Image source: Fanpop.com
Are you suffering from a nagging case of writer’s block? Well, I suppose it would be appropriate to call it “artist’s block” considering the nature of this blog. Well, don’t fret! Hopefully, we can help you find a source of endless inspiration.
1. Marry Two Ideas
Odd are good that you’ve ditched a bunch of bad ideas that didn’t quite make the cut. Don’t dismiss your bad ideas too quickly, however. There’s probably a bit of merit to them if you could just figure out the parts worth keeping and ditch everything that you dislike.
Image source: Creativitypost.com
Musician Guy Garvey did just that when he fused two different ideas into a new song: “The best songs often take two disparate ideas and make them fit together. When I started writing lyrics for The Birds, I was sitting in a cottage in the grounds of Peter Gabriel’s Real World studios. I was looking out at the birds outside, starting to think of lyrics about them; and then I thought about the last time I’d been there, 10 years before, at the end of a great love affair. I thought, how can I combine these two ideas? So I came up with an idea about a love affair that had ended in a field, with birds as the only witnesses.”
2. Talk to Your Dog
Convention isn’t very inspiring. One of the best ways to break free of the shackles of tradition is to try something that’s totally new and just plain stupid. Talk to your dog about the virtues of barkiness versus woofiness. Spill a bunch of toothpicks onto your table to see what you can make with them. Use toothpaste as your paint and your toothbrush as your paintbrush and create something silly in your bathroom mirror. If you force your brain to do something it’s never done before, then you should venture into new neurological territory and find an untapped wellspring of inspiration.
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3. Take a Personality Test
The Myers Briggs personality test can offer you surprising insight into your inner workings. Taking an official test costs something like $50, but you can find unofficial free test online with a quick web search. These profiles will help you gain a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. For example, I’m an ENTP, so I do extremely well juggling a bunch of different projects. The only catch is that ENTPs have a tendency to be fickle and can quickly lose interest in projects once they become familiar and stale. So, to counter that, I supplement long-term projects with short creative breaks and I force myself to follow strict schedules so that I don’t procrastinate… another weakness of an ENTP.
Image source: Theguardian.com
There’s actually a bit of debate as to whether or not personality tests are useful, but the science isn’t really important for this exercise. The point of taking a personality test is to shine a critical light on yourself and view yourself from a different perspective. Personality tests could be hokum or scientific fact — either way, thinking about yourself and your work habits in a different way could lead to unexpected inspiration.
The same goes for zodiacs. I’m a Scorpio, but do I believe that the stars have any impact on my daily life whatsoever? No, not for a moment. I can still read my daily horoscope and apply its advice to my life just for the novelty. Who knows what type of inspiration a refreshing change of pace will bring?
Right at this very second, hundreds or possibly even thousands of artists across the world are practicing their artistic skills. Don’t get left in the dust! At the Gnomon School, you’ll learn invaluable techniques that can help you take your art skills to the next level. Discover new and exciting sources of inspiration! Learn art techniques from veterans of the industry! Learn how to create a niche for yourself in this ever-growing market! Are you ready to become a better artist? Get started today!