Where to find inspiration

Sooner or later we all hit the proverbial wall of painting. We either lose motivation or we simply lack inspiration. Here is how I deal with it.

Lack of motivation

Failure to find inspiration to paint can be due to many factors, including depression, job loss, loss of a loved one, or the end of a relationship.  Some people withdraw and become idle, waiting for the negative feelings to pass. If only they would realize that making art will help heal those wounds. 

My advice is to place yourself in front of that drawing board and paint something, even if you don't feel like it. It doesn't have to be a painting project. It can be an experiment with some new paint or painting techniques you've been thinking about, but never got around to trying. 

Art Heals

You would be surprised at how much better you will feel. First, focusing on art will take your mind off of what is bothering you, and secondly, it will give you a feeling of accomplishment, especially compared to sitting on the couch and doing nothing. It won't make all the negativity in your life go away, but it will certainly help you manage it better. 

Another technique is to visit an art museum or art gallery. Expose your eyes to new visual content. Even a walk in the park can get your ideas flowing. 

If you are the competitive type, use your competitive nature to motivate yourself to improve your performance. Choose a painting or photograph you admire, and attempt to create something better. Or better yet, challenge yourself to do the impossible. If you shoot for the moon, and only make it halfway, you have still accomplished something amazing.

Another consideration is to join an art group, either in person or on line. Surrounding yourself with empathetic peers can boost your happiness and soothe your woes. Often I find their enthusiasm and passion for art to be contagious.

When you lack direction

Often we experience an artist's block and don't know what to paint. 

To help with this, I maintain a file with inspiring images that I come across every now and then. Referring to this can create the spark to help with your artistic direction.

Try a new medium. Step outside your comfort zone, and you just might fall in love with a medium that went previously unnoticed, and help you break out of a creative rut.

 Take a closer look at nature. Try to find beauty in your environment, whether its an interesting insect outside, or the flower in a potted plant. You might be surprised where you will find beautiful things to paint.

Challenge yourself to transform something mundane into something exquisite. Make it more colorful, or distinctive. Use it to develop better compositional skills. This is a big challenge, but it's rewarding.

 The burnout

Sometimes we are overwhelmed by too much on our plate, and need to step back and regroup. When I become frustrated with an area in my painting, I'll move away from it and work on another section, or do something different altogether. When I return to the difficult spot, I will have the energy to reengage.

I hope these suggestions offer some help in overcoming obstacles you may encounter on your artistic journey!