Where to start on a creative approach?

[Marela]

Hello everyone! I have always drawn a lot, but I usually only paint for school assignments, and lately I have been slowly starting to paint for fun too, at home, for myself. However, I have a great deal of trouble deciding what exactly to paint. I find some kind of strange inspiration by writing down on a list themes, concepts and just ordinary objects that I could paint.

I feel I do great in still lives and the like, but when I opt for something more creative I fail terribly on the technical part. Can you tell me where should I start, what kind of "themes" will both develop my skill and keep me inspired and loving what I'm painting?

I know this is the most amateurish question ever, lack of inspiration, but the inspiration is definitely here, I want to paint so badly everyday, but this is making me feel helpless! I'm thinking that maybe construct paintings from reference pictures might help a big deal, what do you think?

Thanks in advance! :)

[CCThrom]

I feel I do great in still lives and the like, but when I opt for something more creative I fail terribly on the technical part.

Don't worry about this too much... it's most likely to do simply with lack of observational experience. As an artist grows and develops, they develop a mental image library. The more you observe and study, the bigger and better this library becomes.

At this point you've got a good beginning... you enjoy still life (many artists start with still life) and you have a method that works for you to generate inspiring ideas. Keep at it. As long as they help you, keep making your lists. Becoming good at art is an additive process (everything you see adds to your ability to create better art) but it is also an active process (you have to pay attention and do studies to set things into your brain better).

This part is very personal, because every artist is different... but my advice to start with would be try working with more interesting lighting or finding more unusual objects... if you get bored with still life completely, maybe get outside and draw landscapes. I like to draw trees. Maybe go to a park and draw people... really, there's a whole world of things to draw.

[Marela]

Wow thanks, I loved your reply. I get overwhelmed when starting a painting, but deep down I think I know that I just really need a lot more studies for the paintings I make. Studies are something I have rarely done, but that need to become a habit for me. I loved your advise, I had never really thought of playing with lighting. I will use what I see around me, but step it up a notch, for lack of better words. Thanks a lot, really :)