This question is by far my number one. I get it weekly, sometimes daily! The problem is, I never have a ready-made answer. So, it's time to tell you more about my inspiration in a blog post!
more Read moreinspiration is nonsense?
What is inspiration, anyway? For me, it's pausing for a moment, taking a break, and feeling what's going on inside me. But is that inspiration? Some people think it has to come from outside. Or even something that comes to you from the universe, like a gift. But inspiration in that sense is nonsense. Everyone has inspiration, it's always there, and it's within you.
It's a mix
If I just look inside and notice how I feel, a drawing doesn't necessarily come out of my hands. But what I do consciously do is place my feelings in something that would help me. I think about cycling to a cozy cottage, or picking apples in an orchard. Sometimes I crave company, and I imagine a winter party with lots of people. But even those ideas don't just fall out of the sky. It's a mix.
A mix of things that make me happy, my dream world, feelings, desires. But also more tangible things like things I find beautiful or have recently seen. A beautiful landscape I encounter during my walks can easily become part of an illustration without me even realizing it.
Inspiration is training
For me, it's now an inexhaustible source. I always have something to paint or draw. I even have whole lists of things that inspire me. Examples of such lists: an old-fashioned wood-burning stove, a fox in a snowy landscape, geese (don't ask me why), baking bread, a house with a beautiful facade, and so on.
How do I arrive at my unique, combined ideas? Well, it's a matter of practice. I can't be busy or stressed. Ideally, I've actually made time for it. I sit down with my sketchbook and scribble around. Sometimes something has already formed in my mind, and I just need to get it on paper. Sometimes I sketch tiny scribbles until I find what I'm looking for. But above all, it always suits my mood and needs (you know, I still paint as therapy for my PTSD ;-)). And I believe you can train this process!
What inspires me then?
And finally, I'll answer the most frequently asked question! What inspires me?
As you have read, there are several facets:
- My inner world of experience and desires
- Fascinations (like those geese ;-))
- Beautiful things that I see and unconsciously incorporate into my illustrations.
And if I ever don't know what to do? Then I can fall back on my fascinations, or "beautiful things." I sometimes visit a museum, look at paintings, or perhaps an open-air museum (I find it very inspiring!). I take a walk through a new nature reserve, or take another look at my Pinterest boards.
The trick (for me) is to let it all go afterward and trust that my subconscious will create something that suits me. And before I know it, I'm painting again. Wonderful!
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