My childhood copy of Raggedy Ann in the Snow White Castle by Johnny Gruelle, 1946 by the Johnny Gruelle Company
Finding inspiration sometimes seems like an allusive process. I find inspiration from looking at books, attending art exhibits, visiting flea markets. I especially love books of patterns such as 1000 Patterns: Design Through the Centuries by Drusilla Cole and find ideas for both 2 and 3 dimensional work from historical patterns. I also have a passion for children’s books. Vintage children’s books, such as those by Johnny Gruelle, have enchanting illustrations. Sometimes I just leaf through books, then close them and get out a sketchbook.
I love going to art, natural history, and science museums . When I go to museums, I take a sketchbook and make quick sketches of details, textures, and shapes that I am especially intrigued by. Visiting galleries is also a wonderful way to see what other artists are doing.
Philbrook Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Miro Museum, Barcelona, Spain
Flea markets are a favorite pastime of mine. I take a camera and ask vendors if I can photograph their booths. They are usually very accommodating. If I come home without any treasures, but have gotten some inspiring photo shots, it is still a successful trip.
Brimfield – many colors of buckets
Brimfield – African-artifacts
Brimfield – textiles booth
Brimfield – prom dress
Sometimes I just open my sketchbook and start doodling. I may have an idea in my head as a beginning point – such as “poodle”. I try not to think too much, but just draw. These doodles may turn into the starting point for a piece.
I also like to participate in Illustration Friday when I get the chance. It’s a fun challenge to try to develop an illustration to match the weekly theme. The resulting drawings can give me ideas for new work in a different medium, and I enjoy visiting other artist’s blogs to see their illustrations, too.
There are two blogs that I always find inspirational: “Art for Housewives” and “Ullabenulla”.
In the most recent post from Art for Housewives, the author talks about an interactive project at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The public is invited to send in photos of pockets they have created. The photos along with information and name of the artist are included in the museum’s database for pockets.
Ullabenulla shows photos of her work and the work of other artists along with updating what is going on in her studio including classes. In Ullabenulla’s latest post, she shows a series of endearing miniature kitchenware made of acorns.
You can find inspiration in the most unexpected places: even a hotel bathroom or staircase.
Paris hotel – bath
Paris hotel – staircase
This is a great post Ellen. I like how you covered a variety of inspiration sources. I am going to cheat a little and add this post as a late addition to the the blog carnival.
[...] I included it because Ellen share lots of her tips for finding inspiration for art. Ellen presents Ain’t He Cute?! posted at Ellifolks: Bears, Critters and [...]
Thank you, Bean!
Oh! I enjoyed this post so much! I’d love to visit that Miro museum. And that vintage prom dress!!! Wow! I wish I had that. The hotel is lovely, too. At first, I thought the staircase was a hallway. Wouldn’t that be neat? A hallway that looks like a nautilus shell?
It’s great that you can find inspiration in everyday life. You have a magic eye. Now I’m going to check out those two links you mentioned. They sound intriguing!
And congrats on the radio show! Cooooool!
Thank you, Bella! You’re so sweet! Barcelona is a wonderful place to visit – so many museums (There’s a Picasso Museum there, also.) and wonderful sites to see. My daughter and I took the tour buses – there were 3 different routes you could take, you paid by the day, and could get on and off as you pleased. There was audio (11 languages – you pick) with ear plugs for each seat, so you got history and lots of information as you rode. It was great seeing the city like that because we were alone and didn’t speak Spanish. We never felt lost or had to deal with finding our way to something.
What an inspiring post — I too like to visit places where I find artsy inspiration… Julia Cameron, in her book The Artist’s Way, calls that an “Artist’s Date,” and insists we should take one at least once a week. I can go into a furniture store showroom, or a showroom for interior design, or a gift boutique (and look at handmade bags or hand-painted silk scarves) as well as a museum or art gallery. Just spaces well-done — like your shot of the bathroom in an upscale hotel — fill my soul as much as a good meal served in a quaint old-world restaurant would fill my tummy.
Barb
Thank you, Barb! Ooh, I haven’t read The Artist’s Way. Now I’m going to search for it at the library. I love the idea of “Artist’s Dates, too!