Inspiration Is Everywhere – Just Get Off Your Computer

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

I was feeling a bit stumped when it came to color and design this past week. I was browsing web galleries and looking through flickr – Nothing seemed to get me out of my design slump. So, I decided to just take a closer look at all the everyday objects around me in my house and in my neighborhood for inspiration. This is what I found:

Flowers in the public gardens

I love the color and shape of these flowers – this picture does not do them justice! There are such a vibrant purple.

Waves at the beach

I love the way the tide foams…The texture of the bubbles in amazing.

The little garden in front of my apartment building

I find the symetry of this little garden area of my building inspiring. It feels so balanced and peaceful.

Fireworks

Again this crappy picture does not do these fireworks justice, the colors and sounds were so crisp, bright and vibrant.

Striped pattern on my silverware

So I’m a nerd and bought striped silverware, but I LOVE the way the light reflects off the shiny and dull stripes – especially when its in this red container. This makes for a great color scheme.

Pattern on my hat

I am a stripe person if you couldn’t tell – i love this minimal blue stripe pattern on one of my hats. I would love to use this as a color scheme or background pattern for a website.

Plaid shirt

Again with the patterns, i’m also in love with plaid. This shirt has an interesting 80’s-ish color scheme.

Sometimes you just need to open your eyes and realize that you are surrounded by amazing and beautiful things!Even the most mundane things like silverware can be inspiring!

What everyday things are YOU inspired by?

Leave a comment and post a link to a picture! Let me know what you think!

10 Responses to “Inspiration Is Everywhere – Just Get Off Your Computer”

awesomerobot says:

But… if I wasn’t on my computer I wouldn’t be able to read this post about how to be inspired by getting off of my computer. I think I’m going to play it safe and stay on my computer so I don’t miss out on information like this.

August 10th, 2009 at 5:43 am

John says:

I enjoy the selection of boston pics!

I agree, sometimes I get pigeon-holed into designing color schemes that seem only to appear on the web.

I like to take quick pics at the MFA for some great ‘non-rgb’ schemes…

August 10th, 2009 at 5:51 am

Eric says:

Good post and great advice.

I took off this past Saturday and spent the entire day at a rural outdoor folk festival. Talk about inspiration… all of the different kinds of people, the various music, the food, the surrounding nature… I feel re-energized.

August 10th, 2009 at 7:01 am

Gwen McCauley says:

I am nearly finished writing a primer for beginning artists.

One of the exercises I recommend for stimulating imagination is to go to familiar places but to sit or stand in a spot you don’t usually view that place from. Consider these questions:

What do you see differently?
If you were to photograph it, what details would you choose?
When you pay attention, what are you aware of about what usually captures your interest …and what things do you typically ignore?
What is it about what you ignore that might contain interesting stuff?

In my Creatively Me weekend workshop and Feeding the Muse retreat in Portugal we engage lots of similar exercises to get the imagination running wild.

All that to say, this is a great article to remind people that our creativity, our imagination, our Muse requires change and stimulation in order to keep feeding us with wonderful ideas.

Many thanks

Gwen McCauley

http://myalgarve.wordpress.com – Photoblog of my off-the-beaten-track Algarve experiences

P.S. Is this how I post a link??? My imagination is great, my techie skills still at the ‘challenged’ stage!

August 10th, 2009 at 7:06 am

BebopDesigner says:

Brilliant article! There are so many things that some times we just take for granted, but if take a moment and frame them into a design, a shirt, or a website the can become something beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

August 10th, 2009 at 7:42 am

Calee says:

LOVE the garden in front of your apartment.

Things that inspire me… very urban eclectic stuff found outdoors — graffiti, art, even trash sometimes.

August 10th, 2009 at 8:11 am

Jubranz says:

you are right

we keep killing our selves behind those silver monitors.

I think I’m going out right now and enjoying life

August 13th, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Oridusartic says:

You’re right, inspiration is everywhere, not only on the internet. In my case, I usually join my family for grocery shopping, having meal, traveling somewhere, or visiting the other relatives.

But sometimes I also go up to the roof and spend some time to stare at the blue sky and the clouds. It’s refreshing and could be inspiring too. =)

August 14th, 2009 at 7:47 am

Jessica says:

I also own the striped silverware! It was the only exciting set I could find! Isn’t it great how you can find design in minimalism.

August 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pm