Making art from a theme

How do we get inspiration for artwork? It is a common problem with artists.

We have the ability, we have the materials, we may even have the time and the space! But what do we lack? Ideas and inspiration… Let me help you get some inspiration, motivation and ideas for your artwork.

One idea is to make artwork from a theme. A theme is a bit like an idea or a concept, except you can be quite broad with your subject matter, as long as there is a link.

There are a limitless amount of themes out there and they rise and fall in popularity depending on the current zeitgeist (the defining spirit or mood of a particular time).

There are however some common and timeless themes in art. Here are some theme suggestions for you:

1. Ruins
2. Biology
3. Reflections
4. Childhood
5. Domestic Life
6. The Seasons
7. Dreams
8. Portraiture

How do we do it?

We pick a theme which stands out for us and mull it around our heads. Write down key words or images that the theme makes us think of. Chances are that we think of some potential artwork ideas pretty quickly.

Then we do research. This means typing in our key words into google to find images, artists and associated ideas. One thing leads to another, keep an open mind and wait for something to pop out to you. We can also go to our local library or search our home library for anything associated with the theme. It might also help to talk about the theme with someone to get their perspective too.

We should now have a theme in our head, some source images to work from, and an idea of what materials or strategies we are going to use.

The next step is to make some artwork! When we are working from a new theme, our artwork might be trying something new out, so don’t expect amazing results first time. See this as a creative process and welcome sketchwork, unfinished pieces and creative ‘failures’ – they all lead to creative development and learning in the end.

If you want to work from a theme, here are a few other suggestions:

1. War
2. Mythology
3. Displacement or Diaspora
4. Identity
5. Industrial Progress
6. Outer Space
7. The Subconscious
8. Romance
9. Protest
10. Power
11. Beauty