How to Find Inspiration in the Everyday

We would all like to go to Taos or Provence to paint. But what about painting in your own neighborhood? This month, I'm going to do a painting each week pretty much on my block. What do I need to do to find inspiration and meaning right here?

The two paintings this week at 16" x 16", oil on canvas.

Join my email list so you receive these videos weekly to your inbox:

[douglasmattingly]

Your comments about inspiration reminded me of something Goethe wrote: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

[kidnewton]

The ellipse description just took me to a new level....thank you!

[Mr-S.C.]

The inspiration you need is Ian Roberts.

[paulah]

I've been painting my neighborhood for 2 years now. There is beauty everywhere!

[jonathanroger]

No excuses now. The fact you get out early and never miss a Tuesday is inspiring too.

[lanaschuster]

This video is a keeper - so much great review about shadows and temperature, painting what interests you, the value of painting the same scene more than once, and the perspective teaching with ellipses and how to make things look flat, or why they won’t look flat in the distance. Really helpful, thank you Ian.

[jameswaustin]

After your “show & tell” of the Grand Canyon expedition this is a perfect balance of “in the neighborhood” - beauty is everywhere. Also adding the technical note about eclipses in perspective was a great insight into a “hidden” problem many have encountered.

[exploringbiblicalendtimes]

yea the sunlight really brought a nice charm to your finished painting

[cheyenneroll]

Excellent example of how warm and cool light make a painting vibrate, thank you Ian.

[pamelabozzi]

I like your approach to finding inspiration on the local. At the start of the pandemic, I walked a lot locally. I started, and finished, a project of one 10 x 7 in watercolor for each of the 20 homes in my court depicting SOMETHING in the exterior view that I found appealing. The last few homes were a struggle, but the project motivated me to look deep and the recipients (the homeowners) were appreciative that I found beauty in their space.

[karthikshanker]

Thank you Ian for your wonderful paintings, simplicity in explanations and the crisp videos. You are a great teacher!

[lynnhuntington]

That was jam packed with goodness. Inspiration and practical tips all rolled together with a practical and nearby subject, sounds like a recipe for a fun outing.

[joycesumara]

Thanks again, Ian. Your discussion about the ellipses and less detail in the background was an important take-away for me!

[skysky]

Your videos make painting fun ...and challenging views....BEAUTIFUL ...inspiration....I love your ART !

[desleykakoulidisgallaway]

That’s like a lovely afternoon through the neighbourhood

[mountainside]

Great hint about the ellipses- keeping the details more simplified as they recede.

[anneovergaard]

Thank you, that was great information. I really appreciate the tip about the shadow's and how not to make that look like it is coming forward.

[kenneth]

Shadows being just as real and interesting as everything else. Painting shadows - painting light.

[paintlady]

Agree with @Paul S, the elipse description was helpful in that it was another way to verbalize what we visualize yet can often have difficulty translating onto canvas or paper.

[lisengel]

Yes very important - we must trust what we are attracted to - seeing the beauty everywhere - and I love to watch your sketching of forms and then the process of you painting- and I like very much this fun walking around in well known surroundings and catching forms, rhythms and creating compositions of strong attraction - great demonstration