What Inspires My Art?

So what inspires my Art? The answer for me is “everything”. For example, I’ve been inspired by the environment. One time I was walking near the beach and saw a beautiful sunset with these amazing colours that were reflected in the ocean. The next day I went out into the bush to paint it.

My style has changed over the years due to my influences growing up as well as changes in my life. When I started painting at a very young age. I wouldn’t copy any artist because I always wanted to create my own art. Over time though, not only have I discovered who I am as an artist but also began exploring different styles of art which helped shape me into where I am today.

I still think about what inspires me but also how I can make my art unique. If I see a great image online whether it be on Instagram or Pinterest, or even in real life, for example, someone wearing an amazing outfit.

I don’t recreate the subject straight away, because to me that would be copying another artist’s work which is something I’m not prepared to do. Instead, if it interests me enough I might paint my interpretation of that particular item. This helps protect my work from being copied as well as making the style of painting original to myself.

“Art is a mirror turned toward mankind” ~ Orson Welles

I think that Art should be inspiring. Not only for the audience but also for the artist himself or herself. I believe it’s important to continue exploring new techniques and styles of art, even if you have been painting a particular subject matter for years…there’s always room to grow and find inspiration in life. The more an artist can inspire others, the more valuable their work becomes too.

How can inspirational art be achieved?

In my opinion, inspiration comes from within. It’s a deep-seeded feeling that you have when you see something beautiful or even ugly that moves someone in an emotional way. Some people may not consider what they see to be inspiring but for others, it just might speak to them on another level. The best type of art is often considered to be one that evokes some kind of feeling out of the person looking at it rather than just being pretty to look at whichever reason gets someone interested in painting for themselves!

If I want to achieve an inspiring piece, I think about how whatever I’m depicting makes me feel. Sometimes it’s happy or sad etc., so before I get myself into the right mood to paint, I think a lot about the subject and what it means to me. Then when I start painting, my feelings transfer into the work which creates an emotive outcome for others too.

Why do I want to be an Inspirational Artist?

I’ve always wanted to push myself as an artist to create inspiring pieces. I think that’s why I started exploring different styles, so that now when I sit down at the easel I have a wealth of knowledge between technique and style. Sometimes it seems daunting being able to create something which is truly unique but this is what drives me forward each day. My passion for painting is just as strong now as much as when I first began. If anything, it’s grown into what feels like an unstoppable force where only the sky is my limit!

If you are struggling with your art, don’t give up…there are plenty of artists out there who can help you – maybe not on an individual level but through workshops. Many artists are always willing to share their experiences which can be very inspiring in itself, so it might just be all you need to reach the next step in your artistic endeavours!

Is it tough if you are a self-taught artist?

I think it can be tough in some ways but in others, not so much. I don’t have any formal art training but somehow prior to this, I taught myself how to paint…so if anything, my lack of knowledge has helped fuel my desire for self-improvement.

An advantage of being self-taught is that you are able to find your own way without anyone imposing their views or opinions on you. Perhaps having someone who teaches you things like life drawing, colour theory etc., might also hinder the freedom of expression too? I don’t know but one can only speculate on these kinds of things anyway!

Why do people get into Art?

Just like everyone else out there. Some people were born with a natural ability to make art, others practice and dedicate themselves to it and some people just like doing something else! Sometimes passion can be born out of necessity too. I’ve known artists who were no good at anything else but became great because they loved painting with all their heart & soul.

Balancing your personal life with your Art Life

To me, there is no such thing as a balance. For each person what is normal might be different for everyone else so how do you even begin to find a balance? Some days will be better than others where you sit down and paint until you feel content, other times it’s more physical activity which changes things up a bit…sometimes even spending time with family or friends takes priority so the whole idea of seeing art as a lifestyle choice is so so wrong.

In all honesty, there will be times where work will come first along with deadlines & commissions but you have to be realistic about how much time you have and what you’re happy doing at a given time in your life. As an artist, if I did ‘balance’ my art against other things then it would mean that I would have lost the connection to my muse and just become another person who paints for a living! You can’t sell yourself short or else it’ll stop being fun, which means you’ll stop painting…which means you won’t make anything inspiring anymore. And we don’t want that do we?!

I suppose at the end of the day, it’s down to each individual artist to find their own way. We all start off on this path with no real idea of what ‘being an artist’ means so you just have to do whatever feels right…whether that be getting inspired by things around you or creating your own new experiences. As long as you keep on painting and trying your best each time, one day you might just find yourself there!

Art isn’t always an easy thing to explain or even describe because it’s something that has evolved into all kinds of shapes & sizes. Some artists paint very ‘realistically’ but others like to express themselves through their art which is more abstract. Some people are into oil paint, some are acrylics or even digital painting. It doesn’t really matter because what you make is entirely up to yourself.

Above all…just keep on painting!

You can check out my other art pieces here and follow my Instagram page!