001 Stop and smell the oil stain – Inspiration Everywhere

Does your work require creativity? What do you do when you get stuck? If you are like me you try to get outside for a run or walk. But if you ever find yourself retracing steps along a regular route you may not need to detour for inspiration.

As a video producer I’ve interviewed my share of accomplished designers, artists and filmmakers. You see their work in museums, department stores and on the silver screen. Before long the conversation always got around to talking about the creative process and what gets their juices flowing.

Whether it was a painter who stares at a wall of upside down video screens or a famous furniture designer who had to stir custom blended tea with utensils custom molded to fit her hand, as proudly different as some designers are they all had one thing in common. Colors, shapes, textures, sights, sounds and smells found in nature inspired all these great artists.

So the next time you find yourself stuck take a walk around the block. You may spot a raindrop clinging to a leaf, a bird bathing in a puddle or like this morning, I noticed a colorful oil stain in a parking lot. When you notice the small things you‘ve passed by a million times you won’t be stuck for long. You can find inspiration everywhere you take the time to look.