How does one go about finding artistic inspiration? This is a question I have been asking myself
because the season of winter is my most difficult time of year.
Which is sort of sad because winter is when I have unlimited time for painting and every year my creativity becomes blocked, much like writer’s block. They are both frustrating and can make one feel like you are failing.
When I feel like this I gravitate towards smaller paper, thinking less space will release these emotions. That is almost never the case, regardless of paper size any sort of impression is missing something.
So how do you get past a block to find artistic inspiration? You know that artistic vibe that makes us burst with joy and amazement.
Switching Gears for Inspiration
For some we completely switch gears and go outside, others mediate
or read. Photography can help or just sitting down to sketch can be another
form of finding inspiration.
Everybody has their own take on how to find their artistic inspiration and I would be curious to hear your ideas.
But first I must say, I live where there is natural beauty everywhere I turn; I feel
like there is no excuse or set of words that can help me explain this lack
of creative flow.
As a naturally busy person with a creative heart my view of something is going to always be different from most. I am focused on movement over detail because loose painting makes me feel alive.
So recently I decided to switch gears but in a different way by increasing my paper size.
My husband also helped by coming up with a neat inspirational plan that encourages me to spend more time in my art studio before rushing outdoors.
My Artistic Inspirational Plan
I prepared my plan the day before; it was easy and fun beginning with a few of those small watercolor
paintings. I cut them into strips then I
wrote a color name on the blank side of each one.
Then I wrote subjects from our environment like pinecones, trees, bark, branches, etc. Each strip was folded and placed in a dish at my art table.
I got started the following day by regrouping my morning routine. First, I read my bible, have breakfast and exercise. Then I pick a word and ponder how it makes me feel while I am making my morning coffee.
When my coffee is ready, I sit down and paint from that word and experience what unfolds. I hope to keep this going for a few weeks and then evaluate my progress before continuing.
I am thinking I might share that evaluation here because today my word was yellow. Can you believe it on a dark rainy day that was my word.
The outcome, however, was fantastic! It felt like I was painting in this wonderful light and it was warm using Winsor and Newton yellow ochre and cadmium yellow watercolor paints.
This word exercise should be the right aid to benefit my creativity while I rediscover and find my artistic inspiration. Maybe it will also help those reading because I could see this activity being implemented to many things.
Be the good,
Carole West
Find Winsor and Newton Paints here - Y'all I love these watercolors!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Post a Comment