3 Simple Steps to find Inspiration
Last month I read Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, who explains that as soon as we become familiar with our creative practice, it’s time to ditch what we know and start searching for something new. That’s how we grow as artists - breaking away from what we’re comfortable with in order to discover new ideas that challenge the way we think about art. As creatives we are often aware of our finite cup of inspiration, which we must continually fill in order to stay in the flow of creating. But however inspired we may find ourselves, inevitably that cup will, at some point, dry up. So if like me you’ve been searching for new ideas this month, here are some of the simplest ways I stay creative when I feel uninspired.
Advice from an Illustration Graduate: What I wish I'd known before graduating from Art School
A year on I find myself having learnt A LOT of lessons, and I hope by sharing them with you today, whether you’re still a student, recent grad or freelance artist, they offer you some kind of guidance or support, wherever you are on your creative journey. So, shall we dive in?
Virtual Drawing Workshop
One of my latest projects during April & May was planning an online workshop for the students at MSoA. The preparation was particularly long as everything, of course, had to be done online. The idea for the workshop was inspired by a drawing tour, and using Zoom as a means to escape for an hour to a lovely old city (we chose Edinburgh for our first destination!). We planned our route and points of interest, then collected still and moving images to piece together a virtual tour that would last around 30 minutes. We ended the session with a zine-making tutorial, which allowed the students to create a little book that encapsulated their sketches. All they needed was a sheet of A4 paper, something to draw with and a pair of scissors! Everything else was down to imagination.
Paper & Paint: My current favourite Art materials
Today I thought I’d take you through some of the materials I’ve been using recently.