Art Inspiration / Creativity for Artists / Art Journals
Every artist has days when they feel uninspired and uncreative. Here's help on getting over creative burnout and getting your enthusiasm and creativity back.
Painting Photo Quiz
Have fun testing your knowledge of painting tools and equipment with this quiz.
Have fun testing your knowledge of painting tools and equipment with this quiz.
5 Ways to Grow as an Artist
Forget about exhibitions and juries, get back to the spirit of painters in Paris and you'll truly grow as an artist.
Forget about exhibitions and juries, get back to the spirit of painters in Paris and you'll truly grow as an artist.
Where to Find Painting Ideas
All the technical painting skills in the world will do you no good if you haven't got ideas for paintings. Here are some options for where to find ideas for paintings, and to develop them into your own, original artworks.
All the technical painting skills in the world will do you no good if you haven't got ideas for paintings. Here are some options for where to find ideas for paintings, and to develop them into your own, original artworks.
5 Ways to Destroy Your Artistic Creativity
It’s to be expected that there will be ups and down in your creativity, but there are also things that can sap your creativity. Here's a list of five ways to destroy your creativity...
It’s to be expected that there will be ups and down in your creativity, but there are also things that can sap your creativity. Here's a list of five ways to destroy your creativity...
Printable Art Journal Pages
Use this collection of free printable pages to start your creativity or art journal.
Use this collection of free printable pages to start your creativity or art journal.
Painting Ideas Machine -- Get Ideas for Paintings
Looking for ideas for paintings? The Painting Ideas Machine will generate plenty of options for you.
Looking for ideas for paintings? The Painting Ideas Machine will generate plenty of options for you.
Photo Gallery: Inside Artists' Studios
Take a peek inside the studios of various painters in this photo gallery of artist's studios.
Take a peek inside the studios of various painters in this photo gallery of artist's studios.
12 Tips for Beating Artist's Block
Suffering from artist’s block doesn’t mean you’ve lost your artistic ability and it can be overcome. Dr. Janet Montgomery has some tips to help beat artist’s block.
Suffering from artist’s block doesn’t mean you’ve lost your artistic ability and it can be overcome. Dr. Janet Montgomery has some tips to help beat artist’s block.
10 Tips for Loosening Up
If you think your paintings are too tight or controlled and you want to work more freely, try some (or all) of these 10 tips to help you loosen up your work. You'll be surprised by the results.
If you think your paintings are too tight or controlled and you want to work more freely, try some (or all) of these 10 tips to help you loosen up your work. You'll be surprised by the results.
Painting Tips: 7 Ways to Improve Your Painting While at Work
What can you do to benefit your painting while you're at work? Each of these tips works at stimulating the creative side of your brain and keep you thinking about painting during the day.
What can you do to benefit your painting while you're at work? Each of these tips works at stimulating the creative side of your brain and keep you thinking about painting during the day.
What is Art and the Purpose of Making Art?
A painter expresses his thoughts on what makes something art, whether it has a purpose, and why people make art.
A painter expresses his thoughts on what makes something art, whether it has a purpose, and why people make art.
How Chocolate Can be Good For Painters
While I'm too much of a chocoholic myself to suggest that painting could (or should) ever replace chocolate in your life, here a few ways to use your love for chocolate to the benefit of your painting...
While I'm too much of a chocoholic myself to suggest that painting could (or should) ever replace chocolate in your life, here a few ways to use your love for chocolate to the benefit of your painting...
Art Jokes: You Must Be An Artist If...
A humorous look at the things you may do that indicate you're an artist.
A humorous look at the things you may do that indicate you're an artist.
Tips from Painters on Overcoming a Creative Block
Suffering from a creative drought, or artist's block, does not mean you're losing your artistic ability. These tips will help you get painting again.
Suffering from a creative drought, or artist's block, does not mean you're losing your artistic ability. These tips will help you get painting again.
Pretend You Are Dancing a Painting
When you're painting, focus on the activity of painting rather than the final result, and you're more likely to end up with something you're pleased with.
When you're painting, focus on the activity of painting rather than the final result, and you're more likely to end up with something you're pleased with.
Murphy's Laws on Art and Painting (and Variations)
Murphy's original law states that if anything can go wrong, it will. So what variations of it occur in art and painting? Find out here...
Murphy's original law states that if anything can go wrong, it will. So what variations of it occur in art and painting? Find out here...
