How to Get Inspired
Sometimes in life we get so caught up in our day-to-day lives and habitual patterns, that we often find ourselves in a rut when it comes to thinking outside the box. We think of the same mundane solutions to our problems and wonder when the next spark of inspiration will strike. However, we can’t always wait for inspiration to hit us in the grocery store or in the shower, we have to make it happen. It’s important to expose our minds to new things that are stimulating and thought provoking. But finding inspiration isn’t necessarily as hard as it seems, it could be as simple as taking a different route to work in the morning or taking a spontaneous trip to the bookstore. Inspiration is everywhere if we just allow it to be. Here are some helpful tips and advice from local artists to help you reawaken your creative spirit.
- SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS: exploring, exploring, exploring
“The environment around me; I often see a moonrise or a sunset or a building or windows or a pattern of roads or hills in the distance that catches my eye as being very appealing or compelling. Sometimes it’s a combination of striking colors. That image gets stuck in my head and I start imagining what it would be like to interpret that image in fiber.” -Laurie Schlitter
2. DON’T GIVE UP: inspiration is everywhere……it’s probably right under your nose
“I look at and learn from everything I possibly can. To me, inspiration isn’t a ‘hit me once’ kind of thing. If you know what you like and what you’re looking for, you find it in nearly everything: plants, books (on any and every subject), textiles, architecture, artists work I admire, reading about art and art history, sifting through antiques at a local shop, going to a museum, going to a fashion show, the list goes on.” -Jayde Archbold
3. GO INNER: creativity comes from within so spend some time with yourself
“The inspiration for creativity can span between the mundane perceived in a new light to the sublime. Being creative is an impulsion. The inclination is located in a fascination with the world around, and so the act of creation if provoked by an inner drive to understanding.” -John Vesel
4. BE IN THE MOMENT: slow down and pause throughout your day
“I knew at an early age that I wanted to be an artist. I can’t imagine that I even knew what an artist was when I was a kid, but I distinctly remember thinking I wanted to do art. My mother, Romanita Vaca Barrera and my grandmother, Maria Macias Herrera Vaca, both from Bryan, were influential in teaching me to sew and do other fiber arts, although not ever called that at the time, it was more of a necessity. My family, nature, and everyday things I see around me are what inspire me. With today’s technology, we are able to capture small moments in time that we would otherwise forget. My art takes those moments and gives me the opportunity to make that moment a larger part of my life and something I can share with everyone else.” -Mary Ann Vaca-Lambert
