As a creative professional, one of the hardest parts of the job is finding inspiration. I don’t know any artists that divine new ideas from simply setting up their easels or turning the page in their sketch book. That would be too wonderful but it’s not the way the world works.
Firstly, you need to experience life. You need to get out into the world, have great conversations, amazing debates and heated arguments. Find something to stand for or stand against. Know about the world and its people. Perhaps you will be inspired to take a photograph of the work hardened face of a ranch hand or you’ll want to paint a satirical jab at the current regime worth smearing filth on. You need to hunt for inspiration because it’s rare that it will just come to you.
Take your work with you wherever you go. Whether it’s keeping art easels, canvas and paints in both your car and home or if you, always carrying your laptop (like I do) or just having a small notebook to jot down notes; you must always be ready for inspiration when you find it. You may never know when it’s coming so you need to be ready.
Immerse yourself in art and surround yourself with other artists. This is the most important advice I can give you. You need to surround yourself with other creative people and study their art and process. Collaborate and help each other. You don’t have to give up your independent work. On the contrary, working with others can inspire your own work.
Make sure to branch out from your chosen field. If you are a writer you should try taking some photographs. If you are an actor you should set up some H-frame easels and try your hand at painting. You may be inspired in your own field by experiencing another. Limiting yourself to one medium alone is too restrictive. You may even find ways to inventively incorporate the new medium into your old style to give it new life.
