How to Get Inspired for Art: The Artist's Daily Routine (2024)

How to Get Inspired for Art

Do you want to be a professional artist?

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Do you feel like your inspiration is gone and that it’s hard to get motivated to create art?

Maybe you are just lost for ideas to draw or paint.

Whatever the reason is, this blog post will help. It will provide the steps for how artists can find their motivation, how they can use their daily routine as an opportunity for inspiration, and what the difference between a hobbyist and a professional artist really is.

How to Get Inspired for Art: The Artist's Daily Routine (1)

How Do Artists Get Inspired

Every day, artists have to find a way to get inspired. They need that spark of creativity and the drive to create their art.

Unfortunately, there is no one magic answer as far as what motivates all artists. Everyone is different and has different priorities in life. What might inspire one artist might not work for another.

Some artists find inspiration from nature. They might go to the zoo or spend time in a park and see what is around them that they can draw with a pen or paint with a paintbrush. Other times, it’s not about finding something outside themselves but observing how others react to their artworks. This gives them new ideas for what they will start working on for the next project.

How To Get Inspired For Art

Whether you are drawing for fun or have a career in arts, finding inspiration to be creative can be a challenge.

Here are some ways to help you get inspiration for your daily art projects.

There is no one way to motivate yourself to create, but some tactics will keep you drawing instead of staring at a blank piece of paper.

Find the strategies that work well with you and use them when your spark of creativity is coming less often.

Related Post: Unleashing Your Inner Artist: Drawing Inspiration from Everyday Life

What Is The Difference Between A Professional Artist And A Hobbyist

Professional artist makes their living from the creation of art. A hobbyist might create occasional pieces, but they are not the main source of income for that person.

Do professionals struggle with motivation at times throughout their careers?

Yes, every artist has different motivations. Some people are highly motivated by money, and some do not care about how much they make as long as the work is fulfilling.

Let’s look at some strategies and ideas people use to help them create their artwork, even when they would rather be doing something different. There will be times during your career that you will be searching for inspiration for artists block, the tips below will help you get through them.

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Set Monthly Goals

Many professional creatives set monthly goals that specify the amount of art they want to produce. These professionals estimate how long it will take to create their artwork and divide their work into intervals or outline what needs to be done in a month so that all is accomplished by the end.

You should also set personal goals outside of art, such as taking time off or having a day where all you do is relax.

This can help them refocus their energy back into creating new art once again instead of feeling like there’s no point in doing anything at all anymore.

Setting monthly goals is one way an artist can get motivated even when they don’t want to work on something creative right away.

How To Set Monthly Goals:

Write down your goals.
Make them realistic but challenging enough to motivate you.
Keep a list of things that need to be done and how much time it takes each day so you can plan out the week ahead for yourself, including how many hours per project or activity should take up in the month.

Schedule Daily Work Periods

The artist’s daily routine typically involves creating art regularly, such as every weekday morning or evening after dinner.

Keep A Sketchbook

Having a sketchbook will help to keep your ideas fresh by sketching as often as possible.

Sketching is an important part of the artist’s daily routine that should be done multiple times per day, not just when inspiration strikes.

Sketchbooks are also a diary of your progress, and see how your artistic skills improve over time is inspirational.

Best sketchbooks:

Moleskine Sketchbook
Canson XL Mixed Media Sketch Book (The paper is good for both sketching and painting)
Blick Studio Hardbound Sketchbook
Canson Universal Sketch Pad

Art Inspiration Painting Prompts

Some days it feels like the world is against you. You’re tired, overwhelmed by life’s pressures and responsibilities, and all of sudden your art just doesn’t feel fueled or inspired enough to do anything productive with it.

What if we told you there was a way to get that spark back?

Take a look at this list of painting prompts to give you different painting ideas. 62 Painting Prompts That Spark Creativity

One other suggestion is to read art inspiration quotes before starting each day.

These are a few favorites:

“I didn’t wait for inspiration. I went after it with a club.” – Jack London

“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” – Pablo Picasso

“Inspiration doesn’t come to you every day, but when it does, grab it!”- Unknown

For more quotes vist 50 + Inspiring Art Quotes From Famous Artists.

How to Get Inspired for Art: The Artist's Daily Routine (3)

Network With Other Local Artists

Artists find inspiration in all kinds of ways, including talking with other people in the same field.

One way to get started is to join local art communities and online groups.

You will be pleasantly surprised by how much this can support your local artistic endeavors.

Consider signing up for a class to learn more about art techniques and ideas, too. Not only will you enhance your artistic skills, but you will also meet new people to network with.

Networking with other art professionals online and offline is also imperative to get your products promoted. Meet curators, gallerists, or collectors who might be able to promote your creations.

There are many online groups on Facebook to join and connect with creatives worldwide.

Find A Quiet Place To Create Art

Creating art takes a lot of concentration. A designated area to work in is really important. Find a place where you can be creative with minimal distraction, like a room in your home or a studio.

