Where I find inspiration

My hands are itching to create.

Creativity comes in surges for me, and sometimes I go through horrible lulls. I had been going through one of these "dry" times a short while ago. Then I forced myself to complete small little nothings, doodles and sketches that wouldn't take more than 15 minutes. All of a sudden my mind started going a million miles. Today, I realized that I'm in full swing, adding more projects to my little book then I can get to.

But how to decide what to draw (or what to sew, to write, to create) at that point when you feel like you have to force yourself? Go for something easy, with no-pressure, and don't fret if you don't like the results. It's the act of doing it that will help, not the final product.

For themes, there are always prompts and challenges, like the Sketchbook Challenge, Illustration Friday, the A-Z challenge, Communal Global, and Texture Tuesday, among may others that give you the option of posting in groups and visiting other blogs participating.

But for me there's another place where I can almost always count on getting inspiration: books.

I'm a visual reader. I mean, as I read I vividly see the scenes in my mind. Stories associate themselves to images, as well as touch sensations, smells, and tastes. For example, The Turn of the Screw forever makes me feel feverish and brings up the color white to mind.

All it takes are a few lines of a poem sometimes (or a full one like this):

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

Are you-- Nobody--too?

Then there's a pair of us!

Don't tell! they'd banish us --you know!

How dreary --to be--Somebody!

How public--like a Frog--

To tell your name--the livelong June--

To an admiring Bog!

                              Emily Dickinson

(In this age of social media and reality tv with so many people shouting for attention and fame, this poem really speaks to me)

That poem inspired this super simple (and not so good) colored pencil drawing:

Although the final image flopped, it got me doing something, putting my pencils on paper.

I'm sharing all this because I think we all go through times where our creativity and motivation seem to move to some dark corner where we can't find it no matter what. I wanted to share a couple of strategies or ideas I've used successfully to force it out of its hiding place. I hope it's helpful to some of you.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

Sharing a first

I did it. 

(excuse my dry winter hands)

I crocheted my first patch: an adjustable ring. Yep, I've been knitting for years now but only now did I finally pick up crochet needles and got down to business. I used this video to help me figure out how to do it. Don't you just love the resources we have available on the internet?

I want to do a little amigurumi to learn - the only way I learn anything is actually working on projects. I'll share my progress as it goes forward here.

Something else I'd like to share with you. My grandma is an amazing artist and crafter. She lives a long ways away from me and I miss her. Every time I try to pick up something new like crochet, I think of her. Every time I learn a new technique or work on a new pattern, I think of her. She's a huge inspiration to me. (Que saudades, vovo Mag)

Do you have someone who inspires you?

My daughter, my inspiration

I think I'm going to make Sundays days devoted to my little girl. I always end up so inspired by her on weekends. Probably because I spend almost 100% of my time with her on those days. Oh, who am I kidding, every day she's the first thing on my mind - she's truly been my inspiration for life since I first saw those little heart flickers on the ultrasound screen.

(Digital frame from Paislee Press. Check out her wonderful creations!)

Oh, and just to clarify my last post, that's a painting/collage (more painting than collage, but I did add some pattern paper, and other things to it) that I did for N. My plan is to make three more of those - one for each season. That one was summer.

What's your inspiration?

Trying new things

Today, I'd like to talk about an artist that I really admire, and who I'm so thankful for - Carla Sonheim.

I always believed I couldn't draw. Crafting, knitting, sewing, stamping, yes. Drawing or painting? No way, no talent.

Then I found her book and her blog. I can't tell you how much it changed the way I see drawing and painting! I feel no pressure with her exercises, and that helps me have fun with it. And guess what? That made my drawings much better.  I'm still no illustrator, but I don't hate what I draw anymore. I have so much fun doing it that I now carry a little sketchbook with me everywhere I go, with some markers, coloring pencils, and chalk. I'm constantly doodling when I have the chance.

There are some amazing women artists and crafters out there, and some of them have inspired me tremendously to get out of my shell, try out new things, challenge my perceptions of what I can and can't do. Here are two of the results from following her lab.






What are your limits? What do you think you can't do? I hope you can find some inspiration, like Carla inspired me, to have fun with it.