You guys, I hear from a lot of people who get artist's block — i.e. sit and stare at a blank page or canvas or piece of paper and just don't know what to do. No worries! Inspiration is all around us. Let's talk about things you can use to get going:
Shopping For Clothes
I love the flowers on this child's dress. Wouldn't it look great as a painting for the wall? Or as inspiration for a stamp to carve? Or maybe even as inspiration for your own adult-sized hand painted dress.
At the Garden Store
You could use these succulents as sketchbook fodder or steal the color palette:
I was surprised by the color palette that this site created — more black than I expected. But then I noticed the shelf. The generated color palette made me look at the photo totally differently! Isn't that cool?
At the Grocery Store
I like the simple illustrations on this packaging. Sometimes I get really bent about a drawing being a certain way, but these very simple illustrations clearly convey what each item is. Time to get out my sketchbook and simplify!
At the Fabric Store
Yes, I want to grab these fabrics and make a bag or an apron or a dress. But, I also see some cool stamps I could carve inspired by the trees. The feathers with text make me think of an art journal page. The feathers also make me want to go home and take out my watercolors. They're so soft and lovely. They feel very sketchbook-y.
In Your House
Awesome shadow! Wouldn't it make a great stencil?! You could tape a piece of paper to the wall and trace the shadow. You could even hold a canvas up to the wall and trace the shadow to create a starting point for a painting. Plenty of artists use projection devices in creating their artwork. This is nature's projection!
In the Greeting Card Section
I see an art journal page in this card. The crown on the shark with the square around it should be a stamp. I love the mixed font text — definitely want to do that on an art journal page. Look at the red rings at the bottom of the card. They look like marks made with the end of a pencil eraser. Also, this illustration makes me feel like I can draw in my own style and it's okay!
At the Hardware Store
Do you see sticks or do you see a pattern? I see a cool pattern to recreate.
Here's the photo in black and white with the contrast turned up:
And now here it is with a few Photoshop filters and cropped to a smaller size:
And cropped even smaller and rotated:
Wouldn't that be a cool stamp?! Or silkscreen? Or patterned fabric?
The next time you're looking for artistic inspiration, try looking at what's around you!
Thanks for stopping by!
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Great inspiration surrounds us all. I was fascinated recently by the floor in the Miami airport. One large section had amorphous sea creatures and the other had plant shapes. Let the carving begin.
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Julie, Wow! What a great post! I love that palette generator. I need to open my eyes a bit more. Thanks!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
Thanks for the awesome, eye-opening tips!
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
You never cease to amaze me or disappoint. I just am tickled this morning by the way you bring daily visual imagery into our minds and notice all the details and how to create visually!! Love it!! And I love the palette generator!. So so cool!! Thank you! Thank you for all that you bring to teaching. You are far better than any art professors I have had many many moons ago.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
This was a GREAT blog!!!! What you say about inspiration is SO true.
We just need to open our eyes and SEE, THINK and ACT.
THANKS for opening our minds to all we can create.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
thanks for the encouragement. i thought i was weird because i take pictures with my phone and organize those pics in my phone for drawing and painting inspiration. thank you so much Julie. you are a great encouragement.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
What a great post. I often see inspiration around me but I don’t think to photograph it then alter the contrast etc.
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
Julie, I am considering how best to use Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Are you using the subscription service Creative Cloud to access Photoshop? Or did you buy the program?
I pay for creative cloud.
I pay for creative cloud.
I pay for creative cloud.
I pay for creative cloud.
I pay for creative cloud.
I pay for creative cloud.
I pay for creative cloud.
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Dagoone, you’ve got a good eye! I loved this!
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great post. Loved the way you cropped & rotated the sticks to show what or how to look at things for inspiration
Great tips. Love your site.
Great tips. Love your site.
Great tips. Love your site.
Great tips. Love your site.
Great tips. Love your site.
Great tips. Love your site.
Great tips. Love your site.
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
This was a great post! So many great ideas. Do you have a pallete generator app you recommend?
Yes, its linked in the post.
Yes, its linked in the post.
Yes, its linked in the post.
Yes, its linked in the post.
Yes, its linked in the post.
Yes, its linked in the post.
Yes, its linked in the post.
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
The warning on the palette generator says it can read and change all the web sites you visit. I’m not so sure I want to give it that much control
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
Then do a google search for a different one. There are a ton of free palette generators out there.
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
I really appreciated this post. It reminds me me to open my eyes and mind to my surroundings every day. You point out the importance of changing our perspective when we look at things around us. This kind of mindfulness is as important to art makers as walking through fresh markets is to chefs. Thank you, Julie.
art_journal_antics
OOPS! See it! Thanks
OOPS! See it! Thanks
OOPS! See it! Thanks
OOPS! See it! Thanks
OOPS! See it! Thanks
OOPS! See it! Thanks
OOPS! See it! Thanks