Raise your hand if you’re perpetually bored as we slide into this twelfth month of quarantine!
Well today, we’re going to make some boards that will cure that boredom, help us find ourselves in this rediscovery period that is quarantine and also serve as decorative wall art. How? We’re making inspiration boards!
In the Before Times, I had this silly idea in my head that inspiration had to come from perfect moments. You know, those ones where you’re looking up at the city lights driving home at 11:30 p.m. and it just feels so cinematic?
In this past year of super imperfect, patience-testing moments, I’ve realized that things don’t have to fall perfectly into place or be incredibly beautiful to be a source of inspiration. In fact, sometimes our most profound works come from being inspired by the imperfect times, embracing the chaos and in the process, becoming more in-tune with ourselves.
For most of my life, I’ve felt like I’ve known exactly who I am and what I like and what I want to do. But in quarantine, life has thrown about 70 curveballs at me all at once, and I’ve found myself rediscovering who I am all over again. Even though quarantine is a constant struggle, it is helping me learn more about myself on a deeper level, and who I am as an artist, too. Now, are you ready for an inspiring artistic self-discovery journey all from the comfort of your studio? Let’s do it.
Start by just pulling a whole bunch of images from everywhere. Anything that you like. And don’t think twice about it! Just trust your instincts, go with anything that inspires you.
Some places to start looking:
– Old magazines
– The bottom of your desk drawer where all the little papers go
– Your camera roll
– Old photos
– Wherever you keep all of your ticket stubs and old theatre playbills (just me? Oops. I’m kind of a keepsake hoarder.)
Now, just stick them all in a pile on the floor (or in a folder on your Desktop if you’re gonna be ~ fancy ~ and use Photoshop) and start arranging them on pieces of paper or cardboard. Grab your phone and tune in to this playlist I made to set the inspiration mood. Then, just get lost in creating.
When you look back at your boards once you’re done, remember: inspiration can come from anywhere. It can be from something raw and sad, or something hilarious, or something fun. I know that our Instagram feeds are all curated photos of the “perfect” moments. But that doesn’t mean that the picture-perfect moments are the only ones that are inspiration-worthy.
Here’s one of the boards I made. Looking back, it definitely speaks to my blend of the outdoor-art-picnic boho lifestyle with my love for bright colors and glitter. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a musical theatre girl, an indie songwriter, a modern dancer and a ballerina: one day I’ll be wearing jeans and a flowy blouse and Birkenstocks, and the next I’ll be in my bedazzled dance team jacket over my sparkly tutu. And through it all, I’ll be alternating the car tunes between Joni Mitchell and the “Wicked” soundtrack. See how much you can learn about a person from their inspiration? Now go have fun learning more about yourself!
Lightbox 