Keep Your Workspace Organized

Nothing will ruin your creative thoughts more than spending ten minutes finding stuff you need to use to finish a project. Keep everything organized so that you can be in the zone and create great art with ease.

Find different ways to keep your studio organized if you have a lot of art supplies. Do a search on Pinterest for organizing tips or check out what Blicks or Michaels has to offer.

When it is time to get to work, you want to know exactly where everything is so you can get the job done.

Revisit Paintings That Inspired You To Become An Artist

What painting inspired you to start painting? Why not revisit that painting for some inspiration?

Go to your favorite artists’ website and scroll through their online art gallery. You might want to consider purchasing a print of your favorite piece to hang in your studio for extra inspiration.

Another way to find inspiration is to visit your local museums and galleries to see how others have created their art. You can find something new every time you visit an exhibit, so make it a point to clear your calendar so you can schedule in time for what inspires you regularly.

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Another inspirational tactic is to share your artwork with others. Many artists only share new paintings on their social media accounts, losing out on potential sales.

Post paintings you created years ago in between the new ideas you are working on. You might be surprised how many people want to purchase your older work.

When someone purchases a drawing you drew years ago, it is truly inspiring.

Text images of your work to your closest friends and family. Doing so will not only keep them up to date on what you are working on, but they will also give you support.

Try A Different Medium

Try something new.

Working on a different technique or subject with a different medium could spark new ideas. It’s not uncommon for artists to discover a new medium that triggers them with creative ideas and creates an environment in which they can feel refreshed and be more productive.

Requiring yourself to maintain and expand your artistic skills continuously will help you stay motivated while at the studio and bring more creativity to your work.

Unfortunately, many people are afraid of trying new things and making mistakes. Finding inspiration is in part a process of moving past the fear of making mistakes.

The last thing an artist wants is to ruin their hard work with a new idea that doesn’t pan out. However, learning your unique artistic style is by making mistakes and discovering ways to fix the mistakes that were made.

Look For Inspiration From Nature

Taking a walk in nature, studying its beauty and intricacies can help you find inspiration for your work.

You might notice colors that were not so prominent when you looked at the same subject before or an idea on how to draw a leaf with more detail than what was visible in the past. Nothing is more inspiring than admiring the beauty of nature.

Don’t be afraid to sketch something while out on a hike or at the beach. The outdoors can be a great source of inspiration for artists.

Finding inspiration for artists has never been easier, thanks to social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Many artists and bloggers post pictures of their creations daily for others to see on social media platforms.

Scroll through the feeds of these creatives or find a hashtag related to your field, and you’re sure to get some ideas for your own creative works.

Take a few minutes during some downtime to watch a video on Youtube to learn about different art styles.

Use Photos

When looking for inspiration: look through a few photographs and try to recreate them by painting or drawing exactly as you see them. This will not just prevent you from having a creative block but it will also make you better by expanding your skillset.

Go to Pixabay for some reference photos. Pixabay is a public domain image website, which means the images are free to use. There are thousands of inspiring photos for any artistic style.

Sell Your Art

What can be more motivating for a creative artist than someone actually purchasing their work?

One way to sell your paintings and drawings is by creating an online shop on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Or you can easily build a professional website on WordPress for as low as 3.95/month with BlueHost.

Another option might be to sell items at local markets and local craft fairs.

Learn everything there is to selling your art online and offline if you are interested in making an income from your artistic skills. There are many free blog posts and podcasts that will help you get started.

Art Inspiration FAQ

How do you get inspiration for creating art?

Artists can get ideas for their art by reading about other artists, viewing artwork from others, or going to museums and galleries. Artists may be more inclined to create work if they feel refreshed, so taking a break after working on something tough could help you get focused on the next project.

How do I get my artistic inspiration back?

If an artist feels uninspired, they can take a break for a day or two to clear their mind. Daily exercise, eating healthy, and get plenty of sleep will also keep your mind sharp.

Where do artists get their ideas and inspiration?

An artist can find inspiration in everyday life, like observing the environment around us or reading about other artists. Artists may also be more inclined to create work if they feel refreshed, so taking a break after working on something really hard.

What are the 5 main inspirations for artists?

The five main inspirations for artists are:

observing the environment around us
reading about other artists
experiencing life in different cultures or communities
traveling to new places
Imagination and inner feelings

What are 4 places that most often inspire artists?

The four most often inspiration for artists are:

Ocean
Mountains
Experiencing life in different cultures or communities
Traveling to new places

Final Thoughts On Finding Inspiration

Artists are often encouraged to take a break from their work and do something else for a while. But you don’t have to stop working altogether if you want some inspiration; find an art form that inspires you or try out new materials.

If nothing is sparking your creative juices, consider going back to the basics of sketching anything from your home to people on the street.

The more observational drawing practice you get, the better artist you will become.