How to MAKE inspiration show up
Ever found yourself in a creative rut?
Know you want to paint but can’t decide WHAT to paint?
This can so easily become a barrier to picking up your brush.
So how do you get inspired to paint?
It doesn’t have to be something you sit and wait for (although sitting does come into it!).
In this little video I wanted to share with you my method for MAKING inspiration show up in your life:
If you try my tips out this weekend do let me know how you get on in the comments below. And I’d also love
Happy painting
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You are so inspiring, Anna. Somehow I find myself too intimidated by your beautiful paintings to start painting myself. But I have bought a Craftsy course and all the materials needed to begin, so all I need is courage!
Sounds like you are ready; GO for it Meredith!!
Great tips, Anna, thank you.
You can do it Meredith! One step at a time 🙂
Anna,
You’re ideas are always so great. Sometimes we just have to quiet our minds and block out all of the daily “stuff” to become inspired. Thanks for all of your tips.
How did you know the face I make sitting at my desk waiting for inspiration?!
Really enjoy your work and instructions. Thankyou Anna
Kathy, or KFOH57 on Instagram
Haha! Don’t we all Kathy 😉
Just do it. Nothing bolsters your confidence as much as painting. I spent 50 years totally cowed by watercolor and suddenly, in my 61st year, I am loving it. I try not to think of all the time I wasted in fear of paint on paper. Not one scrap of time spent painting is wasted, regardless of the product, because any task is about learning and doing. Failure is part of the learning process, so the thing you most fear-failure-is actually essential to your journey. Breathe deep, smile, and paint. *exits soapbox*
Great response, good ideas
and observation!
Anna thank you for the video and your inspiration. I love your painting support table stand, where can I purchase one? I will look into your online classes. Thank you.
Hi Hilda
Anna’s painting support stand is a Daler Rowney Art Sphere; have a look online as I bought mine when it was on sale. I can definitely recommend it, especially as it’s stopped me slouching over my desk!
Nicola
Thanks Anna. I love to paint landscapes and one thing I do is record TV programmes like gardener’s world or countryfile if there is a lovely garden or scene I pause the programme and use it for inspiration, even take a photo of it with my camera.
Yes, good quality TV programmes can be inspiring too, good point Vera!
You made me smile! What a lovely video! The senses of life….wonderful.
Wow! You look so lovely and confident Anna. I am enjoying watching you in your videos so much. And thanks for the valuable tips
Dear Anna,
Thank you for this article ‘How to MAKE inspiration show up’. It seems so simple but the simple is not always the first go to…why is that I wonder:) Anyway…going to the gardens and being in my garden is my inspiration and I share this with people all the time but I hadn’t thought about the 5 strategies you spoke about about. Thank you again, you are fabulous:)
Have a great day with kindest regards,
Michelle
You’re so welcome. thank you Michelle 🙂
Dear Anna
You and your tutorials are all the inspiration I need at the moment. I am learning so much with you, and staggering my friends with the results.
Thanks.
Veronica
Ooh, that’s great to hear Veronica! Well done!
Dear Anna, you are absolutely stunning in mind and soul. I am so glad I found you. I am starting very slowly to put brush to paper. I am starting with one leaf. Hope to post soon.
Thank you Anna, your videos are always inspiring and uplifting. My favourite subject (at the moment) are tropical plants and my inspiration comes from places like Pinterest, Australian Horticultural Society pages, Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney website is great. Kew gardens is a great place too as I’m based in London but it’s not as practical. I’ve signed up with these two through Facebook so I can get their newsfeed with beautiful flowers/plants on regular basis. All the best! Oli x (your student).
Great use of social media to inspire you Oli. It can so often be a time wasting distraction or worse. But if you’re really selective with your feeds – and with the times you access them – I do agree it can be really positive!
Thank you Anna, all great suggestions presented with humor and style….now I’ll go sit in the back yard for a while.
Hi there!
I find that a sit spot next to my favorite tree, tuning in to all my senses really inspires me to get painting.
I especially like listening to the quietest sound in the distance, or using wide angle vision, to really tune
in. I have to shut up the “yakking mind” to get inspired. This trick does it every time! Give it a try!! 🙂
Love those two extra approaches. Thanks for sharing Ruth – I will try them!
THANK YOU for your refreshing and comforting approach….
Thanks for this video, Anna. I like to take daily walks in my neighborhood because I always come across something interesting that I didn’t see the day before, whether a new flower, a leaf, a bug… It’s amazing how the weather or the time of day can change the look of our usual surroundings if we just notice. Besides, the walks are good for body and brain!
Couldn’t agree more Lisa. My walks with my dog Dexter are a daily ‘must’ for me.
I think your Mindfulness approach for inspiring creativity is a lovely one, Anna. As someone who enjoys drawing outdoors, I sometimes like to use natural objects, such as twigs, to draw with in combination with inks or paint. It can feel strange at first, but the unpredictability is quite exciting and often results in very interesting mark making. These can then be the inspiration, or become starting point for more traditional drawings – but I will now be looking more attentively and appreciating some of the more abstract shapes and textures of the subject.
Andrew x
Love your mixed media approach Andrew, may you continue to get yourself inspired!
Really loved this inspirational motivating video! You make ideas feeling and thought ideas become real for me! Please continue with these great ideas!
Thanks
Diane Toth
Thank you so much Anna for your talent and the way you share it. I have already suscribed on You Tube and, as I live in France, I bought your beautiful book “Peinture moderne de fleurs” now available in french. Although my english is not good enough to understand every word of your lessons I also did apply for a free one (the nice pear). I reaĺly love your method : it helps me a lot. Thank you again
Thank you Anna. You are an inspiration to me, to paint watercolour flowers. When I see your paintings , makes me want to pick up my brushes.
Lovely inspiring video. As well as gardens, parks and museums, sometimes I go to places that can stimulate my imagination but not necessarily with subjects to paint. Places like toy stores, candy stores, paper shops, sometimes even this old hardware store that has EVERYTHING besides hardware. If I was more disciplined I’d go at least once a week.
Anna, the methods you introduce are brilliant. The only thing that can stand in our way is ourselves.
Very inspired thank you, Dale.
Excellent! Wishing you a very inspired 2017 Dale.
Thank you Anna,
I am struggling to go completely independent and your comments and idea have really given me the push l needed to get out and make it happen. Your tutorials are superb and you have helped me develop into a competent amateur in just four months.
Thank you so much
Susan