“Art is either plagiarism or revolution.” – Paul Gauguin
Art is a dangerous thing. It is a key that can open many doorways. However, you don’t know what will be on the other side until you have already crossed the threshold. For an artist, art unlocks perceptions and inspiration you might not have otherwise found.
I have always been a fan of using art as inspiration for my own art, especially writing. Writing is about perspectives, about being able to shift between your perspective and the perspective of sometimes imaginary people who are nothing like you. Allowing another artist’s work to move you can be a good shortcut.
Art is always an expression of self. By letting others express themselves, you can get out of your own way. I’ve found inspiration and writing material in the art of many other mediums.
I’ve never been one to wait around for ideas. There aren’t little inspiration fairies floating around my head offering to sprinkle me with creativity dust, at least not that I have seen.
If I need an idea, I go looking for it. I’ve mentioned finding inspiration in lines of poetry in a past blog. But I have also found inspiration from works of art in other mediums. My novel, Kill Creek Road, began as an idea taken from the song lyrics for “Water’s Edge” by the alternative band Seven Mary Three. The concept grew away from that initial idea, leaving it behind, but the lyrics got me through the initial planning.