Sources Engaging Inspiration

Psyche of Inspiration By, Saberi Roy points to how humans are prone to elate emotionally through what is perceived as "being inspired" based on how our individual minds process information. Roy states, "Inspiration is thus dependent on a set of internal factors such as our personality and attitudes, knowledge, our thought processes and interests. These internal factors have to align with objects that we encounter in the external world. Inspiration happens when the external object fits exactly with our internal need or mental orientation."

Additionally, in VCU's Psyche 101 we  have just covered that each own's mental processes, making up our personality as well as what emotional responses we are prone to, is both based on personal, genetic biological make up as well as exposure to experience throughout life/how that shapes our mind/elation prone instances that call us to action.

This next source engages in inducing inspiration through Color Psychology , this source address how our minds process  color on both a conscious and sub-conscious level. It also points to how patterns of color through time can affect our mood and emotional state. Now while it is my preexisting subscription to believe that we all process colors differently, this source suggests that we are socially prone to process different colors similarly.  My criticism here would be show me your sources, your studies, as to why one color means induced optimism and another means whatever else, in general. However, i find this interesting none the less.

Additionally, i wonder -

Is color a large part of content that inspires us? do we identify with color and color contrast before content? are some more prone to this than others? to what degree can color of a source become a factor in how inspired we feel from it?

Revised Research Question

How can reliance on inspiration rather than diligence affect quality of work?

Mindtools.com explains the psychology mental process referred to as "Locus of Control", in which, individually, we categorize our varying change of situation and circumstance to either within our control, or out of our hands. For example, our behavior as well as how we perceive incoming information can drastically alter the outcome of social conclusions. To further illustrate, weather or not we believe that outcome was destined to be, therefore concluding we had little to do with it, or rather self blame, this is the defining difference between External Locus of Control and Internal Locus of Control. Individually we are prone to perceive ourselves through either one or the other most of the time, however, much of this perception can run the gamut between the two based on various other inter-sectional aspects of our personality.

I once heard a quote that paraphrases to, "We judge ourselves based on our intentions while we judge others based on their action." Googling this now, I can attribute this source to author Stephen M.R. Covey. This of course begs a theory that we may forgive ourselves much easier than that of others unto us.

Now some introspection,

When considering a painters motivation to paint, said painter might perceive themselves too externally busy to paint, or possibly, too exhausted by the time they are off the clock (if also employed) to be able to paint anything they would be proud of. They may attribute this to matters out of their control, and one can see why. We like to think we need sleep, and we do, thus prioritizing it above most all else and so we reward our exhaustion with it - however this is still a personal choice to reward ourselves at all, lack of brain function aside (semi joking?) Likewise, we like to think we maintain our needs by keeping busy (perhaps through employment, making rent each month, school, or balancing a social life) however this is of course is subscribing to a capitalist social system that requires us, essentially,  to pay to live on this earth. It is a perpetuating cycle of Americanized standardism - wake yourself up early to make it to your job to pay your rent so you can go home to the shelter under which to sleep to wake up early to make it to your job to pay your rent so you can go home, and so on. 
To what degree is this perpetuation within our control? I say more than we might think.

Working within this social structure similarly, we may have more control than we'd like to take responsibility for. These examples are extremes, yet somehow i think transending this economic structure, while not attainable for everyone, is still possible. (Think, Monk lifestyle, Anarcho Collectives, Woodland Socialist Communities, etc) So, if we can harness and (within localized rational) some-what surpass even such extreme social barriers if we really wanted to, why do we allow ourselves to blame the frivolous affectations of others towards our own love of our craft? What is working yourself too hard and spread too thin to not feel like practicing what you love? Maybe one might consider embarking down these lifestyle changes in order to have a balance of actually living a life you love to live.

5 Changing Questions

1. How can surges of inspiration compel us to believe we are only happy creating when we are struck with inspiration to do so?
2. Why should we ever ignore a momentary fit of inspiration if we 'just aren't feeling up to it'? - I changed this because i'd like to explore how much of a disservice we are doing ourselves by ignoring these sparks.
3.  How is it ever OK to let inspiration fade out when what we really want is a creative career? - I changed this because how much slack can a budding working artist give themselves as to not exhaust their creativity altogether? 
4. How does one overwork yourself creatively thus devaluing ones creative process? - I made this change because (right now) part of me subscribes to sanctity of inspiration and riding that wave all the way through a composition for quality work. 
5. How can we work when we are exhausted? - I changed this because we can ride that wave and want to continue but if we are physically exhausted, the piece may suffer in composure from a tired eye and tired hand. 

Working Knowledge of Inspiration

in·spi·ra·tion

: something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone

: a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to do or create something

: a good idea

psychologytoday paraphrases August Turak, in 3 Keys to Getting and Staying Inspired by saying "If inspiration is what you're seeking, it's a mistake to just sit around and wait for it to strike." When i read this, what first comes to mind is to what extent are we simply sitting around for it, if, we are in fact seeking it to begin with? Is is not an adequate starting point to simply surround ourselves with material we find interest in, taking small steps towards meaningful creation, or should we unabashedly throw ourselves into our goals and  assure ourselves that assurance will come with time, as this article and Turak suggests. the example given in the article is getting out to the gym in response to being displeased with your mirror image. can creative goals be met this way too, or should we start even slower when planning composition to further urge us to create? Part of me wants to say careful planning can lead to some amazing results, work that one can really be proud of. Part of me wants to say attack the canvas, command the medium! and for now, do not care what comes of it.

