How to create a more exciting path in life!
19 of the world’s most amazing artists help you create a more exciting path in life!
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Think about it… There are thousands, if not millions of people that were in a similar situation to you, and then managed to end up in a dream job or create a more exciting path in life!
You don’t need to be a genius to create life-changing ideas and actions, so I asked some of my most talented artist’s friends from all around the globe where they believed their best ideas came from.
In this post, you can look for the patterns in their answers, whilst you contemplate the same question.
Here’s our panel of artists…
- Sara Gothard
- Raven Bourgeois
- Antoinette Ratcliffe
- Shanay Scarlet
- Emilia Eriksson
- Danielle Koifman
- Lisa Fahey
- Martina Roos
- Kyra Rousselle
- Patrick Hunter
- Maryanne Katsidis
- Michelle Oakden
- Kevin Brackley
- Raynor Dunn
- George Kirk
- Paula Maggs
- Susan Christie
- Alben Tan
- Carl Jacobson
How to Create Life Changing Ideas
Easy mental tools to uncover epic ideas from within yourself. Free DownloadThe Question
“Where do you think your best ideas come from?
Here’s what our artists had to say about their life changing ideas and how they get it. (NOTE: We’d love to hear your answer too. Give us your thoughts in the comments section.)
Sara Gothard is a self-taught artist working primarily in watercolor and acrylic
“I do concentrated thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, but also need time to let ideas and thoughts flow in and out of my consciousness, to disassemble and reassemble themselves. I call it, “cooking”. Each project is different and will require different moments for both of these mind-states. I can’t imagine doing all one or the other. I’m actually kind of suspicious of anyone who claims they do one and not the other. I don’t believe that’s a thing. Not for human minds anyway.”
Raven Bourgeois
Raven Bourgeois is Acrylic paint artist
“I think my best ideas come from whatever life experiences I’m going through. The way dark transforms into light is when we blend our energies together to realize that balance is essential to the soul. Meditation and exploring nature captures my visions and connects them together. While painting I usually don’t have any final vision put together, through the journey of the process things come together.”
Antoinette Ratcliffe
Antoinette’s practice explores anthropomorphic association derived from horror conventions and banal situations using a variety of media, including her own taxidermy, where the animals find themselves in relationships created out of circumstance. She only uses ethically sourced animals for her taxidermy pieces, installations, and photographs. the-sick-bay.com
“Every artist’s practice is different. I gather ideas, materials and concepts during my day job, I am constantly thinking about how these things can be used in my work, then when I spend time in my studio with these materials, I open my mind so that the materials and conversations can come together organically to create pieces that speak to my practice.”
Shanay currently works as an art teacher at a local high school in Maryborough, Qld. She also has a home studio where she creates her art and runs art classes. Shanay works with mixed medias such as pencil, watercolour and acrylic and in a range of sizes from A4 drawings to large scale murals.
“I use creativity to transform my thoughts into existence. A stimulating process which allows me to reflect on the human experience through different lenses.”
Emilia Eriksson
Emilia Eriksson is Tv-photographer
“I believe creativity comes from an open mind, this allows you to see everything your mind can imagine. Also, being ‘empty’ while creating is a powerful way of communicating with yourself. Sometimes, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and write a whole song without reflecting over my words. Sometimes, that’s the best way of opening my mind because I fully trust it, and respect that nothing will be perfect. Often, I get surprised by the results”
Danielle Koifman
Danielle Koifman is a Jeweller
“A clear mind leaves room for new ideas and creativity to flow forth. Once an idea is grasped, we can use the analytical mind to think about how to improve and develop the idea.”
Lisa Fahey
Lisa Fahey is an artist based in Wollongong, NSW, she grew up here between the mountains and the sea. Her passion lies in painting with bright and bold colours, Australian native animals, especially birds make up a lot of her inspiration
“I like to paint without thinking, just let my hands do the work. That is when I create my best work. When I create like that, painting is finished within 30 minutes, and I walk away fulfilled.”
Martina Roos
Martina Roos is a Contemporary Abstract Sydney artist reviewed by ArtsHub as “vibrant and expressive”. Featured in ART EDIT magazine
“The creative process is complex, so always have your mind open to inspiration, influences and new ways of seeing. For me, I like to hold a seed of an idea to start a work. Sometimes that seed is something I’ve thought about/experienced/felt/seen, or sometimes it’s a result of understanding characteristics of materials I use which take me on a different journey. It is a matter of yin-and-yang, one compliments the other.”
Kyra Rousselle
Kyra Rousselle is a Contemporary painter.
“I start with an idea, born in my overactive brain and then I set out to put it into practice. Next, the other part of me takes over, and I always end up with something that looks different to the idea I began with. I’ve learned over the years to let go of expectation, judgment, and perfectionism - it is what it is - and then may repeat the process, no matter what the outcome.”
