Originally uploaded by RGP

Inspiration, to me, is motivation.  Some mornings I wake up inspired, ready to take on the day.  However, those days are rare and most of the time I find myself having to seek it out.

Inspiration is my personal fuel.  I grab my creative moments from other people's creative moments.  Its what makes my little world go 'round. So when I find something that works, I take note of it and use it whenever possible.

One of my main sources? Music. I am not a musician myself, though I do dabble in song while cleaning the kitchen or taking a shower (naturally) and all my life I have been surrounded by good music and musicians.  For crying out loud,  I was named after one. 

Words have always been a musical prompt for me.  If I chew on a word long enough (or sometimes instantly) a song I know starts to play in my head. I now consider this to be a technique.  I find said song and play it over and over until whatever it is my brain has planned, comes out.

As I mentioned previously, I was struggling with my drawing project. Inspiration was nowhere to be found and I was drawing the same thing over and over again. Then I found the 100 Things list and thought "Great! Some inspiration!" and for the first few days, that was all I needed.

Then I started to over think it.  It was when I got to "innocence". 

"Innocence? Nothing is innocent!" cried my overactive brain.  I realized I was just searching too hard. Begging my brain for something unique and coming up blank.

Quite literally as I thought at one point I would just scan a blank page.  How profound am I?

So now I really listen to the word.  I guess you could say I wait for it to sing to me.  This has completely changed my way of thinking for this project.  It wasn't until now that I realized all my favorite drawings were completley inspired by whatever I was listening to at the time. Music genuinely effects my every emotion and in turn,  my imagination opens up to a new level.

So how about you?  I would love to hear what really drives you to write that next blog, draw that next piece or even get up and cook dinner.  Anything can be inspired, right down to what you're wearing today.  So what did it for you?  Have you created any inspiring techniques?   I'd love to know!  Maybe your inspiration can become someone else's.

The picture above is #12 of the 100 Things project. The word is "Insanity" and System of a Down was the music that inspired it.  It may seem like I only listen to heavy music but I assure you that is not the case. My taste is extremely eclectic and no genre is missing from my ipod. Seriously, I even have some yodeling.