Feeling stuck or uninspired is a common struggle for many creatives. Whether you're an artist, writer, or designer, finding inspiration is crucial to fuel your creativity. So, where can you turn to when you need a spark of inspiration? Where do I turn to?
Connect with Nature
One of the best places for me to find inspiration is in nature. You will find me having daily (or multiple times a day 😉) walks in my garden, observing the change of light and the movement of flowers during the day. Or petting my chickens and cows while observing the movement of the bees.
The beauty of the natural world can provide you with a rich source of ideas and creativity. Take a walk outside, breathe in the fresh air, and observe the small details around you. Let the colors, textures, and patterns of nature inspire your next project.
The fresh air, the sound of birds singing and the smell of flowers will calm your soul, bringing anxiety and that feeling of frustration down. Walking rises your endorphins helping your good mood, making you feeling directly better.
On the practical side, you will be able to take lots of reference pictures to inspire your current and future work and, if you can, some live specimen to bring home.
I always encourage my students to try and collect fresh specimen, in order to observe all details on it and become more familiar with it...this helps so much when you will start painting your subject!
I hear you saying: "what if I live in a city?". Maybe the metropolitan life doesn't offer so many opportunities as the country side, but still, I am sure that you can find a green area in your city where to spend 30 minutes walking. Or maybe this inspiration comes from the flowers on your balcony, or the garden of a dear friend.
Embrace Music
Music has the power to evoke emotions and stimulate creativity. Create a playlist of your favorite songs or albums that resonate with you. Let the music guide your creative process and set the mood for your work. Whether you're painting, writing, or crafting, music can be a powerful source of inspiration.
I ALWAYS (yes shouting it out loud!!!) paint or draw while listening to music! While I love studying and I do that in perfect silence for better focus, I cannot create without music.
Each painting has a different soundtrack, each day a different rhythm, but there is no day without music.
My little son and I often paint together and we take turns deciding the soundtrack of the day. We always end up singing, dancing, laughing and painting together, building up the nicest memories which will last forever. Sometimes we have dance music, sometimes classical one, often Bridgeton music. We even went to a Bridgeton candlelight concert together and when I heard the first notes he exclaimed: "Mum, this is our painting music!" My heart melted!
So, the next time you're feeling stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed, remember to take a step back and seek inspiration from the world around you. Nature, music, and creative partnerships can all help reignite your passion and fuel your creativity. Embrace these sources of inspiration and let your imagination soar.
If you feel like, I would love to hear back from you: write me an e-mail and let me know where did you find inspiration!
with love,
Elena
The Sewing Sailor
