Observe. Capture. Release. Repeat.
Finding inspiration from my particular surroundings.
August’s IlloGuild question:
How do you get inspiration from your particular surroundings?
When I was young, my mother encouraged me to draw everything I saw. So, I drew my dog, I drew a hat, I drew my sister sleeping, and anything (or anyone) lying around. I could spend hours drawing. Even when I wasn’t drawing I found myself observing. I soaked in the mountain range on my way to school, the yellow aspen leaves dancing in the fall, snow falling softly and covering the ground like a blanket, clouds moving across a vast blue Colorado sky, and all the warm colors and textures of my childhood home. These drawings and quieter moments all happened in between the faster, fuzzier memories of school work, playing and the anxieties of adolescence. It all shuffled into my tangled life.
I never considered 3 things. One, that my observations were uniquely my own. Other creatives across the world were noticing other things, like beaches and palm trees, deserts and cacti, or busy cities and skyscrapers. My visual story is a jar full of unique experiences. Two, I never realized that these softer creative moments werer being engraved onto my heart. Daily inspiration trickling down into my drawings. Quietly helping me understand the world. Three, I had no idea this is how I would create art the rest of my life. I had created a method where I could harvest color palettes, textures, and imagery from my life.
So, how exactly do I get inspiration from my particular surroundings? How does the process work?
Observe > Capture > Release > Repeat
• OBSERVE: Make mental bookmarks. No sketching, no writing. It might not look like I’m really doing anything at all. I’m watching, listening and feeling. In my opinion, this is the richest kind of “research”. It is more than a quick snap shot… It’s a fully present moment, using all the senses to create a visual callback. This is what I mastered as a child and it is much harder as an adult! To slow everything down and pay full attention. For example, watching a small gray bunny hop all the way across my front yard, waiting for the sun to paint the whole sky shades of pink until it turns gray, noticing the pine trees are making a textured pattern along the ridge as I travel through the mountains, and study the lines and curves of my son’s tiny hands as he sleeps. It’s a mental bookmark engraved on my heart. Committing to memory the things that bring me joy.
• CAPTURE: Make physical notes or sketches. I take note of things that grab my attention. It might be the texture of a tree bark, a blooming flower, or an unexpected color palette at the grocery store that caught my eye. I quickly take note in some form. It may be a quick photo, sketch, or write down a few words to remind me. Digging Deeper, I might sit down, reference my notes and create slightly longer sketches of the same thing. Have you ever noticed the stronger memories in your mind are the stories you tell over and over? I’ll paint acrylic landscapes of my favorite local spots or pour over images from a recent road trip. Spending time with something and repeating things is the best way to memorize those particular visual notes. Then you can eventually use those notes in a variety of different songs.
• RELEASE: Let inspiration loose. The most important part is what it’s always been… letting it all trickle down. Ideas percolating from the corners of my mind. In the quiet of the morning or night (usually night), I find my mind naturally wanders and opens like a flower. I try to keep something close to catch ideas before they are gone. All my mental foraging comes together like a puzzle. Pieces falling into place in my mind, the creative gate unlocked. This is the moment I intuitively dip into the inspiration well! It’s the moment the train leaves the station for any particular project and suddenly I know exactly what to do. I surprise myself with what comes out. It’s all in there, like a backpack full of collected things waiting for me. A little bird I spotted on a walk shows up in the corner of the page, trees in my back yard suddenly jump out through my pencil, and the expression of my daughter is reflected on a new character I created. My color palettes are instinctively earthy. Light blues, mustard yellows, burnt sienna, salmon pinks, a variety of muted greens. My favorite color is sky blue like a sunny Colorado day. Nature and atmosphere dominate my art. I draw tree silhouettes and glowing light like a campfire. I take extra care in contrast, shading and lighting to create textures and depth. I love drawing people, portraits…emotion. I’m a storyteller…inspired by the images from my particular surroundings.
What is your visual story? What images are in your jar of unique experiences? What inspires you?
{ A year ago I joined Illoguild, an international group of picture book illustrators. We meet regularly to critique, cheer and motivate each other on our illustration journeys. Every month the IlloGuild answers a prompt. See other responses HERE }