The Truth About Inspiration for Artists & Illustrators
As a full time artist and illustrator, one of the most common questions I get in my inbox is some version of: How do I stay inspired or how I can create artwork when I don’t feel inspired? Here’s the secret about inspiration: It’s important, and it’s wonderful, but you don’t need to feel it 100% of the time you’re making artwork
For example, sometimes with a significant other or close friend or family member, you may not necessarily feel all the warm fuzzies. But if you really love them, you will still want to show up for them. You’ll still speak kindly to them, you’ll still pick up the food they wanted from the grocery store, you’ll still ask their opinion when choosing what to watch on Netflix; if they get in a scrape, you’ll still help them; if they ask you a question, you’ll still respond. In all the normal, sometimes boring aspects of life, even if you’re not feeling an amazing, other-worldly sense of love you will still be there for that person because love is more than just the feeling.
Art and making art is like being in a relationship or deep friendship; Feeling inspired is like feeling in-love. So the key to inspiration in art work, just like the key to real love, is committing to showing up and being there, over and over again, day in-day out for the long haul.
This is not to say that inspiration isn’t important. Just like the feeling of love is not unimportant when you’re building a relationship. In fact, it’s crucial, especially in the beginning for helping you to discern where to invest your time. But again, just like love, inspiration has to grow and deepen and turn into something else over time if it’s going to be something you can sustain as an artist and if you’re going to be able to keep showing up for the long haul.
So if you’re in the early part of your career, and you often find yourself struggling to feel inspired or struggling to make work because you don’t feel inspired, I’d invite you to sharpen the focus of your question.
Rather than asking: How do I stay inspired?
Ask yourself: What inspires me? What do I enjoy doing? What makes me forget myself and focus totally on the work? When am I having fun? What could I spend hours and hours doing?
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I think you are an inspiration, Kendyll.
I have never heard inspiration articulated like this before and it really resonated with me. I liked what you said at 5:12: "…Inspiration has to be allowed to turn into something else. It has to be allowed to grow, and deepen, and mature, and become something more–if it is something that can really sustain you and keep you coming back day in and day out in a committed way; for the long haul."
Can’t imagine the amount of efforts you put into creating such a descriptive and articulate video….Thanks was a lovely & informative podcast !
You are such a lovely and honest fountain of knowledge and refreshingly grounded advice! <3
Thank you for this video 🙂
How did you know that this was the exact video I needed today?!
Fabulous! I love how you broke this topic down so specifically and truthfully. Myths about inspiration only serve to deplete our inspiration and creativity and self-esteem around art. Thank you for unpacking it. It was so helpful for me! Thank you!
Such a great topic to talk about and thank you for being so honest and authentic as always Kendyll 🙂
My gosh, Kendyll thank you so much for your advice on this topic. I’ve been struggling and searching actively about the "magic of inspiration". Never before have I found something more resonating as your explanation. I’m a bit on the opposite side when it comes to inspiration. I have never lacked it. I have the insane trouble of having it too much. Resulting in constantly trying new things and having new "crushes" in the art I make. Because of your explanation I now realize that they are in fact crushes and that I haven’t found my grounding yet😅. It has often been fear that has held me back. But with this new insight I’m gonna try to steady and explore that deeper sense of love. I have it all around me in my life but it still has to grow in my art I suppose. Thank you!!
Well said Kendyll!
How’s your baby?
Thank you Kendyll. This is a wonderful message. Here’s one more analogy for you: If you love something, let it go. If it’s yours, it will come back to you, if not, then it never was a true love to begin with. There are weeks when I can’t bring myself to go into my studio because I’m afraid I’m not going to make anything worthy. But then when I go back, it’s like discovering it all over again because I get lost in the process. Letting go of that need to measure up to an ideal is the most difficult thing in the world for me. I’m bookmarking this so I can hear it again the next time I’m in a rut. Thank you very much!
Wonderful observations!! Thank you for sharing these videos with us.
It took me awhile though
But thankfully your channel was recommended by youtube.
I had an artblock when the pandemic began.
But it all started way back in the beginning of the year 2020
I’m stressed with college and I had some interns.
Pandemic did slow things out but it made it a lotof worst.
Instead of being motvated to draw, I ran down into a deep hole of frustration & anxiety.
I had videos of other art youtubers who overcome and gave tips about combating it.
Thankfully I overcome the first phase & get myself isnpired to draw for few more months.
Your video gave me another perspective on how to get myself to draw.
Especially your analogy is "something" (even though I’m not in a relationship) but still it’s a relationship you need to established as well as you need to understand so thank you kendyll! <3
That’s a great topic. I draw every day for my channel, but I don’t start until I feel good/love. So I often listen to good music or do something I really like before I start. I think mental health is part of the process. I learned this the hard way, otherwise it leads to burnout for me at least. I often find inspiration from watching other YouTubers, not only art channels even 😊 I really love YouTube 💕
Dear Kendyll, thank you so much, I am at the beginning of turning my passion for drawing in to a job and I really needed to hear some of the things you shared in this video! ❤️ I love the way your videos are always so practical and humble and I really enjoy your energy! Please keep on creating, we need more beautiful souls like you are 🤗❤️❤️❤️
Love this video. Thanks!