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Your Guide to Finding Inspiration

Graduating from art school is an incredible accomplishment. Most artists finish school and are ready to hit the ground running in the professional world. However, many experience some serious roadblocks, a pertinent one being no inspiration.

When you were in school, you might have had much more incentive to create. You had homework to do, projects to finish, etc. Now that you're out of school, there is no one pressing you for your art. However, there's no need to worry. There are plenty of ways to finding motivation in the real world.

Art is inspired by art

The truth of the matter is, in a way, all art can be reproduced. If you're having a hard time getting inspired, dive into a new medium of art. Watch the films you put off during school because you didn't have enough time. Visit all of the art museums in the city to view the new exhibits. Listen to an album from a genre of music that's different from your everyday tunes. Art is inspired by art. Try new things, and you might find inspiration. However, be sure to challenge yourself. Once you view, listen, watch, make yourself sit down and reflect on it. You never know what you might come up with.

Real life

Art is very frequently inspired by the world around us. Nature is quite often the subject of paintings, photography, poetry, etc. If you aren't feeling inspired, you may need to get yourself outside. Go for a walk in a park. Take a camping trip. Visit a place you've never been before. Watch the sun rise or set. The world in its most organic form can spur creativity if you just put yourself in its presence. 

"Change your work environment."

Keep this in mind for your workspace, as well. If your studio or room has little light or no windows, you may find it hard to work there. Try to create an environment that is well-lit and accessible to the outside. In the same vein, if you find yourself stuck, try working outside. Your surroundings can have an enormous effect on your work.

Look at your past work
Sometimes the key to moving forward is looking into the past. If you're not sure where to go next with your art, your archives might be helpful. Scour your computer, old notebooks, textbooks to see what you can find. You may uncover some old poems or writing that you absolutely hate but want to edit. Or, you may find something to build on for a much larger project. In addition, you can see how far you've come, which might give you the inspiration you need.

Collaborate

When it comes to creating, there are never too many cooks in a kitchen. If you're lacking direction, collaboration could be just what you need. Reach out to your personal artist connections. Or join an artist community in your city. There are sure to be people just like you looking to get their hands dirty with a new project. Visit local art galleries or exhibitions to meet new people in your field. The more people you meet, the better. If you're a painter, you don't have to pair up with another painter to work together. Artists from different mediums can be extremely beneficial to one another. Online art communities such as thalo.com are a great place to find artists just like you (or not like you).