Three Art Resources For Inspiration
Art inspiration does not just happen. Great artists of history used fundamental resources in order to achieve what they accomplished. It is these same resources I wish to present here for you today.
The three key areas of focus in order to achieve this can be found within Art Appreciation, the study of nature, and the Elements of Art. This academic foundation exists for good reason.
The Difference Between Art Inspiration And Art Ideas
Inspiration for an artist requires more than ideas. An idea is merely the object of focus which one may wish to represent.
You must also answer the how behind the representation, the why for its purpose, and from here its defined meaning within the work.
This is what separates great artists from others. These principles begin to define a style, period of art, and a path for direction. An idea is merely an idea.
How To Use Art Appreciation For Inspiration
What is Art Appreciation? I have a more detailed article on this matter, yet fundamentally it is the study of art and art history. The points which follow later here apply to this main theme more as sub points. Yet each plays a critical role.
The study of art is more than merely looking at art. It is an understanding behind the creation. Here you begin to search out the why, how, and meaning of the work.
Beyond this you begin to explore the techniques used within its creation. How the art is presented will play its own role to the intended purpose.
It is from this perspective that you begin to formulate Art Inspiration for your work. You adapt what you see as applicable to your skills, or how you wish to present the art.
Beyond the study of art itself, it would do you well to study the artist behind it. Picasso had various periods of art within his life which he drew art inspiration from in different places. What inspired him to move in the direction that he did?
Why did Van Gogh paint “The Starry Night” as he did? Few know he painted this great work while within an asylum after a mental breakdown and self mutilation. Its composition is far more emotional and has a depth which is personal to his being.
To gain inspiration requires an artist to ask questions. In order to gain these answers we must not only look to the art but also to the artist behind the work.
How To Study Nature For Inspiration
Nature has been a fundamental source for Art Inspiration since the dawn of mankind and is often referred to as Naturalism. It has been the teacher for the study of light, color, shading, balance, rhythm, and every key component of what makes art what it is.
While not all artist will paint naturalist works, you cannot ignore the lessons which nature has to teach us. This principle has been true for many centuries of fine art.
It is here within Impressionism that you find names like Claude Monet, Renior, and Camille Pissarro. Art inspiration for each of these artists drew upon the lessons of nature. Their works became some of the greatest within history.
It has been said that there is no greater classroom that one can find than to study what is within the world around us. For our art to accurately represent this world means that one has mastered the elements that paint our living canvas.
Elements Of Art Within Inspiration
How can studying the Elements Of Art aid in gaining Art Inspiration? It is here that you learn the how behind what you wish to represent on the canvas.
Understanding Rhythm in art will aid in setting the feel and emotion you wish to draw upon. Determining the balance within negative and positive space will determine its focus. Creating the movement within art will guide your audience to the meaning or intent behind the art.
Once you know what these elements are you can further your Art Appreciation and understand the inspiration behind the artwork. It is these elements which you can select from and recreate for your purposes in your creation.
It is common for an artist to find a few elements that they select which then leads to a theme across various works of art. This can be known as a period for the artist. They then alternate to additional elements for a new theme within their work.
Each period draws upon the inspiration of the selected elements that begin to define the artists path. As you continue to master different elements your Art Inspiration grows exponentially in how you represent the subject within its space.
Expanding Art Inspiration Through These Art Resources
Each of the three resources I have briefly described are related to one another. As an artist progresses within their work rarely do they use all fundamentals at once. It is a progressive process through time.
The key to gain from these resources is an artists ability to expand their Art Inspiration through regular study. It is a continued education through life.
These resources become a steady constant which form a foundation for inspiration. The artist will no longer need to wander along their path to randomly arrive at a destination.
Too often artists chase ideas. They arrive at one idea to complete a task to then only wander to the next. Inspiration cannot thrive in this format.
An artist existing in this way is not only exhausting, but it also will burn them out quickly. Once the reservoir runs dry they will lack the inspirational fuel needed to arrive at their next work of art.
We now need to have a better understanding of what this inspiration is. It must be defined in a real format so that it can become a constant resource for an artist.
Definition Of Art Inspiration
Art Inspiration is a foundation which is laid based upon education and the study of art. This inspiration is built upon by continued education which then becomes a renewable resource for the artist. This allows further skills to be learned and extends the scope of what can be created through this adaptation.
