BEHIND OUR PROCESS: PART 1

CULTIVATING INSPIRATION

All artwork must start with an idea which is sparked by inspiration. For me I want inspiration to come naturally and flow freely throughout every single project. 

Inspiration can really come from anything in life. Whether it’s the colours of the sky at dusk, an outfit, textures, evocative lyrics, or even the colour of my morning coffee, inspiration can strike at any moment. I like to call this phenomenon organic inspiration. I often find myself writing down ideas on my phone, or preferably sketching them out in a notebook or sketchbook. Dreaming up ideas has never really been an huge issue for me, it’s more about having enough time to create all of them.

My ideas flow most actively and freely at night and (almost) always when I am in bed. 90% of my great ideas begin this way. If I had to guess why that is, it must be when I am the least distracted with all the muck of everyday life. That’s my best guess anyway, but I’m not a psychologist. This can be a real pain in the butt because I don’t like to have distractions while I am falling asleep. My brain always goes “bam”, and I think of a really incredible, exciting, amazing idea right when I’m cuddled up in the warm blankets almost ready to fall asleep.

I’ve learned to roll with it though and freely write down anything that comes to mind when this phenomenon happens. The faster I can write it down somewhere, the better (the notepad app is my BFF). Truly, the number of times I have written out entire series concepts on my notepad app, or even a physical notebook beside my bed, is absolutely excessive. I’m embarrassed to say that the percentage of these 1AM ideas that have come to fruition is a fraction of the number of ideas floating around on scrap pieces of paper or notebooks around my house. 

All of this talk makes it seem like coming up with concepts and ideas comes so easy to me but that’s not always the case. When I find myself in a restrictive box it can severely hinder my creativity. For example, if I have a launch planned for a specific holiday or time of year I can get a little stuck. It’s times like these where my creativity isn’t naturally inclined towards a specific theme or idea. A series should be cohesive and strategic, and while this unifies the ideas, it can also narrow the possibilities. The worst is when you get tunnel vision on a certain idea that you desperately want to work, but it’s just not right. It can prevent you from seeing the big picture. I hate forcing inspiration but sometimes you have no choice but to try. This is when I turn to my most trusted sources for brainstorming that will surely spark inspiration. 

The internet is my most used resource for inspiration, especially when I am feeling uninspired. This seems like the obvious choice. The internet is vast with never-ending visual and audible content. My preferred method involves searching for images and compiling them into collections or mood boards. With these mood boards, I gather colour palettes, subjects, and textures relating to what I have in mind until it becomes a comprehensive idea that can be turned into a collection. This helps me visualize the big picture of what I want to create which is a sure way to get out of any type of theoretical corner or dry spell. The photograph below is an example of a mood board I quickly pieced together.

When it comes to commissions, which are a huge portion of my work these days, things work a little differently. I always start by asking my clients what type of painting they want, the medium, and the size. One of the most important things required for most of my commissions is source photographs. The majority of my commissions are pet portraits or human portraiture, so good photographs are essential to achieve a likeness to the subject I am painting. At this stage I figure out what the client’s vision is and determine if there are any special requirements or requests that are outside my usual workflow.

Each client’s wants are different; some have more rigid guidelines, while others are a lot more open. Some projects are more involved and require additional planning. When a project is more complex I will create outlines and/or rough drafts of variable compositions to present to the client. This is a great way to help a client visualize the final painting, or help them choose between different source photos, or compositions. No matter what the case may be, I always have the client communicate their preference to ensure we are on the same wavelength. No matter how you frame it, this step is crucial for success.

I have a love-hate relationship with cultivating inspiration. It always happens differently for each project that I work on. When things are flowing, it can be a truly amazing and revitalizing experience. When I’m stuck, it can feel really defeating and monotonous. Luckily, the former is the more common scenario, so I am inclined to love this part a little more than hate (and hate might even be too strong of a word for it).

Achieving inspiration is the best feeling in the world. I only wish I had the time and bandwidth to bring more of my crazy ideas to life. Time is the real enemy here. 

I hope you guys enjoyed Part 1 of our Behind The Process Series! What are some of your favourite ways to get inspired? Let me know in the comments below!

With Love,

Kristi