Do you ever find yourself stuck in a creative block? Struggling to come up with fresh ideas or feeling uninspired? We've all been there. Thankfully, there's a simple yet powerful solution: creating your own inspiration library. By taking photos of things that inspire you and saving them in separate folders, you can access a wealth of art inspiration and reference images whenever you need that extra push.
The concept is super simple: SEE // CAPTURE // SORT
Whenever you see something that you think is inspiring (it can be a pretty flower, cool leaf, interesting pattern on a gate... ) snap a photo of it. You don't need a fancy camera, or professional level photography skills - only the desire to collect these hidden gems. But here's the important part: Don't just leave it in your camera roll: Sort your images into folders. This way you can easily access when you need a boost of inspiration.
I like to sort mine into categories that I can easily reference according to the project I'm working on. Some of my folders include:
• Plants
• Lettering Inspiration
• Textures
• Food and Drinks
• Colors
•Museums (Whenever I go to a museum, I add a folder with all my images taken there)
I truly believe that having your own inspiration library is an amazing resource that every artist should have, and these are some reasons why:
1 - Trade creative blocks for creative sparks
An inspiration archive is like a secret stash of creative kindling waiting to ignite your imagination. By capturing images of objects, scenes, colors, or patterns, you create a visual reservoir of inspiration. When you're feeling creatively blocked, simply browse through your library. These are things that have already grabbed your attention at some point, so you know the spark is there. Don't let it die in your camera roll. It's amazing how a single image can trigger a flood of fresh ideas and set your creative juices flowing again.
These are things that have already grabbed your attention at some point, so you know the spark is there. Don't let it die in your camera roll.
2 - Think you can't draw? No problem!
If you're not confident in your floral drawing skills, for example, this is the best resource you can have: not only tracing over a photo will give you the confidence to create something without the pressure of getting all the proportions and lines right, but it can also help you get better at drawing by getting used to the shapes and actually practicing! Which leads me to the next point:
3 - Avoid copyright issues
Have ever wondered exactly how much you can reference a photo? Well, no worries about this here!
One of the best things about having your own library is that these images belong to you. You can copy, trace, or pretty much use it however you want.
Now, please note that this doesn't apply to ALL images! I'm talking specifically about plants, flowers, patterns and textures from nature. If it depicts a person, a brand, or anything created by someone else, it's a whole other story (You can still have it in your library, but not use directly).
4 - Save time when looking for reference
Say goodbye to hours spent scouring the internet for that perfect image. With your inspiration archive, you hold the key to saving valuable time. Instead of sifting through endless search results or battling copyright restrictions, you can turn to your curated collection. It's a time-saving shortcut to finding the right inspiration, ensuring that you spend less time searching and more time creating. Here's a tip: make sure to capture multiple angles of the same subject, and different distances as well. This way you're prepared for a variety of different needs.
Here's a tip: make sure to capture multiple angles of the same subject, and different distances as well. This way you're prepared for a variety of different needs.
5- Develop your unique artistic voice
Your inspiration archive is a treasure trove of originality, uniquely yours and unlike any other. Every photo you capture reflects your perspective, your taste, and something that caught your attention. Your inspiration library will reflect your creative essence. If you struggle with defining your personal art style, put together a library and then analyze it over time. You'll almost certainly find a pattern to your images, and a clear glimpse into the things, colors, shapes and things that keep attracting you.
In a world brimming with distractions and constant demands on our attention, an inspiration library is a simple yet powerful tool that empowers you to reclaim your creative mojo whenever it needs a little push. By capturing the beauty that surrounds you and curating it in a dedicated folders, you create a well of inspiration that you can tap into at any time. So, grab your phone, start snapping, and build your own picture-perfect inspiration library today. Your creativity will thank you.
If you'd like to explore the images from my personal inspiration library, I invite you to access it here. My library is in constant creation, with new images being added all the time. Feel free to browse, draw inspiration, and incorporate these images into your own creative endeavors. May they bring you the same joy and creative sparks they have brought me.
Cheers,
If you wanna dig deeper into finding inspiration in your everyday life and developing a consistent art style, check out my latest Skillshare class: Inspired By Nature
Get a free month to try all ALL classes on Skillshare when you join using this link.
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