borrowed to new

Over the past few years, I have had students reach out questioning how do they jump from replicating a piece of Inspiration to creating something entirely unique. This is a very vast statement to unpack, and quite frankly, all Artists do succumb to this issue from time to time.

Picasso once said, “… good artists borrow, great artists steal.” What he really meant was, a Great Artist can realise what makes a certain piece of imagery good and distill these thoughts into something better. It is the reimagining of an element that makes the work completely your own.

As budding Artists, our job is to take the ordinary, in all its intricate beauty; funnel it through ourselves and deliver it to our viewer. The Artist’s mind acts as a visual thesaurus, connecting abstract thoughts and feelings where once the connection was not so clear.

This can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. Some may spend years marinating an idea, discovering new and resolved ways of relating it to someone. Others, may see a representational item through a specific lens and render it as they perceive it to be.

No matter your perspective, your Art should be your interpretation of an Inspiration, not the other way around.

The Human Vessel

You are drawn to a stimuli for a reason. There is something you can’t quite articulate and this stimuli somehow answers this unknown question for you. This is how an Artist sees the world.

Many of the Greats have been described as channelling a form of clarity unattainable by most. Their Art shed light on the reality of the world, at a specific time.

For many, feelings, emotions and transitional thoughts may appear cluttered and foggy, but to an Artist, some clarity can be found.

Pro Tip:

Think about the last time you were in nature. If could be a wander in your local park, or even looking out your window at a not so distant tree. Spend some time noticing the temperature of the air, is it a hot day? A rainy cool one? What colour are the leaves? Not just green, but what specific colour?

How about the smell in the air? Is it a fresh dewy sensation, or can you smell the dryness of humus under your feet. Take a deep breath, fill your lungs with all the sensations of this single moment.

How do you feel? What do you see now…

intangible to real

This is where you can really explore. There are no wrong answers here, only clarity in what you choose to say. Think of your Art as a short story you are about to write.

What is your reason for writing today? This could be the piece of stimuli you came across that sparked your inspiration to create. This inspiration is the driving theme of your work.

Will I use a metaphor in my short story; exemplify my idea with known elements to make my thoughts relatable to others? This could be the subject matter of your work. What iconographic image will you use to translate your thoughts.

Now that I have decided on my metaphor, how will I describe it to my audience? Here, I may use particular colours to communicate my thoughts. Colours can act like adjectives, elaborating your idea and presenting your message in a very relatable way.

Pro Tip:

“… I try my best to communicate my thoughts to my viewer. I spend a lot of time refining my colour library, blending tones that aren’t that common to create unique combinations that clarify my thoughts to others. I like my bodies to possess a secret like holding in a breath. I want their bodies to be a traversing journey where the viewer spends time lingering on every loop and turn with the destination being a composed body, ready to share their secret intention…”

cultivate an artistic voice

Now that I have shared a few tips on how you can translate your inspiration into Art uniquely your own, our next step is to strengthen these techniques. I have always found that photography allows me to capture a memory and a moment of when I was inspired.

Don’t be afraid if your inspiration pool doesn’t match the subject matter in your Art. Personally, I use landscapes for my colour inspiration and Macro photography for compositional ideas. Let your Inspiration speak back to you. Allow your mind to mull over the tidbits you collect and that clarity that I spoke about will follow.

Artistic Thought resonates with each one of us. We all have the capacity to ponder a bit longer and make connections in our thoughts. Allowing ourselves the opportunity to think critically and make tangible what we see in our heads, can only lead to better Art.

Pro Tip:

Don’t get too distracted by the need to say something profound with your Art. Start small. A single feeling, a single subject and a single colour is all you need. Just allow yourself to make these choices and relate them to an idea in your mind.

You will be surprise how much your viewer will see, when you make these reserved choices from the beginning.

Breathe Deeply, Let’s begin

The next time you go for a walk, be sure to take a moment to absorb the moment. Feel with all your senses and fill your lungs with that raw inspiration. Allow your mind to wander freely and see where it takes you.

Your Art should always reflect a part of yourself on the canvas. Your personal ideals is what makes the Art you make truly your own.

If you are feeling lost for expression and want to inspire yourself, check out my other blog post Understanding Colour, Like an Artist.

Thank you again for showing up today and sharing in my joy of all things Art. If you enjoyed this post, you can now sign up to our mailing list to be notified of any upcoming posts.

I write blog posts all about Art and how you can learn directly from a working Artist.

As Always, Good luck and Happy Painting!