Creative inspiration is a formidable force that has the potential to fuel the minds of all artists, designers, and innovators– But somtimes, after weeks of creating for yourself and for others; Burn out is inevitable.
Lacking creative thinking, no motivation to put the pen to paper– what’s the next step?
Alas, fret no further! You can gain pleasure in your craft and find inspiration through various methods and reliable sources. In this article, we’ll explore how you can find creative inspiration through architecture and nature.
- Using man-made structures in Architecture, local buildings and your community to ground your creativity.
- Searching for Inspiration in Natural Landscapes, organic structures and the “outdoorsy world”.
- Combining architecture and natural landscapes to find that spark in your creative inspiration.
Using man-made structures in Architecture, local buildings and your community to ground your creativity.
Architecture can provide a foundational source of inspiration for artists and designers. Since architecture is so structured, it provides a grounding point for all art to end and begin. Here are some tips for finding inspiration in architecture:
Observe the Details
When I go hunting for architecture photos, I like to pay attention to the minor details. Keeping a keen eye to the building’s design.
I try to observe its shape and structure. Taking into consideration the various lines and curves of the building, and how they are interacting with the surrounding environment.
With texture comes patterns, and scanning architectural pieces for repetitive shapes, such as arches or curves can inspire you to consider different formulations of angles and multi-media design elements.
Composition
Focus your creative eye on the layout of elements in the composition. With this example, we can see that this photo follows the Rule of Thirds.
The window acts as an element that can dictate the overall end result and layout. In this example, the window remains positioned off to the right side, allowing for the spooky smiley face to be more visible as the main subject in this composition.
All Eyes on Lighting
If you’ve been shooting photos for some time, then you definitely know how crucial lighting is, especially for portrait photography and landscap photography. If you try to observe how the light moves throughout the day, you can begin to notice how quirky light can be and that it interacts with the building’s design and materials in organic ways.
You’ll get an idea of how shadows are cast at certain times of the day, like Golden Hour, which is a popular photoshoot timeframe. They can sometimes create interesting patterns and shapes on the building’s surface.
Searching for Inspiration in Natural Landscapes, organic structures and the “outdoorsy world”.
Natural landscapes are a super reliable source of inspiration. You can easily immerse yourself into the natural environment around you. Plus, you can sometimes run into really interesting, organic designs in a natural environment. Here are some tips for finding inspiration in natural landscapes:
Take in the Scenery
First. STOP! Take a breath.
Truly take a moment to sit in the silence of the natural world; take in all of the sounds and be thankful for all the beauty this life offers. Searching for your creative inspiration in the natural environment can be super simple. You can try to look out for the colors, textures, and shapes of the things in your vicinity.
I love to use my iPhone to live swatch areas of a landscape and let the eyedrop pick out the surrounding natural colors. I am an iPhone Gal, so I use Pick Your Color’s Swatches Live Color Picker and it instantly grabs swatches from images I upload or hover over with my live camera. If you are on android, another great recommended app I use is Loomatix’s Color Grab app on the Google Play store to do this.
Swatching colors can help you choose a theme that creates a unique mood and atmosphere with your art. It’s also quick to find colors that are already naturally cohesive! You can also take notice of different textures and overlapping materials that create unique patterns and compositions.
Combining architecture and natural landscapes to find that spark in your creative inspiration.
You can find creative inspiration through architecture and nature, sparking your art endeavors. By combining architecture with natural landscapes. Shapes and patterns in nature and architecture can be harmoniously combined when complementary elements are used. Furthermore, colors can complement each other, resulting in a cohesive composition that is visually appealing.
The use of contrast can also be effective for creating interest, for example, by juxtaposing sharp lines with curved lines, or by using light and dark elements together. A striking visual contrast can be created between nature and architecture, which can serve as a backdrop and a focal point.
Alternatively, the landscape can serve as a frame for the built environment, emphasizing its natural beauty. It is possible to find endless inspiration for creative projects when architecture is combined with natural elements.
