No matter how long you’ve been working as a creative, chances are you’ve already experienced at least a few dips in creativity. That’s a totally normal part of the process- no one can be “on” every second, but when you’ve got art to make and deadlines to reach, this paralysis can be really bad for business. However, you can put systems in place to get you through these slumps in productivity.
Building a “library” of inspiration, analyzing it, and knowing what to reach for when you’re stuck will not only help you get unstuck from creative blocks, but also helps you develop your signature style and create work that is true to you.
Sourcing Your Inspiration
This world is full of inspiring things, and here are some of my favorite places to look for new ideas:
Get in the habit of snapping photos when you're out: anything that catches your eye (It can be artwork, but doesn't have to be art! It can be a fence, a pretty rock, a flower, a piece of broken glass... if you like it, document it). Keep an Inspiration folder on your phone so you can quickly access everything you find inspiring.
Peek in your wardrobes and cupboards and photograph your favorite things (you liked it enough to buy it/keep it, and someone liked it enough to license that artwork, too!) - this can be added to your Inspiration Photos folder
Take screenshots and/or have a saved inspiration folder for Instagram, Pinterest, and any other sites you frequent
Look on your bookshelf, or go to art stores and bookstores. What stands out to you? Take notes and look for themes (visual, subject matter, feeling...)
Go somewhere new: take a nature walk, go shopping, visit a new part of town, head to your garden or local park, visit a friends’ house, take a trip (or look at your vacation photos to see what you photographed!)
Meet with other creatives, if you can, and spend some time making things or learning a new skill together. Document your process or finished products so you can add them to your image library.
Make creative spaces in your house- if you're able to dedicate an area to your creative pursuits, put things in your line of sight that inspire you- whether this is your own work, beautiful objects, or a plant. Dedicate some space on your bookshelf for all of your creative books, so you know where to look, any time you need them.
Look for art challenges- there are always people hosting things; some well-known ones are Este McLeod's Coloricombo, Inktober, and The 100 Days project- but a lot of artists host their own challenges on Instagram, so with a little looking you can find some really fun prompts! Sketch Design Repeat also offers monthly Portfolio PowerUp challenges aimed toward surface pattern designers, and this is a great way to get industry-relevant design inspiration once a month.
To sum it all up: pay attention to your surroundings, research, and start documenting what you find! You'll have a growing library of inspiring content in no time.
Organizing Your Inspiration
Alright! So you've paid attention, you've documented, and now you have a mountain of images, saved posts, art prompts, and ideas. Inspiration Organization looks different for everyone, and you'll develop your own systems and passion-subjects as you go. To give you an idea of how you could start out, I want to share with you how my different Libraries look.
On my computer:
On Instagram:
On my bookshelf:
In my studio:
In my photo library (photos I've take myself- nothing beats original content!):
I use a cloud-based folder so I can quickly access my inspiration library across my phone, laptop, and tablet. An added bonus is that these original photos are perfect additions to your Instagram, blog, or website as ways to Tell Your Brand Story!
Learning From Your Inspiration
Now that we've talked about some ways you can organize your inspirations, let’s talk about some ways to analyze these images and build some go-to systems that will break you out of your creative slump:
Start scrolling: look through your what you've saved, and see what themes jump out at you:
You'll notice that I have lots of things in my saved folder- a fabulous outfit, a gorgeous dessert, a restaurant scene... for me, my saved folder only has one rule: if it catches my eye and I love it, I save it here. With this saved folder on Instagram, I instantly see certain shades of pink, blue, and blue-green that keep making appearances (colors I often use in my work). I notice some shades of red and orange that I almost never use, but that surprisingly coordinate well with some of the other colors in the feed. I see a lot of really detailed linework across several different mediums (ceramics, stained glass, mosaics, linocuts, paintings...) and I see a lot of botanicals - florals, yes, but quite a lot of plants.
Treat it like a puzzle: organize the inspirations you've gathered in different ways- group them by color and document that grouping (this could be snapping a photo or screen shot, or keeping it in its own design document). Try grouping them by similar shapes / feelings / themes. Here are some ways I like to play with my inspiration photos:
Now, take a look at the artwork you've made already (or if you're just starting out, look at the artwork you hang on your walls or are drawn to). Just like we did before, ask yourself- What common colors, themes, shapes, and styles do you use? If it’s hard for you to tell because your work is all digital, try printing out thumbnails of your images and moving them around into common groups. Photograph these groups before you rearrange them, so you can look back at those combinations again. Document any themes you see: colors, shapes, subject matter, feelings.
Not only is this a great way to get unstuck if you've got creative block, but this is also a very methodical way to identify your signature style and help you be more purposeful in how you create your artwork.
As you build your own library, start to recognize recurring themes. Record those themes, play with your content and organize it in new ways, and you’ll build a library for yourself that will inspire you forever!
Comentarios