Finding Creative Inspiration

For every artist there comes a time that we feel lack of inspiration.  Maybe we have a project in mind that you are trying to finish (start).  Maybe we have an assignment that needs a kick start.  Heck, maybe we just want to be a little more productive.

 I’ve known some people that seem to always be spitting out new ideas left and right.  How do they do that?  Could it be that they have some special well from which to draw inspiration from?  If there is such a well I want one.  My well in the backyard just has water, and I need to add to that sometimes.

I’m as guilty as any artist.  I get in a rut and not create anything for days or longer.  I’ve played guitar for 20 years now, and I still get to a point where I just look at my fingers and wonder if that inspiration bug will bite me.  So what can be done?

Inspiration comes to those looking for it.  It also comes to us when we are least expecting it.  Since we want to be productive and, not wait for the inspiration to find us, we need to look for it.  The times that it happens out of the blue is just the icing on the cake.

Not all of the tips below will work for you, but I’ve found that most will work for most people most of the time.  (It can be fun to talk in a circle.) Enough babble to make my word count look good.  Quota cops are looking for me.

1. Go see a movie. Popcorn optional.
2. Take a walk. Dog optional, but recommend.
3. Sit at the park.
4. Get a cup of coffee. Drink coffee at cafe and watch people.  Don’t stare.
5. Listen to your favorite songs.
6. Get online and use Slacker.  Tune to stations that have music that you would not normally listen to.  The most radical from norm the better.
7. Talk to other artists about their rut. Odd, but we all have unique ruts.
8. Visit Deviantart.
9. Read a book.  What book?  Any book.  Just get to reading.
10. Walk away from the computer.  AFK  But not now.  After you get done.
11. Go to a busy bar and bring your scrap book.  People will walk up to you, and ask what you are doing in your book.  It always happens.  Tell them why you are there.  Free tips, and you get to meet new people.  This also makes you look like a deep complicated individual.  A person of mystery.  How fun!
12. Eat a really good piece of chocolate.
13. Visit Logosauce.
14. Play with your pets.  It’s healthy and they will give you inner peace.
15. Play a game.  Any game, just get your mind in motion.
16. Grow a garden.  Watching over your plants that you raised can free your mind of useless clutter, and give you peace.  (Works for me.  I have a huge garden, but that’s another topic.)

There are several resources out there that have a thing or two to say about creative inspiration.  Here are a few…

Howdesign has plethora of articles and tools to get the juices flowing.  You think that you are the only one who needs help?

Meridianmagazine has a interesting article series by Greg Hansen.  In his words "This section gets into the how-to’s: the nuts and bolts of getting inspiration when you need it. It gives us the ability to take our day-to-day living to the next level, getting the understanding, ideas, and direction we need to be greater instruments of good."

themechanism has a very unique approach to finding inspiration. And might I say it’s pretty damn cool.  Check out this renaissance man.  My kind of dude.

Zingzone.  Sam Harrison is what you would call a creative guru.  He makes a living teaching all forms of being creative.  What’s best is he teaches with a sense of wit and humor. 

"Q: What makes Sam different from other speakers?
A: Sam has successfully immersed himself in creativity and ideas throughout his career.  He’s been on the creative agency and freelance side, the client and corporate side and, most recently, on the academic and consulting side. He has more than 20 years of experience in brand communications, integrated marketing, creative writing and generating ideas, so he shares real-life examples and real-world solutions."

Allgraphicdesign has been kind enough to provide a page with creative inspiration links and descriptions for each.  It’s looking like there are plenty of us with creative deficiency.

Now don’t just sit there.  Get to finding your muse, and grab the inspiration.

Tags: creative inspiration, inspiration, creative, howdesign, zingzone, muse, allgraphicdesign, logosauce, themechanism, Greg Hansen