Wednesday, January 7, 2009

inspiration

What is inspiration? Is it just one of those fancy words that artistic people use? You know how those interviews go; "Who or what inspires you?" and the response that comes after, "You know, I'd have to say Van Gogh (if the artist is a painter) or Jimi Hendrix (if the artist is a rock guitarist)." 

That isn't to say that I don't have an appreciation for Hendrix, or even a sort of awe when I look at "Starry Night," but what does it really mean to be inspired? I like words, so let's go visit dictionary.com for a definition, shall we? 

According to the entry for inspire (verb), "to inspire" is:
1. to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: His courage inspired his followers.
OR
5. to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future.

Okay, now we have something to work with. What animates you? What brings the life out of you? 

Here is a list (in progress) of what stirs my heart to action or reflection. These are the things that make me want to create something of beauty in response to what they have done in me.

*stars: the heavens never cease to amaze me and remind me of God's majesty

*dreams: daydreams are the best because they stay with you longer

*lyrics: the kind that mean something...not manufactured for an audience, but a piece of the writer's heart (an excellent example: amy seeley)

*photography with soul: if a picture really is worth a thousand words, what happens when a photo renders me speechless? 

*creativity that serves: there is little more encouraging to me than seeing someone use their talents and gifts to make the world better for others

*color: that certain shade of aqua or coral that can just make my day brighter 

*love: pure and unselfish love is somewhat harder to come by these days, it seems, but when I see it, I can't help but be moved to rejoice

*design: true, the clothes don't make the man, but the design says a lot about the man (or woman!) who created the clothes. Somewhere in that expression is the key that makes me want to create things myself.

2 comments:

annaliese said...

good inspiration list...I would have to add 'cranes' to mine. I get absolutely giddy when I see the huge blue cranes (the birds, not the work equipment) in the fields around us. beautiful and elegant creatures.

so what is all that inspiration leading to you create lately? hint, hint...would love to read more :)

Dana said...

I will send you something once I get it more organized...right now I have a bunch of scenes that don't fit together, but nothing in between! Oops. =) Gotta love the writing process...