50 Questions About Missed Creative Inspiration

1. how may our environment enable inspiration?
2. how may our environment disable inspiration?
3. does missing our 'inspiration window'  equal to laziness more than anything else?
4. how can we feel the spark of inspiration again once it fades?
5. is it enough to revisit the source that inspired or can we do more to sustain it?
6. will hypothesizing and eliminating inspiration barriers promote inspiration or is it a more frivolous emotion than that?
7. do our best ideas really come from surges of inspiration or, rather, carefully laid plans?
8. is denying acting on instantaneous inspiration exponentially habit forming?
9. is acting on instantaneous inspiration exponentially habit forming?
10. how can we maximize inspiration thus maximizing our creative potential? 
11. do we feel more inspiration around goal driven people?
12. is it unhealthy to rely on inspiration to create our 'best work'?
13. does self discipline produce higher quality work than inspiration driven work?
14. can taking 'creative risks' lead to more inspiration longevity? 
15. should we practice experimenting with more than planning creative endeavors?
16. can doodling lead to meaningful work? 
17. what are some mental processes that may inhibit acting on inspiration?
18. how can we return to feeling inspired if we haven't felt it for years?
19. does creative competition in academia induce or inhibit the desire to create? 
20. what are social stiffeners of creativity? 
21. can we overcome creative blocks in one sitting?
22. how can drug use when creating promote a dependency on drugs to create?
23. does society over glamorize dead artists?
24. how can we utilize debilitating states such as depression to our creative benefit? 
25. are we more inspired when we collaborate?
26. is our ability to feel inspired affected by our sleep patterns?
27. is is better to 'get back into the swing of creating' by starting slow or going big?
28. should we worry about 'wasted paint' during the process of exploratory creation?
29. can making a list of what makes us happy, sad, or feel intense emotions induce inspiration to create?
30. is inspiration from happiness more compelling than that of sadness?
31. is anger the most compelling form of inspiration?
32. how can combat impatience during the creative process? 
33. is laziness more compelling than achievement? 
34. should we practice our art even if we don't feel like it? 
35. what are the benefits of working in reluctance? 
36. what are the disadvantages of working in reluctance? 
37. how can we motivate ourselves to create?
38. can we force inspiration? 
39. how can solitude promote creativity? 
40. how can solitude deteriorate creativity? 
41. would it be beneficial to keep a log of what inspires us to refer back to?
42. are visual creators most inspired by visual sources?
43. are auditory creators most inspired by auditory sources? 
44. what are the benefits of exploring new mediums? 
45. how can exploring new mediums help to inspire us within our medium of choice?
46. are we more likely to act on inspiration when we are around other artists?
47. are we more likely to act on inspiration when we are the sole perceived artist?
48. how long is too long of a creative break before we are just being lazy to our craft?
49. is societies perception of the 'low success rate of career artists' affecting the artistic communities desire to create for a living?
50. does the correlation of money and success stifle artists to create and explore what they truly desire to? 

Interests & Possibilities for Research

What am I interested in? What is researchable?

Initially when I consider this prompt I start to unfold myself through fascination. 

At my roots of my existence I have always remembered being interested in art of every kind and what that means to be art. Growing up, here is some of that, and other things, to name a few. 

I'm interested in painting, inking, color theory, color therapy, the process of creating anything, writing spoken word poetry, singing, electric and acoustic guitar, uke, folk punk, ambient noise music, 90's hip hop, late 90's rap, classical music, conflict & resolution, the field of psychology, behavior and metal processes, memory, self preservation, the ego, mistrust, how our childhood may influence our adulthood, the appeal of anarcho society, organic farming, environmental meditation, travel and how it can change us, gender studies of all identities, the power of women friendships through sisterhood, the perception of women, ignorance of the hijab, the experience of intersectionalities through class & race discrimination, religious and anti-religious studies, radical feminism, 3rd wave feminism, the hyper feminine, the rococo era, performance art, movies, hairless cats, hairless rats, bats using sonar, human senses, intuition, how to raise a heathy pit bull, aikido or corgi dog, albino boas, snakes and the symbol ourosboros throughout history, the art of piercing, the art of tattooing, expressionistic body modification, 'wearing your mood' - clothing and trinkets (or lack thereof) for positive self expression, feeling comfortable in your skin, defending oneself mentally and psychically, the illustrations of Hindu storytelling, the personality of Bjork.

How can i not act on inspiration when all i want to do all day is look at art and think about how it makes me feel and why? 

How do we lose touch with parts of ourselves that feel integral to our identity? 

Is inspiration something i can induce or can it only be fleeting? 

Oh, It's Just a Quote

“Asking women to respect themselves in order to ‘earn’ the right to be treated like a human being is total horseshit. But suggesting that you have the right to treat her exactly as you please because she didn’t adhere to your archaic views of feminine propriety is misogyny, plain and simple.”

—	Clementine Ford