Need A Way To Get Artistically Inspired?

Ever feel uninspired for your next creation? Whether it's a painting, a photo or any other form of art and self expression, it can be frustrating when you're not sure which direction to go next. Once I am finished with a major project where all my time was dedicated to, I oftentimes feel at a lose for what to do next. Here are some ways that have helped me get back on track.

Step Out of Your Front Door

There are plenty of times I have felt in a funk. Uninspired to do much of anything, let alone anything artistic. When I am feeling that way, I force myself to escape to a different location, which for me, usually means just stepping out of our front door. You would be amazed what doing something so simple can do. Whether you live in an apartment building or a house off the beaten path, there is always something to find that can strike your fancy. Take the sunflower photo seen above, for instance. I was in the house feeling relatively bored and unaccomplished for the day. Aside from doing some cleaning, I felt as though I was wasting a day as I was not pursuing any of my personal goals because I was at a lose on what they even were at that time. Given it was such a beautiful day, I decided to go outside with my two dogs (Elmo and Willis) just to clear my mind and get some fresh air. That's when the sunflower came to view, growing out of a crack in our concrete driveway. A bird must have dropped a seed off to eventually brighten my day, because the second I saw it in the process of blooming, I ran back inside to get my camera. That wasn't the only time that walking out with the dogs turned into an uplifting picture day. Between random flowers blooming, the sun rising and falling in the trees and the beauty of freshly fallen snow, I have learned that you don't need to go far to be inspired by something. Step outside and look around. From flowers, or even weeds (I personally LOVE dandelions) to objects on the ground, random vehicles, and how the clouds look in the sky can be a set off for your next artistic creation.

Also, walking out and away from where you are feeling stressed can also help free up your mind for other thoughts to make their way in even if you don't physically see anything catching your eye. Simply taking in some sun and breathing some fresh air can do wonders to your mind.

Drive Aimlessly

I'm sure we all have our usual ways of getting from point A to point B and do not usually choose another route to travel down; but I highly recommend going off the beaten path sometimes for a different point of view. Whether you are walking the busy streets of New York City or driving around the tree lined hills of Piedmont, Ohio, there are umpteen different ways to get around town. With maps on our phones today, I oftentimes try to make it a point to get lost to see what new wonders of the earth I can find (the old barn above is one that made me pull over and snap a few). I highly recommend when you're not in a rush to get somewhere, think about taking a turn on a road you have never been down before and see where you go from there. You never know what you may find that tickles your artistic fancy.

Get Yourself To A Craft Store

I oftentimes get emails with coupons from places like Michaels and Hobby Lobby that make it enticing to visit the store even when I don't feel that I need anything. However, there are times when nothing turns into picking up a basket and then changing the basket to a cart! Sometimes it is fun to scour every single aisle and try to think of what I could do with the various items in each one. Although I tend to focus on photography and painting, I have gotten glue guns, wood burners, twine, burlap, pieces of wood and even glass tiles to mess around with. It put my mind into a different direction and an inspiration to take my art to another level to experiment with. If you tend to just go to craft stores for paint and frames, take a minute to look through some of the other aisles. Perhaps you will find something that sparks a new idea.

Sometimes All It Takes Is To Turn On The TV

If you're still feeling uninspired, perhaps all you need to do is turn on the TV. This may sound weird, but there have been many times that watching a movie has turned into a new painting. For instance, the painting above was inspired by a glimpse of another horse painting I saw in the background while watching the Netflix movie, Tallulah (seen below).

If there is a movie or TV show that you have watched over and over again, the next time you turn it on, try and take notice of everything in the background. Every show and movie made has to have props all over to make it look and feel real, which means many different types paintings, photos, sculptures and other decorations are all over the place. Of course I am not saying to copy what you see, but it may take your mind to a new vision to create. And who doesn't love watching movies anyway?!

What are some other ways that help you get inspired?

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