Finding Inspiration
Mar 02, 2020
To quote Pablo Picasso, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working”. Believe it or not, sometimes artists need to find (or recharge) their inspiration. I find that I do my best work when I’m truly inspired and engaged in the subject matter. Everyday life can shift my focus away from my art and make it hard to decide what to paint.
Recently, I was ready to start another painting but needed some inspiration to determine what should be next. As a landscape artist, there’s so much beauty around us that is waiting to be shared. I had been working on a series of paintings that captured some highlights of my 2017 trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. I found myself asking, what should I paint next?
Sometimes I will meditate to let life’s stresses go. Other times, I will put on my favorite relaxing music and begin surfing through my reference photos. I wait for that one photo that brings me back to a special moment. I then look at any photos of the same subject. Once the wow factor hits, I am recharged and inspired for my next painting. Now is where the magic happens as I determine what I want the viewer to take away from the painting and then begin my development process.
Note: The reference photo here as well as a few others inspired one of my paintings "Fire Over the Mountains - Grand Tetons" below.
I'm interested as to how others get inspired.
