More inspired...every...single...day

This is a little old house in York, Western Australia, where my Mama spent most of her school holidays as a child...over 65 years ago. I painted it last september but forgot to post. It was a birthday present for mum and I didn't want to spoil her surprise. She LOVES it and as I temporarily have it back with me for varnishing, I thought I would share. Seeing this painting again has made me think about the amazing journey I have been on in the last 12 months and how quickly time is passing. How my skills in painting and photography have evolved and improved and how I seem to be more and more inspired...every...single... day. Want to know some secrets to unlocking your creativity and finding daily inspiration? Yes? Ha, so do I! Even us right brainers need inspiration help every now and then. I made a little list...feel free to let me know some more. 1. Learn your chosen craft - inside out, upside down, backwards. Never stop learning. Do this through lessons, reading, practising and re practising. Know the rules to painting, or photography, or writing, or whatever it is you want to do well in. Get a good teacher, mentor...or book. Have an understanding of composition, tonal distance, colour mixing. Understand your camera in manual, learn an editing programme. Understand grammar, punctuation (hmm...still working on this one!) and spelling. 2. Then break the rules (well, not so much with spelling!) Have the courage to possibly fail. Breaking the rules can help you to develop creativity and offers you a chance to see what works and what dosen't. When something dosen't work, analysis whats going on and try again. I'm doing this currently. I've painted this image before, with Bon standing upright and here I go again... but with a better understanding of what to change and that it needed the movement and varied height of the original photo with Bon bending over. 3. Never, ever stop thinking about your art, photography, writing...or whatever you are passionate about. Dream about it, live it, plan it. Have ongoing projects, thoughts, dreams and goals of where you want to take your chosen craft. 4. Regularly seek inspiration. Stalk Follow artists, photographer, bloggers, writers whose work you admire. Study art history, read the classics. Work out what tickles your fancy in these favourite finds. Is it the view point? The composition? The use of light? Study it...work out what you love, then develop it into your own voice and your style. 5. Carry a notebook. Jot down ideas as they muddle around your brain. Write down a great quote as you sip coffee in your favourite cafe. Have your eyes open and your ears on high alert for little snippets of inspiration as you go about your daily living. Write down venues and locations for photo shoots when you find them...note the light, note great parks, note fields of flowers or any bit of awesomeness you can note! I keep a notebook in my handbag, in the car and by the computer...cause Pinterest needs both pinning and note making! 6. Make your camera your very best friend and take it EVERYWHERE. Doing my 365 photo project last year was totally inspirational. I have painted quite a few of the photos I captured during that time. iPhones take pretty OK photos, but consider buying a good quality digital compact for your bag or pocket. I have a walking strap for my SLR and a little point and shoot for when I don't want to carry a bigger camera. This way inspiration can be captured anywhere and anytime you see it. 7. Teach your children from a very young age to enjoy being photographed!! If you are a figurative painter, with a bent for storytelling imagery...your kids are going to be your best models. Cheap child labour is payed in ice-cream. 8. Repeat point 7 for your Golden Retriever...though 'smackos' are marginally better than ice-cream for payment. 9. Find time to just be quiet and mindful and to pray. Mindfulness and prayer clears the mind and leaves clarity and creativity in place of busy, disorganised and untamed thoughts. Show gratitude. Give thanks to God for all your blessings. 10. Lastly..."Find something you are passionate about and stay tremendously interested in it." (Julia Childs) Say...No...More. How about you? How do you find your daily inspiration? Now go, find it!! Mia x