Inspiration- don’t wait for it!!

What am I on about? I am talking about inspiration, sometimes known as Eureka Moment, when the light bulb suddenly shines. Can you create inspiration or do you leave it to some kind of divine power? Well , I create it! How? Read on…

Although we assume that when we are busy doing things we are concentrating and therefore our brains are focussed on the  task in hand. That is true to a degree. Our brains are capable of a lot more than what we credit them with. Our brains are super dooper multi-taskers. They work all the time, I think mine does anyway – I hope  . For our brains to be even better at the multi-tasking lark they need information. Of course you can overwhelm them with information too – this is for another blog! Back to our brains. They are hungry things no different to your bookshelf or computer. They are information machines and information is what keeps them ticking. If you agree with me so far great, then read on; otherwise go and pour yourself a glass of wine and destroy more grey cells

Inspiration in my experience ( I am not a doctor or philosopher – some say I am just a grumpy artist!)  is nothing more than previous knowledge and experience being deployed or used in a new way, i.e. creativeness. Inspiration comes when we furnish our brains with information about an issue or creative problem, leave it to;  yes that’s right, leave it alone and don’t upset it or let others upset it. Your wonderful brain will work on the issue for you. Its important not to bother it too much, you can check how its progressing but no more. Do give it more info about the issue if it asks for it. Before you know it the Eureka moment, the spark lights up and you are presented with a way forward.

In practical terms how do you do the information feeding and cooking? Well, this is what I do, remember I am just a grumpy artist

• My sketchpad is my information store, like a memory stick for your PC. Whenever I need to cook or feed info that’s my first port of call
• I am not a purist! What I mean is I am happy to explore my painting tools in anyway my lovely brain decides is the thing to do to communicate what it wants to say.
• By being a purist you are telling your brain don’t cross the boundary or else! You are scaring it and it doesn’t like that
• Remember the bit about not letting others upset your brain, well, when you are creative,  people around you need to know you are in ‘inspiration creating’ work and must be left alone
• Play! Go and do something totally different to what you normally do. This is like pressing the reset button on your computer! Your brain will thank you, you are giving it time to reorder information
• Don’t let people meddle with your thoughts and information – they don’t know and will never know your brain, only you in the know. If people don’t like my artwork so what? I am getting a kick out of doing it
• Keep notes of the things that excite you ( No! No shades of anything here!). When you want to create inspiration look through those notes. I have them everywhere, phone, computer, notebook, sketch pad etc. etc. They are everywhere!
• Your brain runs on batteries just like your mobile phone, and contrary to common belief it does run out. Now don’t go plugging yourself in the national grid. Your brain is rechargeable, and to do that there many ways, here a few: warm bath, a walk in the countryside, go out for a meal with friends, enjoy a glass of wine with your nearest and dearest, potter in the garden, go for a swim etc. OK, you get the idea?

This applies to us all and not just grumpy creative artists. Its takes a bit of adjustment and commitment and hey you are creating inspiration. Don’t forget to spread the inspiration, that’s a good way of recharging your batteries! And above all always have fun