 | ||
 In|spi|ra|tion: n. 1 the influence of thought and strong feelings on actions, especially on good actions 2 any influence that arouses effort to do well 3 an idea that is inspired; sudden brilliant idea My personal definition of inspiration is that it is something that ignites a creative spark with you. Where to find inspiration. . . ? Inspiration is hiding everywhere - literally EVERYWHERE!! More often than not you find inspiration when you are least looking for it. If you have decided to make something you put your blank down infront of you and sit staring at it waiting for the inspiration to magically appear out of the seams . . .it won't happen and funny enough the longer you wait the harder it will be to find. My recomendation to you is, stop, get up and move away from your project. Look out of a window, walk around the garden, page through a magazine, watch a tree blowing, look around your house and just gaze; the inspiration will find you. It is key not to force it or rush it. The colour, shape, style, pattern, starting point or whatever it is that you are looking for will finally arrive and you will be able to continue with your creative project. A big mistake so many people sadly make is that they feel they are not creative. I have taught so many classes and held so many workshops of crafts and arts where at least someone in the class reveals to me "Oh by the way, I am not creative." This is utter nonsense! Everybody IS creative - if you are alive - you are creative, if you can make a decision - you are creative, if you can match a necklace to your outfit - YOU ARE CREATIVE! Where people go wrong is that instead of saying that they are not creative what they should say is: "I have not experienced this craft before" or "I have not had to tap into the skills required to complete this task" or "I have not been taught the skills I need to accomplish this particular project!" Luckily, these things are all "teachable" and "learnable". Any one can learn a skill, method or technique, the trick is to find someone who can teach these to you. Just beacause someone is extremely skilled in a particular area does not neccessarily mean that they will be able to impart that knowledge and skill onto you, to the point that you will be able to go on and practice what you have learned with confidence. Using these skills to develop your own style and creativity. I am sure you are familiar with the old saying those who can't do, teach. This couldn't be further from the truth. It should read those who can't teach, shouldn't! A teacher has such a huge influence on the student, and can make or break your love for what you are learning. So be careful when you choose a teacher, make sure not that they are able to do the particular craft you are interested in learning but are they able to teach you their skills and provide you with enough confidence to apply your skill to create, when something inspires you. Where exactly do you draw the line between creating something that has inspired you and copying? I am sure there are a number of legal terms that will help but for me the difference is this: when something inspires you it awakens an idea in you and this leads you to create a tangible object from this idea, copying is when someone else was inspired and created a tangible object and you copy that. Even if you are the one who inspired them :) | ||
Website designed by Col BTM
All images, content and logos ©Copyright 2011