Do you ever get creatively “stuck” or bored?
Isn't it discouraging when you hit a dry spell or feel creatively bored? This can apply to a lot of different aspects of our lives, not just artmaking, like figuring out what's for dinner (again, really!?!), driving the same route to your office, or reading the same type of book over and over. No judgment here. That last one can actually be intentional and a lot of fun. I remember binging five or six Nora Roberts "In Death…" books in a row years ago!
When I notice I've been in a creative slump and haven't been spending time in my studio, I go looking for inspiration to get the juices flowing. I try to remember what Henri Matisse said: "Don't wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working." And Steven Pressfield: "The professional does not wait for inspiration; he acts in anticipation of it."
Inspiration can come from so many places — everything is fair game! Some of my favorites:
Nature and wildlife
Books — fiction, poetry, children's books, coffee table books
Old magazines — yes, I still have a few piles lying around.
Quotes — I've been collecting them since I was 10 years old!
Music — I love the Shazam app.
Photos — phone camera, old photos in physical or digital storage, screenshots
Old journals
Pinterest
My notes app
Overheard conversations (different from eavesdropping, but amazing if you tune in while out in public)
One exercise I use from time to time riffs off the old English rhyme and wedding tradition: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
I call it: Soak up something old, something new, and something borrowed. I sometimes drop the color, but you could work it in by choosing a different color each time you try this.
Why does it work? Because it pulls in a touch of nostalgia, discovery, and social connection. You can apply a narrow lens (like movies and TV) or broaden your perspective. You can also do it with a friend. There are no rules in art!
Here's an example using a movie/TV watching lens:
Old: Rewatch The Greatest Showman (or What Dreams May Come)
New: Watch The Wild Robot — this was new to me!
Borrowed: On a beach trip with a recently retired friend, we started watching Gilmore girls. Please don't judge or ask me where I've been for the last 25 years. I'd heard buzz about it, but had never seen it. I'm now a big fan — especially the fast-talking dialogue between Lorelai and Rory.
Have fun with your inspiration gathering!