The Foundation Of Inspiration
The foundation of Art Inspiration can only be had from education. There is no other alternative. If you cannot afford a formal education do not worry. There are many free resources online to begin learning.
Yet this foundation must be laid so that you can understand the terminology and framework behind the periods of art. You also will gain a basic foundation for understanding the elements and how they are used.
It is impossible to build further structure within art without this foundation. If you lack this foundation ultimately you will begin to chase ideas rather than inspiration. The spiral to burnout is inevitable.
The Structure Of Inspiration
Art Inspiration is built up from each of these foundational blocks. Color for example being one element and the use of space is another. Each of these can be used together with no other structure to form a nonrepresentational work.
Due to understanding what these elements provide in their structure you can define the style, theme, and meaning to your art.
Balance in art, Rhythm, Space, and Color can each be used for a representational work that can fall within many categories. Yet each provides its own unique structure where you can define the boundaries.
It is from the foundational knowledge that you can begin to create ideas. Here you play with each element based upon the boundaries you define. In doing this the structure of what you create is absolutely limitless.
Art Inspiration As A Renewable Resource
The more education an artists acquires the more resources they gain. It is through continued education that the foundation expands. Tied to this is the scope of the artists ability which will also expand.
It is here that Art Inspiration becomes a renewable resource. You have complete control of the direction in which you wish to move. This is achieved by the nurturing of your education.
Do not worry if your path shifts. Ultimately all paths shift. This has been true with great names of history such as Picasso who I mentioned earlier. He even took a spin at poetry in one phase of his life.
The beauty behind always learning is the power it gives. The ever expanding foundation will exist so that it can support the path you choose within art. In turn it will provide the inspiration for what it is that you seek to create.
Is Formal Education Required?
Formal education is preferred yet it is not required. In periods of history many artists simply studied under other artists. Today we have a similar format in the online world yet it is much more informal.
At your fingertips in our present digital age you have access to the full knowledge of mankind. There are no secrets within art which are hidden. Yet some principles are better learned from an individual with hands on understanding.
Ultimately what is required is the dedication to yourself and your work in continued application of these principles. Some artists may not require accountability, while others do in their growth.
If what you seek for the future is within a field that requires a formal education, then most certainly plan on obtaining it. In the end you will be better for it no matter the path you decide to move forward with.
What To Do When You Need Art Inspiration
Eventually every artist will hit a burnout point. If you have been following the above principles there are things in life that will still come to knock us off track.
Whether this be due to life events, emotional blows, or other changes to our environment, we somehow end up in burnout.
There are two philosophies which you can choose from. Which you select will depend heavily upon your personality and individual makeup.
You can choose to work through the burnout by continuing to create art. Alternatively you can stop creating art for a short period and focus on education and foundation building for Art Inspiration.
If you decide to attempt working through the burnout do not stop your education process. It is here within that foundation that ultimately you will once again gain the inspiration that you require.
The Highs And Lows Of Inspiration
Van Gogh painted some of his most famous works at his lowest points of life. It is quite unfortunate and sad that eventually he took his own life. Yet despite his struggles he never stopped creating art.
Within our lowest moments of life can come our greatest inspiration for art. The emotional context for what art is cannot be understated. It is not a formula which one applies, rather art is something we feel.
While emotional lows can be the most challenging for our creative process it does not lack in our ability to draw upon inspiration. What we create may not be considered our greatest works, yet we have that outlet for expression.
Emotional highs are typically much easier to express within and draw inspiration from. While this needs little explanation there is one rather interesting point to gain from this distinction.
Once an artist has the foundation and structure for Art Inspiration, you will discover that the elements you choose to use will often depend upon the emotion you feel. At some point different elements or principles within art will speak to you in relationship to that emotion.
Color is one common denominator for almost every artist in how it is selected. The use of space is another with its balance and focus.
With this you will gain a hidden ability to reflect upon your individual work and self assess your present state of well being. There are often hidden cue’s within our art which only we begin to notice.
You only gain these abilities through information and expression. Art Inspiration is not a mystery. Nor is it a random path we stumble down to accidentally arrive at our masterpiece. It is a process that we partake in which is transforming to our art, and within our life.