As I sit here on my rocking chair, I see little birds chirping at the bird feeder outside my window. I’m thinking to myself, “I need to buy more bird seed". The beauty I see surrounding the birds is almost overwhelming to me. My next thought regards how I might put this scene onto canvas. Sitting here enjoying this simple demonstration of this world’s intimate wonder, I know that I cannot just paint what I see. It takes tremendous skill to paint plein air: a French phrase referring to painting outside with nature as the subject, something I have not yet attempted, though the thought does inspire me. Ever since I started taking painting seriously, I see the world differently. I look at colors of grass, for instance. Grass is not just green; there are variations of green found within grass. Darker greens would be the base color with several layers of lighter greens, then highlights over the top to bring out the sun.
Inspiration comes from many places. An artist may look at pictures in magazines (or online) to become inspired. I have a habit of looking at Pinterest. Particularly, I am drawn to landscapes. I find a picture I like and analyze how I would arrange it on the canvas. Most of the time I change the look to make it my own. The river may be wider; trees may appear in different places; or the sky might be blue or cloudy, where before it may have held the colors of a sunset. Whatever the difference is, the first spark of inspiration came from a photo.
Family members also give me ideas. My daughter sends me pictures that she likes, or, in most cases, pictures of her dogs. Someday I will paint her dogs, though painting animal portraits is a new skill I am picking up. Fur is quite challenging to paint, and capturing the expression on the animal’s face is, too. Yes, animals do have expression; it is all in the eyes.
I also get inspiration by viewing other artists’ work. Art is so unique; no two people can paint the same picture and have it come out exactly the same. The composition, colors, and technique are the essence of an artist. Painting something simple like a green field with yellow flowers and some trees can be complicated. The colors of the field, the type of flow
ers, and even the trees will all be different in each artist’s eyes. I remember a game played in grade school where the teacher will whisper in one person’s ear, and that person will whisper the same message to the person sitting next to them, and so on until the last student stands up and says the message out loud. The phrase will always come out different from the original message. It’s the same with art. My perception of an abstract painted with blues might look more purple or red to someone else. An important note to remember is that no one perception is the “correct” one, and every differing view is what makes the process of art making so unique.
So where does inspiration come from? That is a good question. Todd Thrash and Andrew Elliot – (Psychologists Todd Thrash and Andrew Elliot researched inspiration and developed an “Inspiration Scale”) – studied this very question. They describe inspiration as being constructed of three main qualities: Evocation, transcendence, and approach motivation. The first one, “evocation,” refers to spontaneity and without intention. This is where you suddenly have an idea to paint, write a blog post, create a new dish, or any other method of creative expression. It feels like something that happens to you, rather than something you deliberately imagined. “Transcendence” describes a feeling or connection to something that generates an awareness of new possibilities. And “approach motivation” is a cognitive action, where a decision is made to write, or paint, or create interior design; whatever it is that motivates someone to engage in artistic expression. All these elements come together into one central action, thus stirring inspiration. But this is only the perspective of two scientists’ thoughts on the matter.
At one time, inspiration was thought to come from the Muses of Ancient Greek belief. The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences. Though most people believe their inspiration comes from somewhere outside themselves (and not necessarily from the Muses) many also say that they were inspired from a dream or someone else’s similar idea that stimulates the special place inside there brain that connects to reality or semi-reality. Wherever your inspiration comes from, I encourage you not to dismiss it. No matter its source, the identification and method you choose to display it is reason enough to answer its call and run with it.
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