From Uninspired to Unstoppable: Can You Master Inspiration?
"Inspiration is the spark that ignites the soul's creative fire, transforming mere thoughts into masterpieces." – Unknown
You ever got that feeling of sheer boredom, or you've just simply lost your motivation to head to the studio and paint? What about those times where life is throwing you punch after punch and they're hitting hard? Can you relate to those times where you get stuck in a rut, and the usual source of excitement for your creativity just somehow mystically disappears?
If you're anything like me, I usually have more ideas than I have time or willpower to pursue. My mind travels miles in minutes and my excitement for many of these ideas keeps me powered to go for months.
But sometimes that inspiration can be zapped like a bolt of lightning came down and took it all away from my mind leaving me dried up for ideas and with little to no motivation to create. Sound familiar?
If it does you've likely went searching for ways to solve it just like I have. And time after time artists hear the well-intentioned advice "Inspiration will find you working".
Another words, just keep pushing through that lack. Eventually it will come back.
What if it doesn't have to be this way? What if instead we solve the lack of inspiration and get back to our creations with excitement, solving the dread!
Inspiration is the lifeblood of creativity for us as artists. It drives the creation of new ideas and brings innovation to the forefront of our work. Here’s why feeling inspired is crucial:
1. Enhances Creativity:
Inspiration fuels our imagination. Our imagination is what leads us to original and impactful artwork!
2. Boosts Motivation:
When we FEEL inspired, creating art becomes a passionate endeavor rather than a mundane task like "just keep working" mandates. This heightened motivation helps us to experience more joy and art just isn't the same without joy!
3. Emotional Expression:
Art is a powerful medium for expressing emotions. It is one of my favorite parts hands down!
Feeling inspired enables us to connect deeply with feelings and convey them more authentically through our work. We get to create more powerful and relatable artwork because real emotions always come through the canvas.
4. Overcoming Creative Blocks:
Inspiration is key to breaking through creative blocks. It provides the spark we need to move past periods of stagnation. It allows us to evolve and not remain stuck in a creative rut. If you're currently stuck, there's no better way to climb out of it than to feel inspired once again!
5. Elevates Art Quality:
Inspired works often resonate more deeply with audiences because they carry our genuine passion and insight. This connection can elevate the overall quality and impact of the artwork because we deeply feel the message we are trying to relay!
So, you see, inspiration is vital! Lack is not something we should just push through but rather we can cultivate an environment that continually nurtures and rekindles our creative spark.
Writing Prompts
Journaling in your sketchbook is a great way to understand your voice as an artist and have a reference place all of your own that resonates with you most deeply. You can either write out these answers or create a visual representation of the answers and paint them!
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Overcoming Blocks: Write about a time you felt uninspired and the steps you took to overcome it. What worked or didn't work for you?
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External Influences: Reflect on how external influences, such as people you surround yourself with both in person and online has impacted your creativity. How did you change your surroundings or social circle to boost inspiration?
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Experimentation: Recall an instance when trying a new medium, style, or technique brought back your inspiration. How can you use what you learned from this to break out of a creative rut?
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Support System: Write about a situation seeking advice or support from fellow artists has helped you. What kind of questions did you ask? What answers resonated most with you?
Color Palette of the Month
The Psychology of Green: Green is not just a color; it’s a symbol of life, renewal, and energy. Psychologically, green can evoke feelings of calm, rejuvenation, and balance. It's often associated with nature and growth, which can positively influence our mood and creativity. Green represents all those wonderful things that fill up our artistic cup!
Sketchbook Challenge
Seek out inspiration with intention! Using a combination of imagination for fantasy art, along with the color green for its psychological effects is a great way to kick inspiration into high gear.
How to Use Shades of Green to Boost Creativity
1. Sketchbook Challenge 1: Explore Different Shades of Green
- Emerald Green: This deep, rich shade can inspire a sense of luxury and mystery, perfect for creating regal fantasy scenes.
- Mint Green: Light and refreshing, mint green can evoke feelings of tranquility and can be used to create soothing, dreamlike environments.
- Olive Green: Earthy and versatile, olive green provides a grounded feel and can be used to add depth and realism to fantasy landscapes.
- Forest Green: As a shade reminiscent of dense, magical woods, this can spark creativity for crafting intricate, nature-inspired fantasy worlds.
- Did you know you can mix hundreds of shades of green? Try it out! See the image above for several recipes.
Sketchbook Challenge 2: Use Fantasy Elements to Elevate Your Art
Integrate mythical creatures, enchanted forests, or magical realms. These elements can transport you to otherworldly places and help you break free from thinking about the reality of life's challenges. We can literally create whatever world we'd love to be in for a while!
Psychological Techniques to Change Your Mindset & Create the Return of your Inspiration!
1. Practice Mindfulness:
Mindfulness can help you stay present and fully engage with your creative process. Simple practices like deep breathing or short meditation sessions can clear your mind and open it up to new ideas. Sometimes just keeping our thoughts out of the past and out of the future, remaining in the here and now is a great way to remove pressure giving us the bandwidth to feel grateful and inspired in the moment.
2. Cognitive Reframing:
When you feel blocked, try to reframe your thoughts. Instead of thinking “I can’t find inspiration,” try “What new things can I discover?”. This shift in perspective can reveal new possibilities and get those sources of inspiration kicked into high gear!
Want to really push yourself to find new possibilities? Come join in the fun in our Artist's Community for "100 Fearless Discoveries" Challenge!
Remember, creativity is not about waiting for inspiration to strike randomly but is about creating the right environment for it to not just strike but also to flourish. We do not have to endure through the harsh nature of lack. We can address the issue and go to our studio with renewed purpose, with drive, and most importantly with excitement, briming with inspiration!
