How To Come Up With New Ideas

Sometimes I go to the library and read / flip through art books - I just pick them off the shelf in the art book section at random. Sooner or later, I stumble across something new (new to me, it's obviously not new to the author of the book) that I want to try.

Go somewhere you've never been to, chances are you won't have to go far. Most people are blind to many of the interesting sites in their own area.

The other day I went into an unknown forest, thought I'd get some good pictures, but it was nature at its worst, forest jungle, and really scrappy. Odd bushes fighting each other for survival of the scrappiest, abundant dried out weedy non-happenings in large patches of brown dirt, stagnant creeks and itchy insects.

That didn't stop me from filling an SD card with photos, because one day, in a different light, with the comfortable distance of time, I may see some of them as worthy.

@Mark good for you .. sounds like a future prospect for some great art..

you just either do it, or don't do anything and something new will come up. i don't know of any rituals that doesn't involve candles, chanting and blood of some kind...


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I got most of my ideas from reading books and newspaper, going to museums, galleries, on the web, nature, travel, family stories and people watching.

Thanks for all the input. I'm more of a figurative painter so I'm not likely to get inspiration from walking in the woods. But you never know. Anyway, I've have a couple of ideas I'd like to pursue. I was interested to see if anybody did something different to provoke an idea.

I once read a short story about a guy who had writers' block. He captured a Muse and held her prisoner until she gave him some ideas. That didn't work out so well for him.

I try new styles, play around, experiment. Go to museums, flip through magazines, check out what other people are doing. Go through my older photographs. Today I played around with a blurry out of focus image, turned it into an abstract.

http://bridburg.com

dave what does that have to do with new ideas?


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Apparently just looking at Dave's website is supposed to inspire new ideas.

Mike,

Clearly I add new ideas. Do you?

Besides the OP does some work in this vein. I thought I was posting for him,
not for more nonsense opinions on my art.

OP's bio statement:
"I have had a lifelong interest in older styles of painting. I use the art of the old masters from various periods as inspiration and a starting point to explore compositions which sometimes drift into surrealism. I often use images of old statues and architecture in my work and incorporate them into a modern setting"

Dave
bridburg.com

I like the muse idea. My dog has served that role in the past.

Visit department stores - the manikins might could help

Do nothing.

The artistic mind, then, becomes bored and desperate, and out of this desperation of doing nothing, a new idea will make its way into your being so strongly that you have no choice but to obey its beckoning.

The error in our thinking is that the pace of new ideas is naturally continuous. Naturally, it is not, which is not so good if you are earning a living from new ideas.

Nature does not make a living; it just lives at the pace that it lives.

uh, yeah dave, all my ideas are new and original. i saw your reply more as spam than anything else.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Hardly, hardly, hardly.

Dave

You could paint a picture of Mike and Dave on different planets at opposite ends of the universe. I don't think that's been done yet.

... and in that painted picture of Mike and Dave, I would be on yet a third planet equidistant from them both. My planet is Zimdar, and I am the high priest Shlopzor.

THERE's a new idea for a painting, so I am still on topic, ... whew!, I pulled that one out ....

Don't forget to have the fatal comet flying around.

Thinking of bizarre mash-ups might be useful. Remember Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Look at what's trending on twitter or whatever, and then go crazy.

Andy: You could be in the painting. You could be riding on the comet.

Robert: What does Zimdar look like? We need to be astronomically correct here.

Surf riding the comet. Now there's an idea.

I totally want you to post an image of yourself surf-riding a comet !!

We need an image of Robert in his high priest Shlopzor garb, too....

Never was any good at selfies whilst trying to surf.

Who said it had to be a selfie? Just find another guy surfing around the universe & let him borrow your camera...

Do you have dreams..or provoke dreams? I watch a movie..something that brings on an emotion to me: si-fi, scary, or romance....its amazing the dreams I have when I watch a movie right before bed. I could make my own movies if I wanted some are so detailed. That could be a way to try & bring on inspiration for you.

If your more into people..I say go to a city & just people watch. All the different personalities you will see & the way people behave is sure to inspire something.

Cheryl, how's this for some comet surfing?

Buy a light bulb?

@rick... it took me a bit to understand that one... i blame the pollen, but maybe not.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Andy,

That would be wild if you made a series of those that sold.

Packed with humor.

This America, everything sells in America.

Dave

You could paint a picture of Mike and Dave on different planets at opposite ends of the universe. I don't think that's been done yet.


Cheryl,

I just blew up Robert's planet. I can not get through Mike's force field. It seems especially dense.

My planet is sailing through space on a collision course with Europa, a small moon in this solar system.

Mike is on the other side of the universe for other reasons unknown to man. LOL

Surf is up!!

Dave

....there is some kind of exercise or ritual ...... Maybe :)
ok Surf is up!!

...........one cannot feel alone in the presence of a burning of dance flame :)

All mediums are welcome, In order to win the contest, please join the group - Dance desires

http://fineartamerica.com/groups/dance-desire-3d.html

Please upload your digital paintings so others can see your beautiful work.

more....

http://fineartamerica.com/contests/dancing-desires-digital-choreographing-sexualities-on-and-off-the-stage.html?tab=leaderboard


Good Luck everyone!

Andy: That's awesome !!! (Is that really *you* on that comet?) lol

Dave: Ha-ha -- that made me laugh ! Where is Robert, now that his planet is reduced to asteroids and space dust? You need to add a steering mechanism for your planet, quick!

Mike is probably on the other side of the universe to avoid everyone else's exploding planets.

Where is Robert? Robert is lost in space.

Mike is avoiding it all alright. But his planet is the quicksand planet. It might
disappear into its self.

Dave

@Mark (from early on in the tread), definitely good for you! "That didn't stop me from filling an SD card with photos, because one day, in a different light, with the comfortable distance of time, I may see some of them as worthy." I couldn't agree with you more on that.

I tend to shy away from looking at visual art while I'm trying to create/complete a piece because I don't want my work to be too heavily influenced by what I've seen. Instead, I turn to a different type of artistic expression-- music-- for inspiration. Music feeds my soul anyway, but certain compositions/songs/albums have definitely helped shape or change the course of a piece I'm working on, for the better. It has helped me flesh out the theme, thus making for a more cohesive finished product.

No Cheryl, It's someone else I saw comet-surfing whilst I was moon-walking around Zimdar.
I also saw a bright spark in the distance, I think it was Mike on his planet.
And in the other direction I saw a large red glow (Red giant?), Must have been David.

@ Rahdne ...........Music feeds my soul anyway, but certain compositions/songs/albums have definitely helped shape or change the course of a piece I'm working on, for the better.



Great post ! Very well thought out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter

Vale,

Soft porn and techno? I am sure the results are better????

Not sure I will sign this

Dave,
Mike & Robert get to decide what their planets are like... I think they're done playing this game, though.

@ David ! I am sure the results are better :) too

Come Up With New Ideas - you can check yourself

new


Like your style and vision!

- invite you all to Join " Dance desire " Group http://fineartamerica.com/groups/dance-desire-3d.html
Please upload your digital paintings so others can see your beautiful work.

I do what David King mentions above, I make an attempt to go somewhere new in my area, a new store, or new place to sit down and have a quick lunch, etc... ~ Sometimes you can observe & look around in these new scenarios and suddenly you get new ideas.

Hope this helps.

Cheryl,

That is why I attacked early and often.

But I think they have taken cover.

Dave