When I am searching for inspiration to make a painting or a digital art piece, I have a really bad habit of going on my phone and searching on social media and apps like Pinterest and successful art profiles, which can be detrimental to my self esteem as an artist. Looking at other peoples work that have been published, sold, successful, and using that as a baseline for how you should make your art is not realistic or sustainable. You’re doing yourself an injustice by trying to live up to what someone has already successfully created.
I constantly have to remind myself of the “why”. Why am I trying to make art and designs in the first place?
It’s a form of personal expression, I can tell a story through design and art that comes from me and that is a special thing.
I enjoy it, art has always been something I love to do and I can’t force it to be something that makes money or gets me attention, I have to create for the soul purpose of wanting to.
It means something to me and possibly to someone else. No art has to be perfect or be trending to be admired. The approval of someone else or the standard you set for yourself should not be required.
I want to improve. Nothing grows without investment and time. There is no point in waking up one day expecting to make a master piece out of nothing. Technique and personal style take time and practice.
Some exercises I like to implement when I find catch myself trying to copy something are:
free drawing: start drawing something without any idea in mind of what you are trying to create. Just grab some supplies you like and start with lines or shapes or anything. This has helped me to avoid becoming frustrated with an outcome when it doesn’t look the way it did in my mind. It also allows me to be more fluid and creative with my work.
carry a journal/sketch book: when at work or home or out and about ideas come to our head just by conversation or sights or sounds! I like to have something on hand to write down ideas or even sketch something specific that I can pick up later when I have time to make it in full.
Find inspiration organically: instead of going on your phone and being flushed with successful art and trending designs, go out into the world. Walk around your city, go to concerts, have experiences that inspire you to create. I believe thats when we create the most genuine products that speak to ourselves.
collaborate: collaboration cultivates creativity! grab a friend or a fellow artist/designer and pick their brain. Maybe create something together or talk through your next projects together and gain insight from an outsider.
Remember you have strong points and talents and they will not be the same as others and that is okay. Accept what speaks to you and drill into that instead of trying to create other peoples “successful” art. What you have to share is valuable and celebrated!
Cheers
Nyah