Who or What Inspires Artists to Create Art?

inspire artists Artists are inspired by many things.

They may be inspired by nature, their surroundings, books they read, magazines, movies, television shows, music, travel, emotions, memories, their sketchbook, other artists and their artworks, and much more.

The list of things which may inspire artists goes on and on.

Ideas for artworks sometimes come out of the blue, when the artist least expects it. Many artists have sketchbooks handy, so ideas can be jotted down and referred to later. Some ideas happen while the artist is painting. This is why it is so important for artists to sometimes just create for the sake of creating, especially those who have artists block.

Personally, I am inspired by my environment, memories, and all the talented artists I regularly feature here at Artpromotivate.

This post is part 17 of the regular re-feature we do of artists who have been spotlighted. Find past articles in this series in the bottom sidebar.

10 Artists and their Inspirations

Tim Smith

Northamptonshire England

Style: Realism

Mediums: Graphite pencil, acrylic

Inspirations: “I am inspired by lots of things from a stone to a building and always have a sketch book in hand.”
Solanges Jolicoeur

Caribbean Islands/Haiti

Style: figurative, non anecdotic subjects

Mediums: acrylics / pastels

Inspirations:

”Sometimes, a visual incentive, another time, a sensation, an emotion that become feelings that I want to revive on the canvas. There is the “moment” that can be expressed fluently, whenever the inspiration is complete and the technicality (although very present) is unconscious and serves to its best, pure creativity. And there is the moment where the feelings must confide into the concept: ideas, direct technicality or inversing of technicalities (for style purpose), conscious focusing to grasp the unconscious feelings.”
Christine Keech

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Style: semi-abstract

Mediums: acrylics, mixed media

Inspirations:

“Usually, during church I will be struck by something I've heard and I have to sketch it on the bulletin before I lose the image that's popped into my head. I make notes about colour, object placement and process. I love colour, trees, fish and plants, so they frequently make appearances in my work.”
Sergey Kireev

St. Petersburg, Russia

Style: travel photography

Mediums: photography

Inspirations:

“I have a simple construction so I simply change the biochemical status of my brain doing physical exercises.”
Shawn Shawn

California, USA

Style: abstract, political conceptual

Mediums: acrylic, paper, foil, etc.

Inspirations:

“I gather my inspiration from other artists. Usually, I peruse 100s of photos on Flickr, especially graffiti. I really wish I had tried that as I was younger, but now I’m deep on the blue pill, so no turning back now Mr. Anderson.

Another source of inspiration is to read great books of come backs “Huckleberry Finn”, “Source of Happyness”, “Soldier Svek”, “Maus”, etc. I additionally like to read up on famous artists like Banksy, Saber and Shephard Fairey, who put together great art books without all the museum kiss ass mushiness.”
Ken Roko

Toronto, Canada

Style: Traditional. Contemporary

Mediums: Digital. Oil. Pastel.

Inspirations:

“I usually get inspired by daily objects and reading books. I think books can be very useful sometimes to be more imaginative visually.”
Suzanne Southerton

Wiltshire England

Style: figurative and abstract

Mediums: oil on canvas, drawing mediums

Inspirations:

“Music, colour, nature, people, a beautiful landscape (although I have never tried doing a landscape, I am smitten with scenery), and finally the simple act of making marks. Occasionally emotions have a hold and will come out - quite fiercely and suddenly.”
Elizabeth J. White

United States, Easley, South Carolina

Style: free style

Mediums: Oil, charcoal, ink, Acrylic, Watercolor

Inspirations:

“I never really thought about that, but I guess my answer would be, God, Family, Country
and the beauty all around me, as I tell my grandbaby when she ask what I'm gonna paint, I just say granny's world.”
Sara Paxton

Australia

Style: Contemporary

Mediums: Oils

Inspirations:

”The Impressionists have been a major influence, especially Monet. I also love Fred Williams, particularly the work he did of the Pilbara region.”
Amy Smith

USA

Style: Mixed media collage

Mediums: Digital and mixed media painting

Inspirations:

“Fashion photography and graffiti art is really inspiring to me. The emotion, power, and stories they convey are really inspiring. Other artists are great motivators to me as well. I feel more motivated when I see other people’s work so I tend to frequent gallery openings and shows around Los Angeles.”