Artists of all kinds are often asked by non-creative and other creative types alike what inspires them. It’s a tricky question sometimes because there are those who are almost divinely inspired and can literally just put ink to paper, hands to clay, cloth or fiber or blow torch to metal and come up with something beautiful without really delving into what has inspired them. Others require a more rigid process to create, which often begins with inspiration. 

If you look a little deeper I suspect that you’ll find even those who seemingly make beauty out of thin air are inspired by something, even if it may seemingly be nothing. During my years as a budding fiber artist and ongoing art nerd in general I’ve often asked and been asked about inspiration. I can personally tell you I am most inspired by music. 

I have been blessed with an eye for color and a technical skill in knitting, spinning and dying but I was not so blessed with musical talent of any kind, so music remains both mysterious and beautiful to me. Since I am not musically inclined, but completely in love with the art form itself, I find myself using the music of others as a jumping off point for my yarns and designs. 

Some of the most interesting hand crafted pieces I’ve seen have been inspired by seemingly silly things. I’ve known artists who are equally inspired by 1930’s style fashion and candy stores. The mundane and the extraordinary paired together often make for spectacular artwork. When you go searching for inspiration it is often hard to find, but when you simply stop and evaluate your surroundings you may notice how beautiful something as simple as the curve of your favorite coffee mug is or how gorgeous the green of your pets’ eyes are in the sunlight. When you take the inspiration that lives around you and create from it, you are sure to get something not only unique but stunning as well.

When I ask other artists about their inspiration I hear everything from nature to sex, food to human rights, animals to their own mother. I have found that the inspiration of others is often just as interesting as the art that is born from it. The next time you find a hand crafted item that you love, take a moment to ask the artist what brought about that item; you might be surprised by the answer.

(photos courtesey of Daniella Cortez/DaniDo Crafty)