Draw Inspiration from the Unexpected

Inspiration. That elusive, slippery thing we’re all constantly chasing. Sometimes it strikes at 3 AM when you wake from a nightmare of a giant fly chasing you with killer spray. Other times it’s nowhere to be found, no matter how many mountains you stand on with breathtaking cinematic drone shots circling the sheer majesty of our imagination. So what’s the trick to keeping the creative well from drying up? Perhaps it’s Looking in places you’d never normally think to look, perhaps it’s looking in a well.

I’m talking about discovering weird graffiti carved into a tree in the middle of a forest, watching movies you’ve never hear of , listening to random podcasts that make you question the very fabric of reality. You know, the stuff no one in their right mind would consider “inspirational.” But occasionally that’s where the gold is.

If you’re always fishing in the same pond, you’re going to keep catching the same old fish. If your creative diet is all mainstream, all predictable, your work might end up feeling… well, a little too safe, too predictable. And we all know that’s the artistic kiss of death.

So what’s the solution? Dive headfirst into the unexpected. Watch that obscure French film from the 70s with subtitles. Pick up that dusty medical encyclopaedia from 1950’s. Spend an afternoon wandering through a part of town you’ve never been to, and hope you don’t get mugged. Heck, even just sit and people-watch on the bus, while your car is parked at home. And don’t forget to keep a notebook or sketchbook handy to scribble down the random ideas that float into your mind. Even the stuff that makes no sense—especially the stuff that makes no sense.

Why should you put yourself through all this oddness? Because it works. When you draw inspiration from unexpected places, your work stays fresh, original, and just weird enough to stand out. You nurture your inner curiosity. Plus, this whole creative thing is about developing your unique voice, right? What better way to do that than by immersing yourself in the strange, the unusual, and the wonderfully “out there”?

And hey, even if none of it leads to the next masterpiece, at least you’ll have some great stories. Like that time you binge-watched four hours of Japanese stop-motion claymation and suddenly had the idea for your latest painting.

So here’s the takeaway: stop chasing inspiration in the same tired places. Instead, embrace the weird, the unexpected, and the downright strange. Your work—and your sanity—will thank you for it.