Inspiration is something that makes someone want to do something or provides an idea about what to do or create. Where do we go for inspiration? What triggers creativity? Is is said that creative people are influenced by everything around them. In fact, other people’s works inspire us to create, much the same way children aspire to be like their favorite heroes. Some may consider borrowing ideas from others as “stealing.” However, some of the most successful people do this everyday. They aren’t concerned whether they are doing something “original,” because they feel that originality doesn’t exist; we simply rework and recreate what already exists in our own unique way.
Where to begin?
See things through artist’s eyes. Figure out what ideas or concepts you value. Disregard whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and know that all ideas are for the taking. Nothing is original. Everything we see or create today is brought about by ideas that are older than time itself. We need to break free from the idea of “being original” and embrace influence rather than run from it.
As artists, our job is to collect ideas. The more we collect, the more we have to choose from or be influenced by. Trying to collect all the ideas at once, however is overwhelming. Choose one artist/concept/idea and study everything you want to know about them or the idea. Then study another. Hang images of anything that inspires you and they will serve as teachers with embedded lesson plans within their work. Our job is also to educate ourselves. Going to school and being educated are not the same. Thanks to Google, we all have the ability to dig deep for information right at our fingertips. Tuition for traditional schooling costs thousands. Tuition for curiosity and doing our own research costs nothing. Always read, collect and search.
Document and save your ideas. I always carry a small notebook and pen everywhere. Even better, in the age of smartphones, use a notes app to save information. Write down random thought, bits of conversations you overhear, song lyrics, lines from a movie or tv show, and words/phrases seen as you go about your day. Refer to your notes often!
Once you have gathered a number ideas, make something! You may feel like you’re not an artist, but know this: the act of creating helps you figure out who you are and your direction in the art world. It doesn’t matter if you know what you’re doing because the truth is, most of us don’t know what we’re doing. Show up and create like no one is watching!
