We’ve all experienced it, that artistic fervor when the ideas are flowing like water—you can’t crank the pieces out fast enough and are enjoying every minute of it.
Then, for whatever the reason may be —too many things piled on your plate,
But you procrastinate and do everything but sitting down to create art, fearing (either consciously or subconsciously) the same thing will happen when you try again. “Ugh”, you think, “when will it come back? Will it come back?”
Well, let not your artistic heart be troubled. I have created many tips for how to find inspiration for art. Read on to find your art muse. There are sure to be a few ideas that will help you get those creative juices flowing.
At Home or at the Studio
Look back on your early drawings or artwork. You may be inspired to redo them or derive new ideas from them.
Likewise, look at your pieces to discover an idea for a “sister” painting to go with it or a series perhaps.
Dig out the photo albums or your online photo storage for your favorites. Really study them. Perhaps a place, object, person or facial expression could spark that artistic drive.
And remember, you don’t have to paint the whole picture. Reconfigure the composition, choose just a small piece of it to render, or change up colors or objects in the picture. Take “artistic license”!
Watch Online Art Tutorials
There are a gazillion art tutorials online! Sometimes that’s all you need to get the spark back; watch a fellow artist working.
I find it very inspirational to watch another artist at work. Whether it’s the seeing how they render the subject, techniques used, or a different medium than I’ve used, I find it all interesting and motivating.
In fact, there’s just something about watching someone else doing art—doing the very thing that you are passionate about—that makes you want to pick up the pencil or paintbrush and have at it again!
Relax
One of the worst times to try to do art is when you’re stressed or rushed. Am I right? I have often heard, “I have to be in the mood to do art.” Well, my interpretation of that is we must relax before our imagination can be ignited.
Recommendations?
Also, coloring is a great way to relax too. Yes, as an artist, I still do, on occasion, color just for the relaxation of it! 🙂
Actually, anything you do to relax will help—meditation, reading, praying, exercising, yoga, going for a walk, you get the idea. The point is to shake off that stress so you can begin to be in the right mindset to create.
Try Something New
Maybe you need a change of medium. I, for one, love colored pencils and watercolor pencils. Here are a couple of my pieces in colored pencil.
Change the Scenery
Visit your local art museum—better yet, take a friend with you! He or she may
Why not go to your favorite art store? Just seeing all those new supplies is fun and can be inspirational!
Your local library (or even your own personal collection of art resources) would have, no doubt, a plethora of art instructional resources. Try some exercises in the books. You never know how you may embellish or completely change the exercise to your own impression of the subject or your own art style.
Go out for a walk. A simple breath of fresh air, taking in nature may be all you need. Bring your cell phone or a camera to take photos of wildflowers or your garden flowers, and don’t forget your sketchbook. If it is during the fall, well, need I say more? The colors alone may be inspirational as a few leaves you pick up off the ground may be as well!
Plein Air Paint or Draw
If it has lost it is leaves in Fall or Spring just before it starts to bud, notice all the different limbs and branches and all the minutiae of details.
No back yard? No problem. Just step outside, take a deep breath and look around till something catches you eye. Then take a moment to really look at it and observe everything about it. Imagine how you would render the details.
Before long, the inspiration will come. That’s the time to grab your chair and supplies and have at it. There is just something very relaxing about spending time outdoors and doing art. Give this a try. It’s awesome!
Update Your Resume
This may seem unrelated to finding inspiration for art, but it is important to have an art resume. People always want to know the artist’s background. And yours is obviously unique to you.
This exercise of summarizing your art history, seeing where you’ve been and how far you’ve come will bolster your self-confidence. And feeling good about what you’ve accomplished in art just may inspire you to get back to the easel or drawing board.
Start a Blog
If you already have a blog, you can talk about artist’s block and get ideas from
If you don’t have a blog, you may want to start one. Writing about all your art experiences may help refresh some memories of a day of plein air painting or your favorite drawing.
Once you start writing articles, this may motivate you and give you ideas of other subjects to create. Or others’ comments may also strike a chord and get your art motor running again.
Time Off
Perhaps you have just been going at a frenetic pace and your well has run dry. Maybe you just need some time off. If you are working for yourself doing art as full-time work, you could be putting undo pressure on yourself to never stop. You feel you eat, breathe, and sleep your business. Being in business for myself, I can definitely relate.
But I am here to suggest you may just need a breather. It’s OK—really—to just leave art for a couple of days (assuming you can swing it financially). Just decide you will not so much as even look at art in a magazine.
Just do something else totally unrelated. And make it fun. Go to a zoo in your area. Visit a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. If it is Spring/Summer, do some gardening. Go to a movie, anything to get your mind off of art.
Then, come back refreshed, renewed, and ready to go!
May You Be Inspired!
The funny thing about inspiration to create is that you never know when it will strike. Never fear, your next fantastic work of art may be closer than you think. In fact, it could be right around the corner!
I’m really hoping my recommendations for how to find inspiration for art will help you! Sometimes, you just have to step back, relax and let it come to you. I’m sure there are plenty of other ideas out there to find it as well. If you have any other ideas on this topic, I would love to hear them.
Also, here is additional reading on this topic from Artists Network, click here.
Feel free to comment below. I will never share your email.
Keep the faith—and happy drawing/painting!
Elaine
