Struggle to find inspiration to paint?
I’m often asked where I find my inspiration from and yes, Artists do need inspiration and there are lots of ways to be inspired.
Keep your eyes open
Look at the world as you go about your day. I always have my phone with me, and so can take photos whenever the opportunity arises. Photos like this one taken at the beach last week.
I keep a notepad with me at all times to capture ideas as they come.
Sometimes I forget and you can guarantee that those are the times when I most wish I had it. But by far and away the most important thing that helps me find inspiration was itself is a habit I hadn’t appreciated would be so helpful.
Brian Clark at Copyblogger created a wonderfull tips for writers poster. It’s basically an entire page saying Write, write some more.
After reading it, I realised that the same is true for artists or any creative.
JUST DO IT!
There’s a great myth that you can only paint when you’re inspired.
The trouble with inspiration is it’s elusive. If you wait to be inspired, you rarely or never will be. And when you are inspire your efforts will never be good enough because you’ve let your skills waste away by waiting.
There is only one way to find inspiration to paint.
That is to Paint!
Paint something and paint some more
Then paint again. When that fails, try some more painting.
Paint when you are happy.
Paint when you are sad.
Paint when you’re inspired
Paint when you are not.
Paint when it’s raining
Paint when it’s snowing
Paint when the sun shines…
And then when it doesn’t.
Paint early in the morning, the later at night.
Inspiration never comes to those that wait but finds you once you’ve been going a bit.
The results will not be perfect at first, they never are.
Just keep at it and one day you’ll realise the progress you’ve made and the ideas you have will take a lifetime to complete. Seeking inspiration before you paint will stop you every day.
Like a journey, painting every day will take you to places you can’t imagine until you start on your way.
Need help learning how to be more carefree in your painting and just getting it done? Come to my next workshop and find out how.
So, banish the myth of needing to be inspired to paint and just get on and do it!
“… when you are inspired your efforts will never be good enough because you’ve let your skills waste away by waiting….”
This is so true. It’s like, opportunities are only useful to those who are prepared.
Thank you for the wise words.
Exactly Irene! Thanks for taking the time to comment.