The Real Reason We Paint
Why do we paint and what do we get out of it? Take a read what modern-day Impressionist Jerry Fresia believes.
Why do we paint and what do we get out of it? Take a read what modern-day Impressionist Jerry Fresia believes.
Four Steps in Dealing with Criticism of Your Art
Destructive criticism is not really an issue about the content of the artwork, it's about deciding what you won't tolerate from others. Here are four steps to setting the boundaries of what's acceptable criticism, or not.
Destructive criticism is not really an issue about the content of the artwork, it's about deciding what you won't tolerate from others. Here are four steps to setting the boundaries of what's acceptable criticism, or not.
Healing Power of Art
Why you need to express your inner artist, your creativity, to release the healing power of art.
Why you need to express your inner artist, your creativity, to release the healing power of art.
10 Things I Learned About My Art
The top 10 things I've learned about my art and painting, about how I like to paint and what works or not.
The top 10 things I've learned about my art and painting, about how I like to paint and what works or not.
Books for Creative Inspiration and Ideas for Artists
My personal choice of the best books on creative inspiration and ideas for artists.
My personal choice of the best books on creative inspiration and ideas for artists.
Pages From My Sketchbook
Take a look at some of the pages from my pocket sketchbook.
Take a look at some of the pages from my pocket sketchbook.
30 Reasons Why I Hate to Stop Painting....
Don't you hate things that force you to stop painting?! Here is a list of 30 things interfere with painting.
Don't you hate things that force you to stop painting?! Here is a list of 30 things interfere with painting.
Why Women Should Paint
Judi Morales Gibson of Artista Creative Safaris explains why she believes all women should paint, and what stops women from painting.
Judi Morales Gibson of Artista Creative Safaris explains why she believes all women should paint, and what stops women from painting.
New Year's Resolutions for Painters
New Year's Resolutions for painters (ones you''ll be able to keep!).
New Year's Resolutions for painters (ones you''ll be able to keep!).
Do You Feel Guilty for Being an Artist?
Do you feel guilty for being an artist, for enjoying what you do, rather than working in a 'normal' job? You really ought not to, but you're not alone in feeling like this...
Do you feel guilty for being an artist, for enjoying what you do, rather than working in a 'normal' job? You really ought not to, but you're not alone in feeling like this...
Symbols Dictionary: Love
Add hidden meanings to your paintings with these love symbols and signs.
Add hidden meanings to your paintings with these love symbols and signs.
Symbols Dictionary: Flowers and Plants
A look at the traditional meanings associated with various flowers and plants. A great way to add another layer of interpretation to a painting!
A look at the traditional meanings associated with various flowers and plants. A great way to add another layer of interpretation to a painting!
Symbols Dictionary: Death
A collection of the various symbols and signs associated with death and dying. A bit sombre true, but useful to know when working on more serious paintings.
A collection of the various symbols and signs associated with death and dying. A bit sombre true, but useful to know when working on more serious paintings.
Painting Your Own Christmas Cards
Make this festive season particularly special by painting your own Christmas cards, or using prints and/or photos of your paintings for Christmas cards. Here is a list of various painting techniques or approaches you can use, some of which are perfect for last-minute cards.
Make this festive season particularly special by painting your own Christmas cards, or using prints and/or photos of your paintings for Christmas cards. Here is a list of various painting techniques or approaches you can use, some of which are perfect for last-minute cards.
Painting Quotes Calendar 2008
Get inspiration from artists' quotes the whole year round with this free, printable Painting Calendar for 2008. (It's in an easily printable, .pdf format, so there are no adverts.)
Get inspiration from artists' quotes the whole year round with this free, printable Painting Calendar for 2008. (It's in an easily printable, .pdf format, so there are no adverts.)
Sketchbooks in the Archives of American Art
A collection of pages from various artist's sketchbooks, clearly demonstrating there's no 'correct' way to keep a sketchbook, just a personal way.
A collection of pages from various artist's sketchbooks, clearly demonstrating there's no 'correct' way to keep a sketchbook, just a personal way.
Unblocking by Playing
Feeling uncreative? This short article suggests you try messing around with some finger and hand painting.
Feeling uncreative? This short article suggests you try messing around with some finger and hand painting.
Have a Creative Day
Boost your creativity by transforming your home into a "creativity day spa" with this article from Artist's Magazine.
Boost your creativity by transforming your home into a "creativity day spa" with this article from Artist's Magazine.