How Artists Get Ideas for Making Art
Let’s explore how artists get ideas for making art and where artists get ideas. As teachers teaching the process of making art with kids, this is an important topic to understand so the creative process can be taught to young artists.
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How Artists Get Ideas for Making Art with Kids
In this blog post, we’re going to explore how artists get ideas for making art with kids for the purpose that as teachers, we are guiding kids through being creative thinkers and teaching them to be artists themselves. It is important to teach them about how artists get ideas and inspiration for their artworks so they can apply this to their own creative process whether when making art or sketchbook explorations or with choice-based learning ideas.
In this blog post I will talk about how artists get ideas, where artists get ideas, art inspiration, where artists source subjects, and how to get inspired.
How Artists Get Ideas for Making Art
Ideas can come to artists in different ways that are each unique to the individual. That being said, these are some of the techniques that have been most helpful for generating ideas and sparking the creative juices.
- Free Draw in a Sketchbook: the first way to generate ideas is by drawing in your sketchbook. Sometimes it is intimidating looking at the blank page, but if you grab something to make a mark with and just start doodling, eventually things and ideas start to come to the forefront of your mind. I always try and start drawing things I am interested in. Usually I will write a list of topics or subjects I am interested in on a page in my sketchbook, like a brainstorm, and then I will pick from there and just drat drawing. And as I draw, the idea will develop and become more clear. The more I do this , the more ideas I get, and suddenly I have pages of illustrations of things I didn’t even know I had ideas for. So just make a mark and see where it takes you.
- View Artworks and Contemporary Movements: Another way to get ideas for making art is by viewing art that artists have created. I would go to both a local art museum at your closest big city (usually where you find the big museums and galleries), but also visit smaller art galleries such as public art galleries, commercial art galleries, and artist-run art galleries and see their latest shows. If you want to get super inspired, ask them when their next art show opening reception is and attend for some cool and inspiring vibes and the chance to meet the artists who are most-often in attendance.
- Watch and be Inspired by Artists Online: Viewing art online is one of the coolest things we can do this century. I love following artists I like or have seen in art galleries or art magazines on Instagram so I can see the things they’re working on in their studios or clues to their process. A lot of artists even have YouTube channels an d my friend, you can learn a lot from YouTube. I have never used oil paints in my life (I know) but I bought my first set and to understand the medium and learn about how to use it, I watched a ton of YouTube videos on the process, mediums, and how to paint with oils in a safe, non-toxic way. You can literally learn from master artists on YouTube so if you’re looking for ideas, watch videos and follow along. I even have my own Artist YouTube channel and you can find me as Kathleen McGiveron on YouTube or subscribe to the Ms Artastic YouTube channel for videos for kids.
- Deep Dive into Topics you Like: I would write down all the things you like on a page and then when you go to create, reference that page and pick something you like to draw. I do this every time I start a new series in my own art practice, or when I go to develop characters for my own sculptures and paintings. Then I go and watch every video and read and collect images about the subjects and dive deep to get further inspired and create an image of it in my mind.
- Collect Reference Images: You can use creative commons free websites to collect images to use as reference images. You can’t use any picture you find online- that is illegal. But websites like Pexels.com and Pixabay.com offer creative commons free images. Another way to get images? Take pictures of things you like! Make your own images. If you have a phone, you have a camera with you all the time. Then when you go to draw, open or print off one of the images and get making.
Where Artists Get Ideas for Making Art
I think a lot of the time, artists get ideas from things that they personally enjoy. Other times, they might see an image or take a photograph that inspires them to create that thing. Other artists will set up still lifes and practice by drawing that object or series of objects or subjects just to practice drawing and creating value with their chosen art medium. At the end of it, it is most important to create what you enjoy so keep a page in your sketchbook that you add to as you think of things that you’re interested in.
Finding Art Inspiration
Finding art inspiration can be a daunting task. One of the first things I do is get up and go for a walk. A lot of ideas can come to you as you walk so have something on hand that you can record your ideas to such as Google Docs on your phone or a small hand held sketchbook or notebook. If you don’t want to walk, just go outside for 15 minutes and find somewhere and sit and just brainstorm things you’re interested in or that you like or artists you find fascinating or mediums you want to explore.
Next, look on Pexels.com for images to use for reference or get books on the subjects or mediums. Again, YouTube is an amazing resource so see if you can find anything educational on your topic there. Finally, collect things that you can keep in a box or on a board to use as reference material or that might spark inspiration. Whether it is a swatch from Home Depot of colors you like or fabric samples or a dried flower, keep things that inspire you.
Where Artists Source Subjects
Two of the best places to source subjects is to look online for images such as on Pexels.com or Pixabay.com OR take your own photographs (to ensure there is no copyright infringement), or to find subjects for still lifes. Still lifes can either be objects or humans. If you are looking for human subjects, you can use friends or family members and either take their picture or have them pose for life drawing studies.
Another option is looking for life drawing classes near you- keep in mind that these models are typically nude so you can study the human form (but don’t worry, it’s only nerve wracking the first time, then after 10 minutes of staring at them deeply, you’re looking for hue, value, and form and it’s the same as an apple).
Another way to draw from life is by putting an object in front of you and drawing it. Use lots of mediums! This is invaluable practice and is essential whether you go to draw, paint, or sculpt. Do this over and over with anything and everything. Old masters? Still lifes. Why? Best way to get better at making art and learning to OBSERVE and SEE.
How to Get Inspired
I think the best way to get inspired as an artist is to just block out time in your day and immerse yourself in a topic you want to investigate with research, understanding, image looking, video watching, note taking, and drawing. Practice drawing the subject over and over with different styles, gestures, colors, and in different settings. Understand it through research and exploring it in a variety of different mediums.
Conclusion
In conclusion, artists can get ideas from a variety of different places, including their own mind, but also include looking at subjects, collecting research materials and reference images, practicing drawing, brainstorming and keeping track of things they’re interested in, and visiting galleries to get inspired. Early in my days as an artist, I thought I should only use one medium only, but it wasn’t until later when I started exploring lots of mediums and trying new things that I learned more about myself and really GREW as an artist, and the exploration allowed me to get more ideas as an artist.
So don’t be afraid to try new things, step outside your comfort zone, draw things from life, practice drawing everyday, and do things that you don’t normally do… because this is the best way for artists to get new ideas for making art.
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