Inkhunter creates branded Art Work. It is street art that works to enrich the spaces it uses as a canvass. Inkhunter creations breathe new life into these spaces to make the walls we used to ‘un-see’, to become engaging & noticeable.
‘When you are trying something new, creative, something expressive, you’re going to fail more times than you succeed. So I’d say failing, and willingness to fail is more important than an open or empty mind.’
Maryanne Katsidis is a renowned artist that encourages her viewers to embrace their fears, acknowledge their deepest desires and accept themselves with all our imperfections. This is interwoven richly through colour and texture in her abstract artwork.
“Release all expectations and allow whatever’s meant to come through, come through. As a creative person, you have to respect that you’re a funnel for ideas and thoughts, then it’s up to you to translate this in physical form.”
Newcastle based artist Michelle Oakden explores the abstract world using bold, vibrant colours and organic shapes. She’s originally an engineer by trade and loves to solve problems but the abstract creativity she indulges in through her artwork allows her to tap into another world. Creating art also helps bring a sense of balance into her life.
“A bit of thinking gives me context and a starting structure or framework, (I’m an engineer after all), but then I like to let the mind be free to fill in the gaps, push the boundaries, challenge the context or what I’ve thought would be the way to go. Like when I set myself up to start an artwork, I prep my paper, choose my colour combination and style I’m going to use, then in my mind’s eye I have an idea of where I want to take the piece... but then I get into it and have to let go of those expectations, because the creative journey flowing from preparation is invariably different to exactly what I’d imagined.”
Kevin Brackley is an artist and designer based in Sydney, Australia and draw inspiration for his colourful designs from the azure skies, abundant wildlife and spectacular beaches embracing this beautiful harbourside city. His bold, exuberant style features gestural florals, painterly strokes and expressive hand-drawn shapes. Some of his art features on homewares and fashion products for clients such as The Tray Shop and The Designer Boys. He’s also part of the wonderful Four Corners Art Collective, an international collective of surface pattern designers and artists from the USA, UK, France and Australia.
“Giving my mind the opportunity to be empty or open to my surroundings, often leads to new ideas which I refine and explore further, thinking and sketching.”
Raynor is born in Wairoa New Zealand in 1982, Ray, schooled in Wellington and Auckland, holidayed on the river banks and in the shearing sheds of Te Reinga in Wairoa. He studied at the prestigious Maori boys Catholic boarding school, Hato Paora College, where he was grounded in Maori cultural performance, protocol, and arts, including carving. He pursued his passion in 2002, attaining a certificate in Māori Arts at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and by 2006 a sculptor was formed, graduating from AUT with a Bachelor of Art and Design degree majoring in Sculpture.
“I think when you get into a creative state, it is always hard making a start but letting go is key, and having an open mind.”
George Kirk
George Kirk has managed to translate the magic of childhood into an artform. His vibrant free flowing images not only tell a story but take the viewer back to that magical time, and his clever use of colours achieve a distinct vibrancy and depth.
“Art is free, there are no rules, let the mind run free and listen carefully to the subconscious in the dim dark of early morn. I always paint with beautiful music.”
Paula Maggs
Paula started painting at the turn of the new millennium as a creative outlet while living in the bush with a significant amount of children.
Over the years she has worked in many styles and themes, working her own experiences and life story throughout her development, pushing her own boundaries as far as she could.
In 2015 she finished her Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts culminating in the deeply personal series ‘States of Being’, held at the Nexus Gallery in Bellingen NSW.
Paula has now moved to Melbourne where she is pursuing her artistic journey, recently exhibiting at Gallery Voltaire in North Melbourne
“I like to let my mind go blank and wander where it will.”
Susan is the artist and designer behind formantics. She completed her fine arts degree in 2015 and set up formantics in 2016. She get very excited about playing with colour and form in a way that is sure to make you smile!
“I believe it is a balance between thinking and playing. I start with a plan to explore a particular concept, but remain open-minded and think through the process of making. It’s important to remain open-minded so you’re ready to discover those ‘happy accidents’ which occur when you are working with a material.”
Alben Tan
Alben started as a professional digital painter way back 2012. He is an Architecture graduate but instead of practicing to be an Architect, he took the courage to pursue his passion for digital painting. He currently works as a Game Artist under Tropa Entertainment.
“Thinking too much may feel like a strain when you want to create something. Creativity comes from everywhere. Being observant is one key to this. Make it simple. Knowing yourself, your thoughts, what you really love and what you want can also encourage creativity. Allowing open-mindedness helps boost your creativity too, by thinking outside the box. Don’t be technical and limit what you want to do with rules; imagine no boundaries and creativity will flow.”
Carl Jacobson is a Contemporary Spiritual Artist .
“The spark of the idea comes from being open and just walking through life. Something catches my eye and inspiration strikes. The thinking and contemplation comes after as I pull on the creative thread and try to tease out the meaning of what my subconscious is trying to communicate through the idea.”
