"I want to draw something that means something to someone! You know, I want to draw blind faith, or a fading summer, or just a moment of clarity. It's like when you go and see a really great band for the first time and nobody is saying it but everybody is thinking it. We have something to believe in again." "I want to draw that feeling... but I can't. And if I can't be great at it, then I don't want to ruin it. It's too important to me." Peyton quote from One tree Hill -------------------- I have spent the better part of 3 years now, gorging on art. Watching movies, a ton of movies, anything I could get my hands on. I have listened to a ton of music. At my local music venue nearest my apartment, I try and go to literally every single show. Not just for bands I know or like, I evengo for bands I may not be into. I have read a ton of books. And have watched a ton of tv shows. I am at the point now where I want to physically manifest something. Express myself. I want to express it creatively, through art. Being able to say how I feel, in writing, in music, or through music is a dream of mine. I just dont know how. I have long had a talent for writing, but I dont know how to express how I am feeling. And I just can't seem to get myself to write anything, despite having purchased some notebooks for said use. And I recently, days ago bought an acoustic guitar and hope to actually learn this time, after having tried a few years back, and never getting past that point...playing for two weeks then not returning until when I got my acoustic the other day So, how do I spark my creativity? Do I need incentives? Like do I tell myself, "you can't watch another movie until you write for half an hour and play guitar for the same"? I have literally spent thousands of hours now, watching hearing and reading others express themselves. How do I do it? I also feel like its something I NEED to do. Its not like I necessarily want to learn guitar or be a better writer or become a filmmaker, its like I feel like I HAVE to. And thats two seperate issues. I look at my writers notebook or my guitar, and all I see and feel is writers or guitar block. Nothingness. I dont get it.
Its hard to say - I've been hunting down that girl (inspiration, the muses, etc.) for years! She'll alude you if you charge after her, but if you rest and sit she'll come to you. here's some things I've found to help - hiking - go somewhere new - read some art books - wine - weed - music
Well, you just did. Again, you just did. No that system won't work for long unless you have robotic inner strenght... instead work on knowing what you love and just have fun with it. Art is not magic. Don't make a big deal out of it. Relax. Just do it. Whatever comes out is good. Even nothingness is good in art. Make art out of the void you feel. Good luck.
The most important thing, I think, is that art has to have truth to it. If you're writing a song, or painting a picture, writing a poem, or whatever, don't try to create it the way someone else would. Find your own voice, and focus on the things that you find genuine interest in. And don't put so much pressure on yourself to make art of some sort of great significance. Make it as amazing as you possibly can, obviously, but you have to let the ideas flow, and figure out how to separate the interesting from the mundane, and if you're obsessed with creating something that's going to change someone's life, you're more likely to shoot yourself in the foot. It has to come from you in a very natural, but still very focused way. And I would say try sticking with one thing for a while. If you want to be a songwriter, focus on being a songwriter. If you want to write short stories, write short stories. Either way you'll be using a lot of the same skills, but by focusing on just one medium for a while, it'll give you chance to focus less on the medium, and more on the creative process itself. And definitely practice as much as you can. At the end of the day, the most important part is probably just to do it. I'm not sure how much of this applies to your situation, but it's my general sort of philosophy on creativity.
I'd recommend to take some hallucinogenic drugs. I think this is way more then enough inspiration. Take a art course at your local college. This will push you to stick with it for a semester and see how you like something. If you do, make sure you research your teachers through http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/. Having a good instructor makes all the difference. I had a drawing teacher that taught how to use the right side of the brain when drawing, through eye focus and meditation. Was an awesome guy. Join art meetup groups at meetup.com Hang out with artists. See above. I can feel you about being involved in observing art, but not creating anything yourself. I am finally taking my drum lessons seriously, going to join a drum circle that was recommend by someone on these forums, taking west african drum lessons hopefully, and taking electronic music at my local college. This will be enough (obviously) to keep my mind occupied on stuff I can work on creatively. Now only if I can get some money to buy a Mridangam. Good luck. It will happen eventually.
