration
If you’re a creative, then you’re no stranger to this infrequent guest called “inspiration’. When inspiration strikes, we can go on a roll drawing for days, but when it decides to leave, we despair. You may feel completely alone, but every single one of us has been there before. All we need is that little spark, and it can get us going in the right direction. But what if that spark has abruptly left us and we don’t know what to do and how to get it back?
Here are my top 3 tried and tested methods that WORK.
Tip 1: Look at things outside of your medium.
If you draw, then look at what people are making with clay, with paper, with lego, with flowers, with sand. Anything goes! Look at the colour palettes they use, marvel at the texture, the ingenuity of it all. To be inspired is to constantly expose yourself to new things and ideas, so that your creative juices can start piecing things and ideas together and eventually inspire you to create.
I have a Pinterest board that I use for collating ceramics and clay works, not because I dabble in it but because I am fascinated by the forms and the various shapes that they can be transformed into. I love the colours of the glazes and the insanely beautiful ways potters use to decorate their wares. That sheer beauty motivates and inspires me to create, and I regularly pin images that I love to that board. When inspiration is dry, I go to that board and scroll through the images so that my mind can be immersed in colourful creative ideas.
Tip 2: Take a hike
Let nature inspire you, take a walk by the river, go to the beach, lie on the pool chair and stare at the clouds, let your mind wander and roam because it is when our minds are at the most relaxed, when we are able to dream and create freely. When I feel creatively stifled, I like to take a hike through the forest trails and immerse myself in nature. The adrenaline of the hike, combined with the scent of the forest and the sounds of birds chirping sends me into this focused zen mode where my mind is completely blank. I do not think about looming deadlines nor do I think about unfinished work. I simply focus on the present, and enjoy the hike. It helps to reset my mood, and I come back refreshed and invigorated. If hikes aren’t your think, just take a turn around your neighbourhood park, hang out at the beach, go for a bike ride. Whatever it is, just get outside and enjoy nature.
Tip 3: Walk away and REST
Take a step back from creating and indulge in other activities. This might sound sound counterproductive but in actual fact is a most useful way to free the mind from the constraints of “I have to create something” to “I’ll just enjoy other activities, and who knows, I might get inspired by it.” More often than not, I have been inspired by the books I read and the shows I watch. Play time is equally important and plays a part in the creative process. Having sufficient play time and rest helps your mind slow down and restart the thinking process without any pressure to create.
Try these methods and if you other ways to find inspiration, feel free to drop me a comment or email to share about it!
