Curating Creativity:
Creating a Visual Inspiration Board
When it comes to making art, finding and channeling visual inspiration is as important a part of the process as putting the paintbrush to canvas, and opens up a world of boundless possibilities. There are enormous benefits to curating creativity by making a visual inspiration board. Visual inspiration acts as a catalyst, sparks ideas, and guides artists through the process of bringing our vision to life. If you don’t already use this tool in your creative arsenal, I hope that by the end of this post, you will be inspired to try it. I’ll be exploring some options for where to find visual inspiration. From our own environments to the far reaches of the internet, there is so much to draw on. Then we’ll consider the benefits of translating that inspiration into a focused, tangible form – the inspiration board.
I keep a continually evolving inspiration board on my studio wall. But once a year at about this time, I take most, if not all of it down and start afresh.
Gathering Visual Inspiration
1. Everyday life
Gathering visual inspiration has become so easy with camera phones in our pockets. Gone are the days of trawling through piles of discarded magazines (though I quite miss doing that)
I am always looking around me when I’m out and about, hoping to find textures, patterns or colour combinations I can snap for future use.
Having learned to look for beauty in the mundane, appreciate the interplay of light and shadow, (hoping for more sunny days to help with that!) and immersing myself in the colours, textures, and patterns that surround me, I consciously try to practice being fully aware and receptive to any visual stimuli that may capture my imagination. This has led to friends and family rolling many an eye as they’ve waited for me while I just capture that perfect shot of peeling paint or a curled leaf!
3 Art Galleries and Museums:
I love a leisurely wander around a good art gallery or museum. A personal favourite is the V&A in London, but visual inspiration can be found in almost any. You can explore different eras, styles, and materials to broaden your creative thinking. Taking note of the techniques, colour palettes, and narrative methods employed by other artists can often be a catalyst for fruitful paths of exploration in your own work.
4 Other cultures:
I momentarily hesitated to put this category in because of the politically sensitive issue of cultural appropriation, an issue that can trigger strong feelings in some. However, my view is that artists have always absorbed influences from other cultures and that is a valid source of inspiration. To me, it only becomes an issue when something is taken from another culture and passed off as one’s own. Having trained originally as a textile designer, patterns from cultures all over the world form a large part of the inspirational archive.
Part of being human is that we are stimulated by things that are different from our usual norms. Traveling, visiting local markets, and exploring neighbourhoods known for their unique aesthetics can all fuel creative ideas. The fusion of colours, symbols, and traditions different from your own can inject fresh vitality into your work.
5 Digital Sources:
As we all know, inspiration is just a click away online. Who hasn’t lost many hours following rabbit trails on Pinterest? Follow creatives whose work resonates with you, not just in your own discipline. Bookmark captivating images and save references for future exploration. Digital platforms provide a window into the multifaceted world of art, allowing you to curate your virtual gallery of inspiration.
Creating The Inspiration Board
So, you’ve spent many hours gathering a vast array of imagery that you find inspiring – now what?
1. Choose a Medium:
The first step in crafting your inspiration board is to choose a medium that works for you. Whether it’s a physical pinboard, a digital platform, or a combination of both, select a medium that aligns with your preferences and creative process.
2. Clarify Your Vision:
The sheer volume of potential images can be overwhelming, so a top tip is to separate your images into folders of themes or categories– virtual and/or physical.
I have folders both physical and virtual, with the following headings:
Colours
Textures
Shapes
Patterns
Techniques
Motifs & symbols
Figurative/Narrative
Landscape
Text/language
Quotes
You may have other categories that pertain to the way you work.
As you gather images, quotes, and textures that resonate with you, patterns and themes begin to emerge.
Then the process of creating your board can begin. Use your intuition to lay the images out. The process of selecting and arranging elements on your board helps distil your ideas, allowing you to articulate and refine your creative path.
Your inspiration board should be a dynamic thing that evolves alongside your creative journey. Regularly update it with new materials, experiences, and insights. Embrace the impermanence of your board, allowing it to reflect the ever-changing nature of your work.
The Benefits of a Visual Inspiration Board
1. Ignites Creativity:
Creating an inspiration board acts as a visual spark, igniting your creativity. The curated images and snippets on your board serve as prompts, triggering new ideas and possibilities. The juxtaposition of random elements can lead to unusual connections and unexpected ideas.
2. Helps Overcome Creative Blocks:
We all encounter creative blocks on our journey as artists. An inspiration board can really help when we are feeling stuck, offering a reservoir of visual stimuli to break through the stagnation. So, when faced with a mental roadblock, a quick refresh and move around of your inspiration board can reignite the creative flow by reminding you of all the infinite possibilities that exist.
3. Sets the Tone:
Your inspiration board can also act as a mood board, setting the tone and atmosphere for a particular series of work. Whether you’re aiming for a serene and contemplative aesthetic or a vibrant and energetic vibe, the visual elements on your board can guide the overall mood of your work. This intentional curation helps you to keep focused if, like me, you are prone to being easily distracted.
4. Builds a Creative Narrative:
An inspiration board serves as a visual narrative of your creative journey. And, as you continue to add elements over time, the board evolves, curating creativity and reflecting the evolution of your journey as an artist. It becomes a tangible representation of your growth, influences, and the diverse sources that contribute to the richness of your unique creative expression. I take photos of mine to track the changes because that gives me the option to go back if I want to.
5. Useful for Daily Reflection:
Incorporate your inspiration board into your daily routine. Spend a few moments each day reflecting on its contents. Let the images and textures soak into your consciousness, fuelling your creative energy and providing a mental playground for your ideas.
6. Enhances Productivity:
In the sometimes chaos of a bustling creative mind, an inspiration board brings order and structure. Instead of sifting through countless ideas, your board serves as a quick reference, allowing you to focus on your current path.
7. Collaborative Inspiration:
Depending on the nature of your practice, it might be helpful on occasion to share your inspiration board with collaborators, fellow artists, friends, or mentors. Others may offer insights, suggestions, or fresh perspectives that could be helpful (or not!).
In summary, of course this is not an exhaustive list, it is just a reflection on my personal experience and thoughts about using an inspiration board. I’d love to know what you think. Do you use one? or might you decide to give it a try having read this? Let me know in the comments below or on IG here or FB here
Useful Resources:
Royalty free images are available amongst others from https://istockphoto.com
To create a digital board https://pinterest.com
Image credits:
Aqua doorhandle – Jenny Downing on flickr.com
Aqua rust crazed texture – Janet Little on flickr.com
Aqua sphere pot from Seventh Avenue
Grey Ladybird – Bugguide.net
B&W script pattern – Julian Walters via Pinterest
White Coral – Luigi Massella on flickr.com
Aqua leaf – tamjpn on flickr.com
Remaining images via Pinterest (original source un-traceable) or my own
