Tips for finding creative inspiration from your life

Blizzard on Tuesday night, almost magical!!

We had another huge snowstorm yesterday in Philly, actually a blizzard. I love snow and watching the storm unfold.

I am writing this blog to have a conversation about creative expression in one’s life. I do many creative activities and find that it fulfills my need to express my individuality, it completes my life, makes me feel a sense of satisfaction that I made something. Also the act of creating something is exhilarating, sometimes frustrating, but in the end so rewarding. I don’t always know what to paint, I get lazy,or get involved in life stuff.

Here are some tips for finding creative inspiration in your life.

Photo for sketch

1. Keep a pocket sized journal with you whenever possible and jot down ideas whenever they pop in your head. This can happen literally at any time, driving, cooking dinner, showering. When one is relaxed it seems that original ideas seem to flow.

2. At the end of a day, write down an event or image that stuck out in your mind. An example could be remembering how the rain was falling on the grass, the light at breakfast, the look on your baby’s face when he woke up from his nap. Just write whatever comes to your mind about it. If you keep these little gems, so many ideas can come for painting, writing, poetry, composing. Look over them as times go by, something you write today can be used at anytime in the future.  It is like a memory sketchbook.

3. Take lots of photos. I am always snapping away at events in my life, even small things. I keep them in albums on my computer and use them for ideas. Can be the cool clouds at lunch, kids playing, the beach, whatever. You will be surprised when you put them on your computer, many surprises will come. And with digital cameras, just delete the bad pix, you cares???

4. Do something relaxing in the day to help foster those ideas. Yoga, meditation, knitting, sitting in the sun, take a bath. A few minutes alone relaxed can make all the difference.

5. Take the plunge. Don’t be afraid to take a photo or event from your memory sketchbook and just start trying to write or paint about it. Let your mind relax and let what comes to you about this event just flow. You may make several paintings that you hate, but then there will be the one you love. Mistakes or rejected paintings are fine, save them and learn. It is all part of the process.

As I said, we had a huge event the last 2 days, a blizzard. We now have about 40″ on the ground and huge mounds of snow everywhere!! I spent last night snapping pictures, and used one to make a watercolor sketch.

Sketch of snow scene

I enjoyed painting this watercolor sketch. A little painting, perhaps I will do a larger one of the photo someday. Loved doing it. I could stick it in a small frame & always remember this historic storm, or I can file it away & look at it another day. When I do look at it in the future, though, I will remember the day fondly. Maybe I should also do one of the cookies we made??

Tea & cookies

Another day, will keep it in my photo journal………
Read more at my watercolor post